'AWOL' Marko tips 2026 Monaco Grand Prix to fail too: Here's why

18:46, 27 May

Updated: 18:47, 27 May

byNorberto Mujica

Although for 2026 the F1 cars are set to be smaller and lighter under the upcoming regulation revamp, Red Bull Racing's chief advisor Helmut Marko doesn't believe this will be enough to salvage 'incredibly boring' Monaco Grand Prix.

After the race in Monte-Carlo the 81-year-old Austrian was nowhere to be seen: ‘’I left immediately. We had a shuttle boat that took us from the circuit to the Red Bull Energy Station, so I avoided all the hustle,’’ he said to OE24.

Only hail Mary circumstance could bring Verstappen to win 'incredibly boring' Monaco GP

For Verstappen it was a race about mitigating the loss in the championship standings to McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris. A win, should it be possible to attain, could only come from a circumstance outside of his control. ‘’In the final phase, there needed to be a safety car or a red flag, that was the only chance for Max.’’

The FIA introduced a two-stop mandatory rule for the race in Monte-Carlo, to no avail, sees Marko. ‘’Nothing, at least not without a safety car. It was an incredibly boring race, the midfield was even more delayed than last year. Overtaking is simply impossible on this circuit, even if you are five seconds faster.’’

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Max Verstappen at the start of the Monaco Grand Prix

The Austrian believes that not even the dractic rule change set to be implemented next year will be enough to overturn the lack of action at the legendary street track.

‘’That the cars are becoming smaller is not enough. The Formula 2 cars are quite a bit smaller and they had the same overtaking problem we had.''

Despite Verstappen finishing just outside the podium places, and the fact he was pipped by Norris and Piastri, Marko hopes the Dutchman and Red Bull can turn things around for the upcoming weekends.

‘’That's our hope, the qualifying in Barcelona is also very important, because it could be difficult to overtake there as well. If tyres burst, it's highly likely this will occur on the straight part of the race, both at the start and finish.’’

For the Spanish Grand Prix the FIA is implementing a revision of Technical Directive TD018 to restrict front wing flexion upon load, the impact of which may hinder some teams who've been known to exploit this area more than others, including McLaren. Marko tempers expectations: ‘’I'm curious to see if that's really the case.’’