Despite missing out on pole position by just 43 thousandths of a second, Max Verstappen looked like a satisfied driver after qualifying in Monaco. On a circuit renowned for highlighting pure driving talent, the four-time world champion delivered arguably his strongest qualifying performance of the season so far, securing second place on the grid alongside the current championship leader.
Max Verstappen: “I have no regrets about my lap”
“After this morning, I hoped we could make some improvements, but I certainly didn’t expect to be fighting for pole position,” Max Verstappen said after qualifying in Monte Carlo.
The Dutch driver completed what was perhaps his best day of the season so far, coming within a fraction of securing his first pole position of the year.
“Even this morning I felt quite comfortable in the car, but I thought that getting into the top five would already be a good result. Then, during qualifying, I realized fairly early on that I was feeling much better in the car.”
From Q2 onwards, Max Verstappen gave the impression that he was capable of delivering a very strong performance. Red Bull appeared increasingly competitive as the session progressed, with Isack Hadjar even finding himself among the top three during the second phase of qualifying.
“We still have some issues to deal with on the car. If someone had offered me this result yesterday, I would have happily accepted it. It was the most important session of the weekend. Tomorrow is a new beginning, but so far it has been a very positive weekend for us.”
Adding to Red Bull’s encouraging Saturday was Isack Hadjar’s impressive fifth-place qualifying result, ahead of George Russell’s Mercedes.
According to Max Verstappen, the tiny gap separating him from pole position cannot be attributed to a single mistake or missed opportunity.
“Trying to visualize where I lost that time? To be honest, I never really do that. Sometimes you are slightly ahead, sometimes you are slightly behind. That’s life. I was happy with my lap and when I crossed the finish line, I thought: if someone beats it, then that’s fine.”
On the 2026 Formula 1 cars: “The chassis regulations are actually quite good”
Max Verstappen’s criticism of the upcoming 2026 Formula 1 regulations has been widely documented, particularly regarding the new power unit rules. However, following Monaco qualifying, the Dutchman chose to focus on the positive aspects of the new chassis regulations, explaining why he believes they could improve the racing experience.
“I think the regulations regarding the chassis are actually not bad at all,” he said during the post-qualifying press conference.
“The cars are narrower and I think that is a positive thing. Visually, I also like the front end much more compared to last year, when we had those appendages above the wheels.”
However, the Red Bull driver could not resist making another subtle reference to the aspects of the regulations that have never convinced him.
“Of course, if you could always drive flat out and have complete freedom in choosing the gears, the corners would naturally be even better. Here in Monaco I found myself in a situation that felt more similar to the past, but unfortunately we can’t do that at many other tracks on the calendar.”
His comments once again highlighted the distinction he sees between the aerodynamic and chassis aspects of the 2026 rules, which he generally appreciates, and the power unit regulations, which continue to generate concerns among several drivers and teams.
Kimi Antonelli earns Verstappen’s respect
One driver who appears to be mastering the current generation of Formula 1 machinery with remarkable maturity is Kimi Antonelli. The Italian secured his fourth pole position in just six races, further strengthening his position at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.
As has happened on several occasions this season, the post-qualifying atmosphere once again revealed the mutual respect between the four-time world champion and the young Mercedes driver.
“When you see a young driver coming through the junior categories and you realize he has something special, it’s not really a surprise,” Max Verstappen said.
“But then, of course, talent has to be combined with becoming a more complete driver, and you also need the right package around you to achieve that. This year he is showing that, with the right package, he is doing a great job as a driver. It’s nice to see.”
The comments reflected the growing recognition within the paddock that Kimi Antonelli is rapidly establishing himself as one of Formula 1’s leading talents. Monaco has traditionally placed enormous importance on the race start, often making the opening metres one of the most critical moments of the entire Grand Prix. With overtaking opportunities limited, securing track position early can dramatically shape the outcome of the race.
However, Max Verstappen does not believe passing the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli when the lights go out will be a simple task: “I would recommend staying still for a second when the lights go out,” he joked while looking directly at Kimi Antonelli, prompting laughter in the room.
Whether the joke proves prophetic or not, one thing is clear: after a qualifying session decided by just 43 thousandths of a second, the battle between Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen promises to be one of the key storylines of the Monaco Grand Prix.
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