The Grand Prix of Monaco 2025 will enter the history books, not only because of the spectacular race on the iconic street circuit, but also because of the striking statements by Max Verstappen afterwards. The reigning world champion, who is involved in a fierce battle this season with the McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, surprised friend and foe with his sharp words after a disappointing fourth place in Monte Carlo. His comments focused primarily on the dominance of McLaren and the challenges that Red Bull is currently suffering from. These statements have not only attracted the attention of the fans, but also the team bosses of both Red Bull and McLaren have responded, which has further increased the tension in Formula 1.
The race in Monaco, which took place on 25 May 2025, was a triumph for McLaren. Lando Norris took the pole position and won the race, while his teammate Oscar Piastri achieved a solid third place. Verstappen, who started from fourth place after a difficult qualification, could not keep up with the pace of the McLarens. After the race, he expressed his frustration towards Sky Sports: “You can’t race here. It doesn’t matter if you make one or ten pit stops, catching up is almost impossible. We didn’t have the speed to fight with the boys in front.” These words were not only a reflection of his disappointment about the result, but also an indirect criticism of the current Formula 1 cars, which according to him are too large and too heavy for street circuits such as Monaco.
Verstappen’s comments did not come out of nowhere. This season Red Bull has difficulty keeping up with the dominant form of McLaren. McLaren won five of the eight races in 2025, with Norris and Piastri who together form a very strong duo. In Imola, the Race for Monaco, Verstappen managed to win through a brilliant catch -up action on Piaastri in the first round, but in Monaco it became painfully clear that Red Bull still has a weakness on bumpy surfaces. Verstappen pointed specifically to the problems in the second sector of the circuit, where the RB21 had difficulty with mechanical grip and driving over KERBS. “We know this is our weakness,” he said after qualifying. “It’s no surprise, but it’s frustrating.”
The reaction of Red Bull team boss Christian Horner was remarkably moderate. He acknowledged McLaren’s superiority in Monaco, but emphasized that Red Bull is working hard on solutions. “Max is honest about where we are,” said Horner. “Monaco is a unique circuit, and we knew it would be difficult. But we have updates in the pipeline that hopefully make us more competitive on other circuits.” Horner also pointed to the recent upgrades that alternate their fruits in Imola, with adjustments to the rear -wheel suspension and the engine covering ensured better tire effect. Yet he admitted that Monaco is a circuit where the driver makes the difference, and that, despite his talent, Verstappen simply did not have the car to fight for the victory.
At McLaren the mood was taken for granted. Team boss Andrea Stella praised Norris for his “phenomenal” qualifying round and emphasized that the team did not consider team orders to give Piastri priority, despite his lead in the championship. “We both give drivers equal opportunities,” said Stella. “But Max’s words show how strong we are at the moment. It is a compliment that even he recognizes our speed.” Stella also pointed to the adjustments that McLaren had made for Monaco, such as an adapted rear wing and improved front -wheel suspension, which perfectly matched the requirements of the circuit.
Verstappen’s pronunciation has further fueled the rivalry between Red Bull and McLaren. While Norris is now only three points behind Piastri in the championship and Verstappen follows 22 points behind, the battle for the title has not yet been decided. The next race in Barcelona, with its mix of fast and slow turns, will be crucial to see if Red Bull can close the gap with McLaren. Verstappen himself remains combative: “We still have many races to go, and I never give up.” His words after Monaco not only increased the tension in the paddock, but also the expectations for a sizzling continuation of the season.
