Verstappen Says Red Bull Took Canada Lessons On Board Ahead Of Monaco

After a public spat over car setup following qualifying in Canada, Max Verstappen says Red Bull has properly analysed the situation and taken lessons forward.
The four-time world champion raised eyebrows in Montreal by openly admitting the team had ignored his setup feedback, partly to prove a point.
“I’ve pointed it out so many times already, but sometimes you just have to let them feel for themselves that it doesn’t work,” Verstappen said in Canada.
Team principal Laurent Mekies had defended the approach, suggesting that such “I told you” moments are part of Red Bull’s internal culture and even necessary for development.
Ahead of Monaco, Verstappen confirmed the matter had been discussed thoroughly within the team and that progress had been made internally.
“I just think that the direction in Montreal wasn’t progress at all. But it was analysed properly and I think it became quite clear,” Verstappen said during his Dutch media round in Monte Carlo.
“Hopefully it’s just a lesson learned for the coming races, to make sure we head in the right direction.”
Verstappen also acknowledged that his public comments served a deliberate purpose beyond simple frustration, aiming to keep the team technically sharp.
“I always try to keep everyone sharp anyway. I simply wasn’t happy during that qualifying session because things weren’t working well. And that’s why I gave my honest opinion.”
When asked whether Red Bull would now follow his feedback more closely, Verstappen clarified that this is normally already the standard at the team.
“They usually listen very well to what I have to say. It was just one of those moments where I had to be very clear that this wasn’t the right direction.”
Looking ahead to the Monaco Grand Prix, Verstappen is not expecting a straightforward weekend, having joked in Montreal that he would need to “order a new back” for the race given the RB22’s weakness over bumps and kerbs.
He confirmed that little had changed in the weeks since Canada, meaning a difficult weekend in the principality remained his expectation, with no second consecutive podium on the cards.
Engine partner Ford expressed optimism after Red Bull’s first podium of the season, indicating it hopes to secure a race victory, but Verstappen was blunt about the current reality.
“Quite a lot of things still need to happen for us to get a win. You can say it, but you have to stick to the facts. We’re still too slow to win, and I think that will also be the case here.”
Verstappen agreed with McLaren’s assessment that Ferrari enters Monaco as the outright favourite, pointing to the Scuderia’s recent form in slow-speed corners as the key indicator.
“If you look at the last few races, Ferrari has been extremely strong in the slow corners. So I think they’ll be very good here. Those are exactly the areas where we’re not quite optimal at the moment. And that simply costs lap time.”
On the topic of whether the new-generation cars would improve the notorious lack of overtaking in Monaco, Verstappen was equally direct in his scepticism.
“The cars are smaller, you can see more of the tyres. But on the other hand, the drivability is a bit more difficult than last year, so I don’t think it will make a huge difference,” he said.
“And the cars are still too big. You can’t overtake in Formula 2 either. You can’t overtake in Formula 3 either. You can’t even overtake in a Porsche Cup car either. If you’re fighting the cars around you, then you can’t overtake.”
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