Max Verstappen’s hopes of winning the Monaco Grand Prix this year heavily depend on his performance in qualifying, as Red Bull’s senior advisor Helmut Marko described the actual race as “usually a farce.” The 2025 Monaco Grand Prix approaches with Verstappen aiming to secure his third victory at the event, following wins in 2021 and 2023, building momentum after his recent success in Imola.
Why the Monaco Race Often Fails to Deliver Excitement
The Monaco Grand Prix stands as one of Formula 1’s most prestigious events, part of the esteemed Triple Crown of Motorsport which also includes the Indy 500 and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite its grandeur, changes in car design—particularly the increasing size and weight of F1 vehicles—have severely limited overtaking opportunities on Monaco’s narrow street circuit. This makes starting position vital here more than almost anywhere else on the circuit calendar.
Marko’s candid observation highlights the lack of racing spectacle on race day, emphasizing that a strong qualifying lap is what truly matters. When asked about the significance of Monaco for Verstappen, Marko stated,
“From the driver’s point of view, it’s usually only qualifying that counts, that one fast lap.”
He bluntly added,
“The race is usually a farce.”
Last year, [Charles] Leclerc and [Carlos] Sainz were sometimes slower than in Formula 3.
—Helmut Marko, Red Bull Senior Advisor
Marko drew on his extensive own experience at Monaco to reflect on how the race has changed. Now 82, and once a Formula 1 driver himself before a career-ending injury at the 1972 French Grand Prix, Marko contrasted today’s event with how it was during his racing years:
In my day – I drove Formula 3, Formula Vee and Formula 1 in Monaco – it was different,” Marko continued. “It was a real challenge, without crash barriers, without anything.
—Helmut Marko, Red Bull Senior Advisor
Verstappen’s Critique of Modern F1 Cars on Street Circuits
Verstappen’s own views on the current generation of Formula 1 cars provide little optimism for Monaco’s racing quality. Speaking at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Verstappen described the ground effect cars as “dull” for street tracks, lamenting their size, stiffness, and weight.
“I do think the cars that we have now, they just don’t really work that nicely on a street circuit, unfortunately,”
he said, explaining that past cars, despite slower lap times, felt more alive and responsive on circuits like Monaco.
He elaborated that previous models allowed drivers to take curbs and experience a more dynamic handling, whereas current cars feel flat and uninspiring in comparison. However, Verstappen did acknowledge that on fast, flowing tracks like Imola, driving remains “a lot of fun.”
But yeah, on tracks like this [Imola], it is a lot of fun, you know, so many fast corners. And you know that basically the limit is the gravel or the grass, and I think that makes it always a little bit more exciting and a little bit more difficult.
—Max Verstappen, Formula 1 Driver
Championship Context Heading into Monaco
Entering the Monaco Grand Prix, Verstappen sits third in the Drivers’ Championship standings, trailing leader Oscar Piastri by 22 points. With the unique challenges posed by the tight and twisty street circuit, the focus on securing pole position through qualifying will be central to Verstappen’s strategy to improve his championship position and maintain Red Bull’s competitive edge.
The Broader Significance of Monaco and What Lies Ahead
The Monaco Grand Prix remains a symbolic and prestigious race despite growing criticisms of its race-day spectacle. Success here carries immense weight for drivers chasing motorsport immortality, tying into the elusive Triple Crown. For Verstappen, mastering qualifying is vital to overcoming the limitations imposed by current car designs and the track’s nature, which fundamentally shape race outcomes at Monte Carlo.
As Formula 1 continues to evolve, how the Monaco Grand Prix adapts or whether qualifying will persist as the decisive factor remains a question, but the immediate challenge for Verstappen is clear: deliver an outstanding performance when it matters most on Saturday to set himself up for a third Monaco triumph.
