Although Red Bull failed to grab a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix, team boss Christian Horner is delighted that reigning champion Max Verstappen is still within a race victory from championship leader Oscar Piastri.
Although Red Bull came up with a host of strategy moves for Max Verstappen, the reigning champion finished from where he started the 78-lap Monaco Grand Prix.
The Dutchman qualified fifth, but he moved up the grid thank to a three-place grid penalty for Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen maintained his starting position at the start, and spent the majority on the race behind the trio of Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.
However, Red Bull came up with an ambitious strategy that saw Verstappen play the long game. With fifth-place Hamilton having rejoined the track almost 40 seconds behind the race leader following his last pit stop, Verstappen stayed out on the Monte Carlo track until the penultimate lap.
The Dutchman led the race from Norris and Leclerc, and was waiting for a potential red flag period which would have handed him the race victory. However, there was no interruption in the closing stages of the race, and the four-time F1 champion was forced to complete his second and last tyre service on Lap 77, ending the race in fourth place.
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