Why Verstappen felt like himself again in Monaco GP qualifying

Max Verstappen said Monaco Grand Prix qualifying reminded him what he likes about driving an F1 car after taking second on the grid in Monte Carlo.

The Red Bull driver narrowly missed pole position to Kimi Antonelli by 0.043 seconds, but said the session felt more natural because Monaco qualifying allowed a more flat-out approach than the energy-management style that often defines modern Formula 1 racing.

Verstappen said the lap was rewarding and that he felt like himself again in the car. He also said Red Bull’s front-row pace was better than expected after a difficult start to the weekend.

The result was a strong turnaround for Red Bull on a track where qualifying matters more than almost anywhere else. Starting from the front row gives Verstappen a real chance to fight for a major result in Sunday’s race, even if Monaco’s narrow streets make overtaking difficult.

Official Formula 1 and Verstappen-linked reporting both described the session as unexpectedly competitive for Red Bull, with the team surprised by how much pace it found when the cars were pushed flat out.

What Verstappen said

Verstappen’s comments centered on the contrast between Monaco and the more controlled, energy-sensitive style that usually shapes qualifying. In Monte Carlo, he said, he could attack the lap in a way that felt more instinctive.

That made the front-row result feel particularly significant after recent struggles. For Red Bull, it was also a sign that the team may still have a chance to threaten at circuits where pure pace and precision matter more than long-run management.