The four time world champion downplayed complaints about the lack of overtaking in the principality. "I think it has always been the same, it's just that fifteen years ago there were no social media," he stated.
Max Verstappen does not believe the criticism of the Monaco Grand Prix is anything new, the Red Bull driver said that the negativity surrounding the iconic urban circuit is not essentially different from before and that the only thing that has changed is the way people express their opinion: "I think it has always been the same, it's just that fifteen years ago there were no social media, now anyone with a phone or a laptop can complain online, before people could only vent their frustration at home or with a family member," declared the Dutchman during the media day ahead of the Grand Prix.
The principality has received many criticisms for years due to the lack of overtaking and the lack of excitement during the race, but Verstappen believes that the perception that complaints have increased is due exclusively to the visibility given by digital platforms: "Where before people were shouting at home, now more people just write about it online" argued the four time world champion, who does not believe that Sunday's show is worse than in previous decades.
On the sporting side, Verstappen was cautious about Red Bull's chances in Monaco, the RB22 has become more competitive in recent races but the Dutchman still sees weak points that may become more visible on the bumpy urban circuit: "Realistically, in slow corners we are quite good, but here you also need to be good over the kerbs and bumps, that is precisely an area where we don't excel, we will have to wait and see how that evolves during the weekend" explained the driver.
Verstappen, who has been repeatedly critical this season of the new generation of Formula 1 cars, also does not believe that Monaco will show the best of these cars: "Probably the car is a bit more agile in the slow corners, but that goes hand in hand with driving, and in that I think these cars have taken a step back compared to last year, so we'll see" he replied when asked if the principality could favor the RB22's characteristics.
Verstappen's first memory of Monaco is not exactly positive, the Dutchman recalled laughing about his debut on the urban track: "My first memory is probably that I crashed the front of the car into the barrier, it's not exactly a great memory" confessed the driver, who hopes that this weekend the story will be very different.
Criticism of Monaco will continue, but Verstappen believes it has always existed, it's just that now it's more visible.
