Red Bull Optimistic After 'Decent' Monza Friday

Red Bull, often challenged at Monza, showed unexpectedly strong pace on Friday, boosting confidence for the Italian Grand Prix.

Why it matters

Red Bull's performance at circuits like Monza, which favor low-downforce setups, has historically been a weakness. Showing strong pace here early in the weekend is a significant indicator of the team's overall progress and potential for the race.

The big picture

Max Verstappen, P4 in FP1 and P6 in FP2 (just 0.199s off Lando Norris's benchmark), felt the car was much improved from last year's difficult Monza outing. He noted better competitiveness and car feel despite tricky track conditions with gravel being dragged onto the circuit.

The details

• Verstappen expressed satisfaction: "Last year was a difficult weekend for us and I think we seem a lot more competitive. I've been happier with the car as well."
• Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko echoed this optimism, citing an "incredible increase" in performance compared to last year.
• Marko even hinted at a potential win, stating, "We hope to fight with some others for the win," provided rivals like McLaren don't find another gear.
• Marko was particularly pleased with Verstappen's race pace, calling the long runs "very impressive," though he admitted that qualifying performance still required "a lot to do."
• The team was "very, very satisfied" with tyre wear, and Marko believes traction issues on soft tyres can be addressed without significant wing changes.

What's next

With strong race pace and a confident mood within the team, Red Bull will focus on refining their qualifying setup. Improving their Saturday performance will be key to converting Friday's promising pace into a competitive showing at the Italian Grand Prix, a circuit historically less favorable to them.