Satisfied Verstappen wants bigger buffer at Ferrari and Aston Martin in Monaco

Zaterdag 12.30-13.30 uur: Derde vrije training
Zaterdag 16.00-17.00 uur: Kwalificatie
Zondag 15.00 uur: Race

26 mei 2023 om 18:37Update: een uur geleden

After a difficult start, Max Verstappen finally bounced back in contentment with two free practice sessions for the Monaco Grand Prix on Friday. The Dutchman expects that he needs a bigger buffer for Ferrari and Aston Martin.

“In the first free practice I was not happy with the way the car went on the track curbs and the bumps, so we had a difficult time,” said Verstappen, who recorded the sixth fastest time in the first practice session. Carlos Sainz was the fastest.

Limburger complained a lot about his car in the first session of the day. Between the two practice sessions, Red Bull has clearly changed something for the better in the set-up. “In the second training it went better and we were competitive.”

So the World Cup leader took the fastest time of the day, but his lead over Charles Leclerc was narrow. The Monegasque was 0.062 slower in his Ferrari. “They are close, so we still have to work. And Aston Martin is also close.”

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‘I could get closer and closer to the center of defense’

According to Verstappen, the Ferrari is still better than the big bumps that the road circuit in Monte Carlo has. “Their handling is better. We’re a little short there, so we need something to stay in front of them. We need a buffer.”

The two-time world champion still sees so much in his car. “I hope we can get that. But today the car was already running well at the end. So that allowed me to push and get closer and closer to the guard cage.”