If Max Verstappen wants a chance at victory in Monaco on Sunday from P2, he will probably have to strike at the start. “Because overtaking is difficult here, even with these narrower cars,” the Dutchman says during the press conference in the principality.
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Only 43 thousandths separated him and Kimi Antonelli, the man who starts from pole on Sunday. Behind the Italian world championship leader, Verstappen can try to secure the first victory of the season. He himself hadn’t dared to dream that he would even have a chance in Monaco in recent days. “Before qualifying, for example, things didn’t go well at all in the third free practice. Friday went well, but I didn’t expect to start on the front row.”
Overtaking
Winning would be the ultimate stunt. But overtaking in Monaco is and remains difficult, Verstappen thinks. “Tricky, even with these slightly narrower cars,” it sounded in the press conference. So it has to happen at the start? Yes, you would think. Verstappen: “But starting is more difficult to get right this year. We need to look at that carefully, because I also have two fast-starting cars behind me (Ferraris, ed.)”
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Be that as it may, it’s a good weekend anyway. Also because of the new cars. The fact that Verstappen is often critical of this is due to the engine regulations. “For the chassis, I don’t think the rules are bad at all. The cars are narrower and you have a better view of the front tires.”
That is precisely an advantage on Monaco’s small street circuit, while the negative influences of the new engine regulations are also not too bad. Or as polesitter Antonelli agreed with Verstappen: “You didn’t have to manage the battery on the outlap. So this was a qualifying session where you only had to think about driving as fast as possible.”
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