Red Bull: Thursday on the right track
The Ricciardo-Verstappen duo returned to within touching distance of the lead in both FP1 and FP2. The RB13 clearly has something to play for in Qualifying!
Ricciardo: FP1 → 5th, 1:13.854 (45 laps) / FP2 → 2nd, 1:13.207 (35 laps)
The big loser of the 2016 edition returns to the scene of the crime. Twelve months later, the Australian is back behind the wheel on the streets of the Principality. His Thursday will be quite satisfactory. Like the previous edition, the Red Bull is in the firing line for a good result!
As proof, Ricciardo finished four-tenths behind Vettel during the qualifying lap simulation in the afternoon.
« For a Thursday here, I’m pretty happy! I feel like we’re back in the right rhythm. »
A surprising thing in Monaco, the smiling Australian already seems satisfied with his settings.
« There are a few small points we need to work on, but generally, we are where we need to be; we are not beyond the second this time!
I think there’s no need to make many changes for now.
« Particularly on a street circuit, it’s preferable to drive a car you have mastered rather than a car that has ups and downs! This greatly affects the driver’s confidence! »
Verstappen: FP1 → 3rd, 1:13.771 (32 laps) / FP2 → 6th, 1:13.486 (36 laps)
Accident-prone in Qualifying and in the Race last year, the driver marked with number 33 knows he’s under scrutiny. Ahead of his teammate by a tenth this morning, he dropped three tenths during the second session. Yet, he too is happy with this Thursday:
« It was quite a good day. We are not very far! I stayed away from the walls, which is ideal. »
The young driver’s response must be balanced here. Although he did not hit the barriers, he damaged the floor of his RB13 by cutting the corner at the Nouvelle Chicane during FP1. For Jos’s son, the condition of the curb is in question. “I don’t know what happened, I hit it twice and it was already damaged!”
Offensive as usual, the Dutchman was sharp in front of the journalists’ microphones. His style hasn’t changed one bit, even in Monaco.
« If you are careful here, you finish last. Every driver pushes hard. But the margin is so limited on this track, as soon as you slide, you end up in the wall. »
The small regret in his schedule today is in any case at the time of FP2.
The important thing is to exploit the tires in the right window. We didn’t do it perfectly today. The second session was even a bit messy. But I repeat, we are not far off!
Need a #MonacoGP refresh? Scoot around Monte-Carlo with @Max33Verstappen! 🏎🇲🇨 #givesyouwings pic.twitter.com/UzbwKDh7Yy — Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) 25 mai 2017
Christian Horner’s opinion:
The team principal of the four-time world champion team already has his favorite for what comes next.
Ferrari seems to be the car to beat. With his driving, his ease in setting up the car well, it’s easy to see that Vettel is in a very good zone of confidence, he indicated to the Sky Sports F1 commentators during the second session.
Personally, the course is set and the main issue is identified.
« For me, he should be the favorite. But we can definitely get a front-row position just behind: everything is still possible! »
These tires are particularly sensitive. If you find the right operating window, you can unlock a lot of potential!
