Helmut Marko is reasonably satisfied with how the first free practice session went for Red Bull Racing. Charles Leclerc's Ferrari went the fastest lap, but the Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were not far off.
Talking to Sky Marko says he is "happy" with the small gap with the Italian rival. "Max set his time on the very first lap with his mediums. That was definitely not the moment that was most suitable [for such a fast run]. Then he braked and we decided to call it a day in terms of fast times."
In the previous Grands Prix, it has become clear that Red Bull makes the difference precisely on the straights, while Ferrari has an advantage over the RB18s in the slow corners. The speeds on the Monaco circuit are relatively low and that should be to the advantage of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Still, the gap is only minimal. "We are looking forward to the whole event with confidence," he said.
So in the short runs, Red Bull already seems to have things pretty much in place. In the second free practice, the Formula 1 teams will complete the necessary long runs. It will then become clear whether Marko's team can also compete with Ferrari over a full race distance.