Verstappen Admits 'I Told You So' Game with Red Bull Over Setup in Canada

Max Verstappen publicly admitted that he let Red Bull go against his setup feedback during qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix, stating he wanted to prove the direction wouldn't work. The four-time world champion said the matter was discussed internally and now serves as a lesson for future race weekends.

Why it matters:

The tension highlights the ongoing challenge Red Bull faces in translating Verstappen's feedback into a competitive setup for its 2026 challenger. With the team struggling over bumps and kerbs, the driver's influence is critical to closing the gap to frontrunners like Ferrari and McLaren.

The details:

• Verstappen's honesty: "I pointed it out so many times... but sometimes you just have to let them feel for themselves that it doesn't work." He added that he uses public criticism to keep the team sharp.
• Team culture: Principal Laurent Mekies confirmed such "I told you" games are part of the culture and necessary for progress.
• Monaco outlook: Verstappen expects a tough weekend, citing the car's weakness over bumps and kerbs. He agrees with McLaren that Ferrari is the favorite due to exceptional slow-corner performance.
• Win prospects: Despite Ford's hope for a first victory, Verstappen says Red Bull is still too slow: "Quite a lot of things still need to happen."
• Overtaking in Monaco: Verstappen believes the new-generation cars won't improve overtaking, as the cars are still too big and drivability is more difficult.

What's next:

Verstappen heads into the Monaco GP realistic about his chances. While the lesson from Canada may help align the team with his feedback going forward, the immediate priority is managing expectations on a circuit that exposes the car's weaknesses.