Max Verstappen admitted on Thursday that the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix will be a highly competitive weekend, saying the top of the field is “close” given the recent performances of both McLaren and Ferrari.
His boss will take up the baton on Friday. FIA press conference.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner echoed Verstappen’s comments in Monaco on Friday, saying he expected a very “competitive” Monaco Grand Prix.
“Well, I mean, Imola was obviously a difficult, no, a much more difficult weekend. We got pole position and we won the Grand Prix, but the finish was much closer and for us it was a race in two halves.” Horner said on Friday.“The first half of the race was very good, but then in the second half, the last 20 laps, our performance dropped off. I think we learned a lot from Imola.”
“Monaco is a totally different challenge. You know Ferrari are fast, you know McLaren are fast too, and you know Mercedes looked quick in the first session too, so it will be a very competitive qualifying tomorrow afternoon.”
The Red Bull boss also said the current “convergence” at the front of the field was “inevitable” given that F1 is in the third year of the current regulations and the impact of the cost cap.
“Well, it’s inevitable. I mean, it’s the third year of these regulations and it’s inevitable that it will converge. It’s great that we’ve been at the front for so long, but as the look and shape of the cars and the lap times converge, it’s inevitable that there will be some intense competition,” Horner said. “So we’re fully expecting that here in Monaco. It’s a unique layout on the calendar and, of course, it all comes down to one lap tomorrow afternoon.
“Well, I guess we’re a little more iterative, so obviously we’ve bought a few pieces here and there and they’ve done what they said they would do. [simulator]”But as you start to get towards the top of the curve, you’re hit with the law of diminishing returns in terms of how much development you put into the car,” Horner added, “and of course, now we have a cost cap, so we have to be very selective about when we introduce these upgrades.”
The FIA press conference took place after Friday’s first practice session, where Verstappen finished 11th. Horner was asked about that performance, comparing it to a similar struggle Verstappen experienced on the Friday before last weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
“There’s always pressure to improve and I don’t think anyone feels that pressure more than those within the team. We’re converging, we’re playing in different types of venues, different combinations. [tire] Horner explained: “Obviously the car was difficult to drive on Friday in Imola but I think the team did a great job turning it around and Max did a great job to get pole position and the win. Today it’s a bit skewed because some teams ran three sets of tyres, including the soft tyre.” [tire]But we’ll see this afternoon and in FP3, because obviously this race is all about qualifying.”
Verstappen appeared to have made a step forward in the second session, setting the fourth-fastest time, but the Red Bull driver complained that his car was shaking a bit, likening it to being like a kangaroo.
Can Verstappen, Horner and company tame the kangaroo in time for the crucial qualifying session?
Time will tell.
