Max Verstappen suffers embarrassing defeat as....

Max Verstappen suffers embarrassing defeat as….read more

Max Verstappen and the Red Bull Racing team encountered a challenging and unexpected setback during the second practice session (FP2) at the Monaco Grand Prix. The reigning World Champion had a forgettable outing on the tight and twisting streets of Monte Carlo, while Red Bull’s junior team, Racing Bulls, stole the spotlight with a standout performance.

Adding to the drama of the session, Red Bull reserve driver Isack Hadjar suffered two separate crashes, drawing significant attention and concern from the paddock. Despite his misfortunes, it was Hadjar’s fellow Racing Bulls driver, Liam Lawson, who helped elevate the junior team’s profile with a strong showing in the timesheets.

Verstappen, widely regarded as one of the most dominant forces in modern Formula One, could not find his rhythm around the notoriously tricky Monaco circuit. He ended the session outside the top ten, trailing both Racing Bulls drivers, as well as several of his main rivals. His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, also found himself struggling to get up to speed and failed to finish in the top positions.

Meanwhile, it was a surprising and encouraging day for Racing Bulls. Despite Hadjar’s incidents, both he and Lawson delivered remarkable pace. Lawson, standing in for Daniel Ricciardo, looked composed and confident as he maneuvered through the narrow track to secure a solid sixth-place finish in the session. Hadjar, despite crashing into the barriers on two separate occasions, managed to clock a time good enough for fifth before his day came to an early end.

The strong performances by Racing Bulls highlighted the growing talent within Red Bull’s developmental ranks and gave fans a glimpse of what the future of the team could look like. The results also intensified the pressure on Red Bull’s senior drivers, especially given the unusual positioning on the timing charts.

Red Bull engineers appeared perplexed by the lack of grip and balance in Verstappen’s RB20. The car, usually known for its stability and consistency, looked unusually unsettled through the corners. Radio messages between Verstappen and his race engineer suggested frustration and confusion as the team tried to diagnose the issues during the session.

Verstappen, never one to hide his emotions, voiced his discontent over the team radio, expressing his dissatisfaction with the car’s performance. His complaints about understeer and oversteer hinted at a deeper setup problem that could take time to fix before qualifying and race day.

Adding to Red Bull’s woes was the visual impact of Hadjar’s double crash. Though both incidents were relatively minor in terms of damage, they emphasized the unforgiving nature of the Monaco circuit. One small error can end a session — or even a race — on this narrow and punishing street layout. Fortunately for Hadjar, he escaped both incidents without injury.

In contrast, the mood in the Racing Bulls garage was upbeat. Lawson’s composed performance and Hadjar’s flashes of speed were seen as proof that the team’s junior drivers are ready to challenge for more competitive seats in the near future. With Ricciardo’s future uncertain and Sergio Perez still seeking consistency, Red Bull’s talent pipeline could be seeing a shakeup sooner than expected.

As the Monaco Grand Prix weekend continues, all eyes will be on how Red Bull responds. Can Verstappen and his team bounce back from this uncharacteristically weak showing? Will the Racing Bulls continue to outperform expectations? Practice sessions may not determine the final result, but they can provide valuable insight into the direction of the weekend.

For now, it’s clear that Red Bull has work to do, while their junior counterparts are making the most of their opportunity to shine.