Max Verstappen is expecting another difficult weekend as Red Bull prepare for the Monaco Grand Prix.
The world champion has seen his massive advantage over the rest of the field clawed back by McLaren in recent weeks and the British team will fancy their chances on the famous street circuit.
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Lando Norris won his first Formula 1 race in Miami three weeks ago, beating Verstappen by seven seconds after being handed the advantage with a timely safety car.
He nearly made it back-to-back victories in Imola last weekend but had to settle for second, with the gap less than a second to the Dutchman,
Verstappen’s brilliance won him the race in Italy rather than the car, with team-mate Sergio Perez finishing eighth.
Despite his return to winning ways, the 26-year-old is expecting even more intense competition at Monaco.
“It’s probably not going to be our best track… I don’t think this is going to be a very easy weekend but Monaco never is”
Max Verstappen is preparing for a close fight on the Principality’s streets #F1 #MONACOGP PIC.TWITTER.COM/UN1AGAJRI6
— Formula 1 (@F1) MAY 23, 2024
He said: “Looking at the track layout it’s probably not going to be our best track, just because our car normally struggles a bit over bumps and kerbs.
“We did work on it a bit compared to last year.
“So far on most of the tracks that we’ve been to our low-speed performance has improved a little bit, but I don’t think this is going to be a very easy weekend.
“After Miami, it was quite clear when we went into Imola that [the gap between teams] had all closed up a bit, even though Imola was probably also not our easiest weekend. For sure, Monaco is always like that anyway.
Verstappen won in Monaco last year but is up against it from the closing pack.
One-time race winner Norris is brimming with confidence following McLaren’s significant upgrades in the early part of the season but it is local lad Charles Leclerc who Verstappen might have to watch out for.
The Ferrari driver said: “I would be surprised if I am not in the mix for pole at least.
“What you have in Monaco more than the tracks is the risk assessment.
“This is where the driver can make a big difference by taking more risk. It either pays off or not at all.
“As soon as you try to go a bit more on the limit, you straight away see it on the lap time.
“Coming Q3 [qualifying], you start to get pretty close to the walls but it is exciting. I don’t get that feeling anywhere else on the calendar.”
