Monaco offers best chance for rivals to eclipse Red Bulls

THERE has been an air of predictability to Formula One in 2023. As the paddock has unpacked at each new location, there has been talk of closing the gap on the runaway championship leaders, only for Red Bull to then comfortably come away with the win.

In Monaco, however, there is genuine belief that the sport could witness its first winner of the season outside Max Verstappen (right) and last year’s Monaco victor, Sergio Perez.

Red Bull have won five races out of five this season but were eclipsed for one-lap pace by Ferrari at the last street circuit race, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Verstappen described Sunday’s race as “probably the most difficult one to win” of the season, with much resting on qualifying pace.

The two-time world champion said: “You know that once you have a bit of a setback in qualifying, you can’t really pass in the race. I want to win.”

Ferrari perhaps pose the biggest qualifying threat, while Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin should like the circuit’s slow-speed corners.

There is also a potential spring forward for Mercedes with their upgrade package, due in Imola but making its debut in practice this afternoon after the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was cancelled.

Verstappen picked Ferrari as his biggest threat but said: “Also, I think Aston Martin are quite good in the slow speed. It’s going to be a bit more difficult, closer together. We still have a good car, it’s just trying to extract the most out of it.”

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton has quashed rumours he could be set for a switch to Ferrari at the end of the season.

The 38-year-old seven-time world champion said: “My team is working closely behind the scenes with Toto [Wolff, his Mercedes team principal] and we are almost at the point of having a contract ready. It is much more relaxing, because before I was doing it myself. Naturally, there is always going to be speculation and, unless you hear it from me, that’s what it is.”