F1 | Max: “I knew our limits. I have to go around the curbs!”

After 7 consecutive pole positions, Max Verstappen abdicated. At least in qualifying. The sixth place obtained today in official practice for the Monaco Grand Prix paints a perfect picture of the difficulties that Red Bull is encountering this weekend, given that even Sergio Perez’s 18th time is more than an indication of problems: it is a real and just a manifesto.

What is most surprising is Verstappen’s awareness of the difficulties he would have – and has – encountered over the course of the weekend. Barring surprises, which are always around every corner in Monte-Carlo, it will be difficult for him to recover.

“I’m not disappointed with the position, but only with our performances which, throughout the weekend, were not a surprise for me, I already knew our limits before the weekend,” said the Dutchman at the end of qualifying .

Although Max was second fastest in the first sector, behind only George Russell during Q3 (18″255 Max, 18″386 Leclerc), the three-time world champion lost more than two and a half tenths to Leclerc in the central part ( 33″174 Leclerc, 33″424 Max) and other hundredths in the last sector (18″710 Leclerc, 18″888 Max).

In short, where you need to attack the curbs, the RB20s are attackable to say the least. And if even a talent of the caliber of Verstappen is unable to go beyond the sixth fastest time, then it is a symptom that the situation is full-blown and difficult to repair, at least this weekend.

“It didn’t go well. I can’t catch the curbs, in the central sector I’m driving around the curbs. Honestly I feel like I’m driving a go-kart with no suspension and no shock absorbers. It was very difficult for us. I felt very comfortable in high-speed corners, so at least those were pleasant, but at low speed we lose too much.”

Verstappen will run in defense tomorrow. The situation is so clear and the track has unique characteristics of its kind that it leads one to think that the Dutchman can only manage the situation he finds himself in, without hoping for dramatic improvements.

“Yes. There are other tracks where the surface is bumpy and you have to go over the curbs, so it’s definitely a limit for us. If it’s a simple race, not much can be done, the cars are so wide and big that you can pass.”

“We just need to stay close to our rivals, we don’t have the fastest car, so it’s not like we qualified out of the best positions and there isn’t a pace advantage we can exploit. But we’ll see what happens.”