Max Verstappen believes he still has a chance to fight for victory in the Monaco Formula 1 GP this Sunday, even after losing pole position to Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. The Red Bull Racing driver will start on the front row alongside the championship leader and is banking on a good start to pressure his rival in the race.
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Although he came very close to securing pole position, the four-time champion was ultimately surpassed by Antonelli, who once again delivered a standout performance in the qualifying session. Nevertheless, second place was considered an important result to keep his chances of victory alive on the streets of the Principality.
The task, however, will not be simple. Monaco is traditionally one of the most difficult circuits for overtakes in Formula 1, which increases the value of positions gained in the qualifying session and makes any error even more costly during the race.
Asked about the secret to extracting the maximum on such a demanding track with no room for error, Verstappen gave a direct answer. According to the Dutchman, over-analysis can hinder drivers’ performance: “I try not to overthink it. Usually, that’s what works best,” said the Red Bull driver when commenting on his approach to facing the challenges of the Monaco circuit.
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Speaking about his expectations for the race, Verstappen highlighted that the start will be one of the most important moments of the contest. The Dutchman intends to focus on getting the best possible getaway when the lights go out, trying to create an opportunity to attack Antonelli in the opening laps.
Even so, Verstappen emphasized that a race in Monaco often holds unpredictable situations. For him, the result will not be decided solely at the start, as various factors can influence the course of the race.
“We’ll see. I’ll try to make the best start possible. After that, it’s a very long race and a lot can happen,” concluded Verstappen, maintaining the expectation of competing for victory despite the natural difficulty of overtaking on the Monegasque circuit.
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