Max Verstappen left the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix with more frustration than satisfaction after a fourth-place finish and a damning review of Formula 1’s latest attempt to inject excitement into one of its most historic, and most processional, races with the Dutchman suggesting bananas as a solution.
The Red Bull driver compared the race to “Mario Kart” in the aftermath, mocking the mandatory three-tyre compound rule that forced all drivers to make two pit stops during the 78-lap race around Monte Carlo. Verstappen claimed the regulation added little to the on-track spectacle and failed to solve the root issue: the sheer difficulty of overtaking at Monaco.
“We were almost doing Mario Kart,” Verstappen said to Sky Sports F1. “Then we have to install bits on the car. Maybe you can throw bananas around. Yeah, I don’t know. Slippery surface.”
Red Bull strategy gamble fails to deliver results
Verstappen and Red Bull adopted an alternate approach on Sunday, opting for a reverse strategy that saw the Dutchman start on the hard tyre, switch to mediums, and delay his final stop for as long as possible.
With overtaking near impossible, the team’s only realistic shot at victory hinged on a late red flag, which would have allowed Verstappen to change tyres under neutral conditions and possibly hold on to the lead. But the caution never came.
“Of course I get it, but I don’t think it has worked,” Verstappen added. “You can’t race here anyway, so it doesn’t matter what you do. One stop, 10 stops. Even at the end I was in the lead, but my tyres were completely gone, and you still can’t pass.”
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Despite briefly heading the race during the final stint while rivals Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri completed their second stops, Verstappen was forced to pit with one lap remaining, dropping him back behind the frontrunners.
“Yeah, there was nothing to lose, right? I had a big gap behind. It was still the same position for me, but that’s Monaco for you,” Verstappen said. “Qualifying is super important. Normally, when nothing bad happens you don’t really move forward. And if you just do normal pitstops, you just keep your position.”
Red Bull’s weaknesses over bumps and kerbs, often masked on conventional circuits, were again exposed in Monaco. Verstappen qualified fifth — over seven tenths down on polesitter Norris — and inherited fourth on the grid after Lewis Hamilton’s penalty.
Verstappen now 25 points off title lead
The result sees Verstappen remain third in the standings with 136 points, now 25 points behind championship leader Oscar Piastri and 22 back from Norris, who claimed his second career victory after controlling the race from the front. The Formula 1 calendar now moves on to the Spanish Grand Prix, where Red Bull will be looking to rediscover the pace that has eluded them at slower street circuits.
“I also don’t think we had the pace anyway to fight the guys ahead, because every time I tried to stay with them, my tyres were wearing and graining a bit too much. But yeah, P4 is definitely the maximum we could do,” Verstappen added.
Why did Max Verstappen call the 2025 Monaco GP “Mario Kart”?
He criticised the race’s strategy-based tyre rules and joked about adding gimmicks like “throwing bananas,” mocking F1’s efforts to spice up Monaco.
What was the new tyre rule for the Monaco Grand Prix 2025?
Drivers were required to use three different tyre compounds during the race, effectively enforcing two mandatory pit stops.
How did Max Verstappen finish fourth in Monaco 2025?
Verstappen delayed his second pit stop in hopes of a red flag but was forced to pit on the final lap, dropping out of podium contention.
