The three-time Formula 1 champion is aiming to extend his lead in the standings and win a third Monaco Grand Prix in four years.
But his weekend has got off to a terrible start, with Verstappen finishing 11th and fourth in Friday’s two practice sessions, way off pace setters Sir Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
The Ferrari driver is currently the favourite for victory, though it seems inevitable that Verstappen will come good when it matters most on Saturday and Sunday just as he did last week in Imola.
But the Red Bull star doesn’t appear confident they can turn it around this time, and he and teammate Sergio Perez were left less than impressed with the poor ride quality of their RB20s on the gruelling street circuit.
Over the radio, the Dutchman complained he was: ‘Jumping like a kangaroo, man. I’m getting headaches, it’s crazy,’ while the Mexican bluntly added: ‘F***. The ride is horrendous.’
‘I don’t think I can describe what is going on. It’s difficult, but not what I did not expect,’ Verstappen later told Sky Sports.
‘The worst possible outcome of the weekend so far. A lot of bumps, kerbs and camber changes on the track, and for us that is impossible to take.
‘Every time we go over them, we lose a lot of lap time as the car struggles to drive. It’s hampering [our ability] to go faster. We don’t have a clear direction to solve it.’
Verstappen moaned of a similar thing in Imola practice before set-up changes allowed him to claim pole and then the win, but he is certain lightning will not strike twice.
‘Imola was completely different. These things we can’t solve with set-up because that’s how the car is designed. We can change it overnight so we’re stuck with that.
‘They [Ferrari] are miles ahead, I am not even thinking about that. I am just focused on making the car more driveable. We’ll try to make it better but I’m not expecting any miracles.’
The all important Monaco qualifying takes place in Saturday at 3pm UK time, with Sunday’s race getting underway at 2pm.
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