Max Verstappen and Red Bull endured yet another difficult Friday at the Monaco Grand Prix. The reigning world champion finished the day 10th fastest.
This has become a recurring theme for Verstappen in 2025. Last weekend at Imola, the Dutchman was four-tenths off the pace in FP2.
By the time qualifying came around, Verstappen was only a few hundredths adrift of polesitter Oscar Piastri. He went on to win the race after an epic first-corner move.
Red Bull engineers have made an impressive habit of turning their weekends around. But a seven-tenth deficit to Charles Leclerc’s benchmark on a 2.1-mile Monaco circuit is alarming for Verstappen nonetheless.
Damon Hill says the FIA must take action after Monaco Grand Prix close calls
FP2 could have been a lot worse with Verstappen. He was involved in a near-miss at the Swimming Pool chicane on a hot lap.
The 65-time race-winner encountered the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto going slowly, as well as his teammate Yuki Tsunoda. There could easily have been a crash.
“Mate! Unbelievable!” Verstappen protested over the radio. “These guys! So dangerous!
“I know it’s only practice, but for me that is unacceptable, that kind of impeding. It’s so dangerous in the Swimming Pool.”
This was one of a number of heart-in-mouth moments for the drivers as they navigated the notorious Monaco Grand Prix traffic. Lewis Hamilton also came close to collecting the Alpine of Pierre Gasly at Massenet.
Writing on X, 1996 world champion Damon Hill called for the FIA to take action.
“They have to do something about quali and slow cars,” Hill wrote. “It’s too dangerous to have this disparity of speed.”
Why F1 fans are changing their minds about Max Verstappen in 2025
The impeding incidents will only have added to Verstappen’s frustration on Friday. Critics have branded him impetuous behind the wheel, but one can understand his radio outburst in these circumstances.
Verstappen has become the ‘underdog’ this year, with McLaren universally regarded as the quickest team. He’s prevented them from enjoying total domination.
His image is changing as a result, with more fans starting to appreciate his greatness. He was booed in Italy in 2023, but the crowd chanted his name at Imola last week.
Verstappen produced one of the all-time great overtakes to pass Piastri at the start. Christian Horner says no other driver on the grid could have pulled off the move.
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