Breaking: Max Verstappen Forces Red Bull to Make Overnight Change A…read more

Verstappen Forces Red Bull to Make Overnight Change Ahead of Monaco Grand Prix

Max Verstappen has prompted an overnight response from Red Bull Racing following a difficult second practice session at the Monaco Grand Prix, where the reigning world champion faced unexpected equipment issues.

Fresh off a brilliant win at the Imola Grand Prix, Verstappen arrived in Monaco aiming to build momentum in his quest for a fifth straight Formula 1 title. However, the weekend got off to a rocky start, with the Dutchman finishing only 10th in FP2—well off the pace.

During the session, the 27-year-old expressed frustration over his visor, questioning whether it was the same model he used in FP1 and suggesting something was wrong with the tear-offs.

“I think there was definitely something wrong with those tear-offs,” Verstappen said over team radio to engineer Gianpiero Lambiase. “The quality was really bad.”

Lambiase responded: “Copy that, we’ll sort overnight,” confirming that the team would address the issue before Saturday’s all-important qualifying session.

The visor problem appeared to significantly affect Verstappen’s performance during the session, which was held in low-light conditions that may have further exacerbated the issue.

Despite Red Bull struggling to match McLaren’s pace this season, Verstappen has remained consistent, scoring two wins and two second-place finishes in the first seven races. He currently trails Oscar Piastri by 22 points in the standings and sits just nine points behind Lando Norris.

Verstappen has also been strong in qualifying this year, securing three poles so far. Another pole position in Monaco—where overtaking is notoriously difficult—could set him up for a third victory this season.

With Red Bull taking swift action to resolve the visor issue, Verstappen will be hoping for a smoother run in Saturday’s qualifying as he looks to maintain pressure in the championship fight.