Jolyon Palmer expects Red Bull to face a tough weekend in Monaco. Although the former Formula 1 driver saw a positive development at the Austrian team during the race weekend in Canada, he does not think this will be enough to compete for victory in Monte Carlo. According to the Brit, the best chances currently lie with Ferrari. “I would put my money on Leclerc,” Palmer says.
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Red Bull has been dealing with chassis issues this season. Max Verstappen had already expressed dissatisfaction with the behavior of the RB22 on kerbstones and bumps, something that can be an important factor in Monaco. Still, Palmer saw a development in Montreal that offers optimism for the upcoming races. “The only positive development I saw was the adjustment they made between the sprint and qualifying. They found a considerable improvement in compliance (the flexibility of the car and suspension, ed.),” Palmer says in the F1 Nation podcast.
‘Better start’
However, Palmer emphasizes that one positive development does not automatically mean Red Bull will immediately return to the top. The former Renault driver believes the team needs to prepare better. “If you look at the sector times, Max and Isack Hadjar were particularly fast in the first sector in Canada. Maybe they found something there that brings them closer to the front group. We will only know when the cars hit the track again,” Palmer explains.
According to the Brit, it is therefore crucial that Red Bull is competitive from the first free practice. While competitors like Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren have often been competitive right away in recent races, Laurent Mekies’ team regularly needed time to find the right setup. Palmer thinks the team cannot afford that in Monaco. On a street circuit where position is crucial, a difficult start to the weekend can have consequences. “They need to start this weekend better than they have recently,” Palmer states.
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‘The specialist’
Despite the small bright spot for Red Bull, Palmer sees Ferrari as the biggest favorite for victory in the principality. According to him, the strengths of the SF-26 match the characteristics of the circuit. Ferrari has, according to the analyst, a strong chassis, good traction at low speeds, and a car that performs well on circuits where engine power is less decisive. “Ferrari will definitely win a race this year. I think they have a great chance in Monaco. I would put my money on Charles Leclerc, because he is the specialist there and it is also his home race,” Palmer emphasizes.
The Brit expects Monaco will not be Ferrari’s only chance for success this season. Many races earlier this year have, according to him, exposed the weaknesses of the Italian team because circuits with long straights are not ideal for Ferrari. On more technical and twisty circuits, Palmer sees the chances increase. “The power unit is their weak point, but on circuits where that weighs less, they get better chances. That’s why I think they will be competitive. The first races were not an ideal mix for them,” Palmer concludes.
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