Red Bull's Helmut Marko provides downbeat prediction for 'farce' Monaco Grand Prix

The Monaco Grand Prix is the second race in the current triple-header, and while Max Verstappen kicked it off strongly with a win at one of his favourite tracks, Imola, success there doesn’t necessarily translate to the tight, twisty streets of Monaco. As Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko pointed out, Imola and Monaco are very different challenges.

"It's a completely different circuit with only slow corners. It could go a lot worse there," he explained in conversation with Oe24. "From the driver's perspective, it usually revolves around the qualifying, that one fast lap. The race itself is usually a farce. Last year, Leclerc and Sainz sometimes went slower than in Formula 3."

After a red flag on lap one in 2024, drivers were able to change tyres, and the Monaco Grand Prix became a processional race with no overtaking in the top 10. This year, there have been changes, meaning that teams must stop their cars twice minimum.

Verstappen has acknowledged that the Circuit de Monaco presents unique challenges for the Red Bull Racing team. Still, Marko remains confident: if anyone can make the difference on the tight, unforgiving street circuit, it’s the four-time world champion. "Max has once again proven that he is the best with his action at the start," Marko stated, referring to the Dutchman's first lap overtake on polesitter Oscar Piastri in Imola. "Seeing the gap and then exploiting it like that, only he can."