Lights Out: Red Bull's big Monaco problem

Lights Out: Red Bull's big Monaco problem

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Friday 25 May 2018 10:00

Red Bull might have put affirmed their status as Monaco Grand Prix favourites, with Daniel Ricciardo on record-breaking form, but a stellar practice performance was not without its pitfalls. Namely, exactly what is Christian Horner going to complain about this week?!

Ricciardo twice lowered the Monte Carlo lap record, topping the timesheets in both of Thursday's sessions, ending the day with one minute 11.841 seconds by his name - making him the only driver to drop below 1min 12secs.

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Max Verstappen closely followed Ricciardo each time, with a mixture of red and silver around half a second adrift in FP2.

Half a second! If Verstappen's suggestions that Red Bull are yet to display their full potential is true, then even all the party modes in the marina won't be able to deny them just a second pole position of the hybrid V6 era, following Ricciardo's here two years ago (just don't mention the pitstop, I did once but I think I got away with it...).

Red Bull's scream off the edge of their 2013 cliff has put Horner in a particular funk.

Trains running late? Renault's fault. Dog peed on the sofa? Renault's fault. Verstappen can't stop crashing? Well, he wouldn't be in such battles if it weren't for you know who.

Saturday and Sunday could see Horner time warp back to happier times. Just make sure the tyres are delivered on time...

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