Max Verstappen confirmed that he did some testing on the Red Bull Formula 1 simulator to recover from a disappointing Monaco GP. Red Bull has faced strong competition from Ferrari and McLaren in the last few races, resulting in two out of the last three races without a win. The three-time world champion acknowledged the need to bounce back in the next race.
Verstappen admitted that Red Bull had a challenging time in the previous race in Monaco, finishing in sixth place. In response, he returned to the team’s headquarters in Milton Keynes to complete laps on the Formula 1 simulator in preparation for the Canadian GP.
The Dutch driver emphasized that the Canadian track is unique, with old curbs and ample overtaking opportunities. However, the curbs have been a challenge for Red Bull, leading Verstappen to highlight the importance of finding the right setup to ensure enough speed on the straight for the race.
Before the Canadian Grand Prix, Verstappen stated: “After a tougher weekend in Monaco, this week I’ve been with the team back at the factory and in the simulator, preparing for the Canadian Grand Prix. The track is very unique, has some old curbs and there are…”
Both Verstappen and his teammate, Sergio Perez, have faced difficulties in the last few races. Red Bull finds itself in a challenging position due to the competitiveness of Ferrari and McLaren, who have returned to the front of the grid. Despite this, Perez expressed hope that the team can bounce back with a strong performance in the Canadian GP.
Perez recognized that Red Bull had a disastrous race in Monaco, attributing it to a poor performance in qualifying that affected the entire weekend. He emphasized the need for improvement in Montreal, believing that a better result in qualifying would lead to a smoother weekend for the team.
Perez stated before the Canadian Grand Prix: “We need to get back to the standards we were setting before Imola and put the car in a better window to perform both on Saturdays and Sundays. Although the race was a disaster in Monaco, we were in the wrong position on the grid due to a…”
Arguably, both Verstappen and Perez may be feeling the pressure to deliver in Montreal. Red Bull is gradually losing its lead in the standings to their rivals, making it crucial for the drivers to put on a solid performance in the Canadian GP.