Helmut Marko admits Red Bull’s struggle after Verstappen setbacks

Red Bull was left searching for answers after Max Verstappen finished just fifth in qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. The team had hoped for at least a spot on the front row after Verstappen placed second in the final practice, but things changed quickly when it mattered.

Verstappen could not get the RB21 to deliver the grip he needed around the tight street circuit, especially during the last sector. He settled into fifth place, trailing the pole time by a full seven tenths of a second—a significant deficit for such a short lap.

Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s motorsport advisor, shared that even the team can’t clearly explain where the pace was lost. Red Bull’s engineers noticed the car was sliding more than expected, with grip fading just when Verstappen needed it. Earlier issues affecting Verstappen’s performance have also been analyzed, such as his struggles during the first laps.

Marko stated that after a solid showing in practice, the gap to the front runners in qualifying came as a surprise. He admitted the team could not have matched the lap times set by McLaren and Ferrari even if everything had gone right. For more details on Monaco Grand Prix qualifying trends, you can explore FIA’s official race analysis.

Verstappen remained the best-placed Red Bull driver, with his teammate Yuki Tsunoda provisionally starting from 12th after being eliminated in Q2. Tsunoda’s situation was more complicated due to missing upgrades following a heavy crash in Imola.

Tsunoda’s car had to revert to an older specification. Marko explained that there were not enough new parts available for both drivers at Monaco because of the crash and parts production limits, so Verstappen received priority for the latest updates.

In recent weeks, McLaren and Ferrari have shown improved pace, while Mercedes also remains competitive. Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, took pole with a lap that broke the Monaco record and pushed Verstappen further down the grid than usual. Norris’s surge was one of several surprises during qualifying. Charles Leclerc and other top runners also benefited from a more stable car setup and upgrades which Red Bull could not match this weekend. To understand the aerodynamics behind such improvements, check out MIT’s Motorsports Research.

The qualifying outcome has shaken up the 2025 driver and team standings. Oscar Piastri leads the drivers’ race for McLaren with 146 points, followed by Lando Norris at 133. Verstappen now holds third place on 124 points, with Mercedes’ George Russell at 99 and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at 61. In the teams’ standings, McLaren leads with 279 points, followed by Mercedes with 147 and Red Bull with 131.

After these developments, Red Bull’s focus is on understanding what went wrong and finding ways to regain their performance edge. The team believes that more parts and upgrades should be available for upcoming races but admits that production rates can’t always keep pace with unexpected crashes or damages. The importance of car development for Red Bull’s title potential has never been clearer. For insights into F1 car manufacturing challenges, visit SAE International’s Motorsports Engineering.

The next chance to respond will come at the Spanish Grand Prix, where the team hopes to resolve grip issues and fight for top positions once again. Further challenges lie ahead as Red Bull prepares for circuits like the Nurburgring, where recent performance struggles underline the need for adaptation and improvement. More insights on this can be found in the coverage of Verstappen’s Nurburgring plans and expectations here. For historical context on the Nürburgring’s challenges, explore Nürburgring’s official site.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.