Oscar Piastri Warns Against Underestimating Red Bull Ahead of Monaco GP
Despite Red Bull’s past challenges at low-speed circuits like Monaco, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri remains cautious about writing them off ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix. Speaking to the media, the Australian driver emphasized that while Red Bull and Ferrari may have had issues in the past, they are still serious threats in Monaco.
Last year, Max Verstappen managed only a sixth-place qualifying result at Monaco—his worst of the 2024 season—as Red Bull struggled with the track’s tight, slow corners. A similar situation was anticipated at Imola, but Red Bull surprised many by remaining competitive, using the track’s mix of corner types to their advantage.
Piastri warned against assuming a repeat of Red Bull’s struggles, referencing how the team defied expectations at Imola. He also noted Ferrari’s traditional strength at the Monaco circuit and suggested they could be in the mix this weekend. However, he made it clear that McLaren remains confident in its performance and believes it has the speed to be the frontrunner.
When asked whether Monaco’s layout gave McLaren hope after Red Bull’s issues there in 2024, Piastri acknowledged that similar optimism was present before Imola—yet the result defied expectations. He reiterated that Ferrari might play a key role this weekend, given their historical performance, but stressed McLaren’s belief in their current form and improvements post-Imola.
Currently leading the Drivers’ Championship with 146 points, Piastri holds a 13-point lead over his McLaren teammate Lando Norris. Verstappen sits third with 124 points, 22 behind the leader.
Reflecting on Imola, Piastri admitted McLaren still doesn’t fully understand why they were slower than Red Bull. He theorized that the layout of Imola, which shares similarities with other Red Bull-friendly tracks like Jeddah and Suzuka, may have played a role. He also acknowledged Red Bull’s recent car upgrades as another potential factor in their improved performance.
Although McLaren was caught off guard by Red Bull’s strong race pace at Imola, Piastri emphasized that varying track characteristics will continue to impact team performance. He added that while Monaco is a unique challenge, upcoming circuits may give clearer insight into Red Bull’s competitiveness moving forward.
In the Constructors’ Championship, McLaren leads with 279 points—well ahead of Mercedes in second with 147. Red Bull currently sits in third. Still, both Piastri and Norris remain wary of the reigning champions, acknowledging that Verstappen and his team are never far from the fight.