Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez admit skill-demanding Monaco GP might be ‘more difficult’ for Red Bull

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez open up about the expected struggles for Red Bull in Monaco.

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez admit skill-demanding Monaco GP might be ‘more difficult’ for Red Bull

Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen, image via Thesportrush.com

Red Bull Racing has dominated the 2023 F1 season so far. The Milton Keynes-based team has won all five rounds held this year. Max Verstappen leads the championship with three victories, followed closely by teammate Sergio Perez with two. However, the Red Bull pairing knows things won’t be so easy for the Austrian team at the challenging Monaco GP.

The reigning world champion admitted that the RB-19 is unsuitable for the iconic street circuit. Verstappen believed that Red Bull would love to win the race but the Austrian team would stay content with a good points haul as well. The 25-year-old was confident that the team would maintain its pace advantage over rivals at other tracks on the calendar.

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Similarly, Perez acknowledged that the tight and twisty streets of Monte Carlo were probably not the strongest suit for Milton Keynes. The Mexican driver was cautious that the team might struggle to match rivals at this race. He said, “I think it’s gonna be a little bit more difficult and closer together”. Checo believed that he and Verstappen will have to get the tires at the right temperatures in Qualifying to have a fighting chance.

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“Anything can happen,” Sergio Perez on the Monaco GP

Sergio Perez 2022 Monaco GP, image via The Guardian
Sergio Perez 2022 Monaco GP, image via The Guardian

Despite the grim atmosphere at Red Bull before the Monaco GP, Sergio Perez affirmed that all is possible at this historic circuit. The 33-year-old stated, “It’s still Monaco and anything can happen”. The Milton Keynes-based team has dominated races but felt the pressure during Qualifying from rivals including Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc who took the pole in Azerbaijan.

The Mexican driver expected rivals to be in the mix for the win in Monte Carlo. Sergio was adamant that Fernando Alonso and the two Ferraris might pose a challenge to the reigning world champions. Even Mercedes might get a chance to cause an upset after the Silver Arrows brought in their highly anticipated side pod upgrades.

Thus, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez believe that it won’t be easy sailing for Red Bull in Monaco. The Austrian team might have to fight tooth and nail for the race victory as rivals seem better suited for this track. However, the team is confident that this is a one-off occurrence and Milton Keynes can bounce back straightaway at the next round of the season in Barcelona.

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