Christian Horner could be in for a 'Verstappen-slappen' as world champion's father, Jos criticises Red Bull for failing his son with its strategy in Monaco.

In all honesty, Max never looked entirely comfortable at any stage over the Monaco weekend, while teammate, Sergio Perez did.

Then, come qualifying, the Mexican out-paced his teammate to line-up third on the grid.

In the opening stages of the race - when it actually got underway - continued in third, before dropping to fifth when he pitted on lap 16.

Within a couple of laps he was up in second, courtesy of Lando Norris, race leader Charles Leclerc and Verstappen all pitting.

When Carlos Sainz pitted a lap later, on lap 21, Perez inherited the lead, and courtesy of his pace over the course of the lap, combined with Ferrari's strategic faux-pas, maintained the lead which he was to hold to the end of the afternoon.

However, according to Jos Verstappen, the Austrian team should have been more aggressive with its strategy.

"As a father I was disappointed with the race," he writes on the official Verstappen website. "Max's third place was very disappointing.

"We all saw that it was a difficult weekend for him," he continues. "It starts with the car, which simply doesn't have the characteristics for his driving style yet. Max has far too little grip at the front axle. And especially in Monaco, with all those short corners, you need a car that turns very quickly. That was just hard.

"Red Bull achieved a good result," he admits, "but at the same time exerted little influence to help Max to the front. That he finished third, he owes to Ferrari's mistake at that second stop of Charles.

"The championship leader, Max, was not helped in that sense by the chosen strategy. It turned completely to Checo's favour. That was disappointing to me, and I would have liked it to be different for the championship leader.

"Perez actually won the race because of the earlier pit stop," he insists. "The team can perhaps explain that as a gamble, but they had already seen, with for example Gasly, that the intermediates were the best option at that time.

"I would have liked them to go for Max, but of course I am not entirely objective. I think 10 points from Max have been thrown away here. Especially with the two retirements we've had, we need every point. Don't forget that Ferrari currently has a better car, especially in qualifying.

"Max also had bad luck in qualifying, because in his last run he was significantly faster and on his way to second place, until the crash of Perez. Then everything would have been different."

However, not wishing to sound too bitter, the veteran former Benetton, Arrows and Minardi driver finally pays tribute to the race winner.

"Apart from all this, I am happy for Checo," he writes. "Winning in Monaco is of course something special and I hope he enjoys it. From now on, it's full focus on the next races in Baku and Canada.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Tardis40, 06/06/2022 18:02

"Okay, Jos, instead of just bellyaching why not reveal how you think the strategy should have been handled."

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 04/06/2022 14:42

"Oh dear! Maybe RBR should sack Horner & all the strategists & hand it over to Jos?
I particularly enjoyed this quote:
"It starts with the car, which simply doesn't have the characteristics for his driving style yet. Max has far too
little grip at the front axle...."
So maybe Newey & his co-designers can get the boot too? Surely failure to design a car specifically tailored for young |Max is now a Capital Offence in Netherlands?
The cynic in me suggests that maybe young Max has "..too little grip." period.

I thought RBR & Merc's antics last season had had plumbed the depths of childishness. How wrong I was....."

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3. Posted by Ted Baker, 03/06/2022 10:34

"Typical Jos comment!!! Everybody else is wrong except him or Max. Max has been now been "rattled". Checo drove a superb race and Max had every opportunity to do better. Sometimes the cards are stacked against you and you have to accept it and move on to the next race. I hope Christian just lets them race each other and doesn't instigate any team orders again. It would be great to see a Mexican win the World Championship for the first time and Checo in his present form could do it."

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4. Posted by meatball, 31/05/2022 18:30

"somebody find Checo's dad and ask him what he thinks the result! Who cares what Jos thinks. "

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5. Posted by Batman, 31/05/2022 18:03

"I swear I thought that Red Bull at some point would call Checo to pit to "make the fastest lap" or to clean is visor or .... Wasn't Sainz in between and ... who knows?"

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6. Posted by trackrecords, 31/05/2022 17:42

"Perhaps seeing as it was not Hamilton or a Ferrari leading, then the FIA couldn't see a point in intervening: besides if Max is a World Champion then surely he should have the talent to overtake a few cars? Hamilton had no problem overtaking and moving up the field, so does Max need 'outside assistance' to achieve greatness? "

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7. Posted by Kristofforo, 31/05/2022 16:26

"Cry me a river Jos. "

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8. Posted by LiamIII, 31/05/2022 16:10

"In the states we have an NBA player whos dad interjected himself into every aspect of his sons career. What an annoying jerk. Such a distraction.

At least now I know why Max cries all the time, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

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9. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 31/05/2022 14:58

"I just love school sports - more action from the touch lines with angry parents!!!"

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10. Posted by rambler, 31/05/2022 14:36

"Just Jos reminding everyone that it is "Vestappen Red Bull Racing" and Chico has had his win for this year."

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11. Posted by RobMartin, 31/05/2022 14:12

"At least he recognises that he is "not entirely objective"!"

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Jos Verstappen critical of Red Bull's Monaco strategy

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