Max Verstappen hopes \u201cmaybe I can be surprising\u201d in Barcelona, but is not expecting Red Bull to be as competitive as it was in Monaco.<\/p>\n
Despite Verstappen retiring on the first lap in Monaco, Red Bull did celebrate a podium with Isack Hadjar securing his first as a Red Bull driver with a third-place finish.<\/p>\n
Max Verstappen seeking Barcelona \u2018surprise\u2019<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Verstappen put in an excellent lap in qualifying to line up on the front row with Kimi Antonelli, but an issue at the start saw the four-time world champion bog down and get away slowly.<\/p>\n With that, he brought his car back into the garage in what was a short afternoon of racing in the end.<\/p>\n However, with the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix quickly approaching, attention soon turned to what lay ahead.<\/p>\n Verstappen took his first-ever race victory in Barcelona a decade ago and won three races in a row there between 2022 and 2024.<\/p>\n With the track having completely different characteristics to Monaco, as well as being more power-hungry \u2013 meaning drivers are likely to need to recharge their batteries more over a lap \u2013 the Red Bull driver is not expecting the same level of performance from his team this weekend.<\/p>\n However, he hopes to potentially surprise the frontrunners.<\/p>\n \u201cGreat track,\u201d Verstappen told PlanetF1.com and others about the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.<\/p>\n \u201cI always like driving there, even though I think even this year will be lifting and coasting, and that\u2019s a bit painful, I just hope that our car will be performing well.<\/p>\n \u201cNot expecting it exactly like it was [in Monaco], to fight maybe for the front row, but maybe I can be surprising.\u201d<\/p>\n As for where he expects Red Bull could challenge, Verstappen added: \u201cIt will all depend on the development throughout the year between teams because a lot of the teams will bring a lot of things this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n More on the Barcelona Grand Prix on PlanetF1.com<\/p>\n F1 Barcelona Grand Prix 2026 event centre \u2013 Live updates, schedule, weather, preview<\/a><\/p>\n Luke Browning handed valuable Williams audition as Alex Albon sits out Spain FP1<\/a><\/p>\n PlanetF1.com has seen a document<\/a> stating Red Bull Powertrains was deemed the benchmark in 2026 power unit performance in the FIA\u2019s first Additional Upgrade Development Opportunities [ADUO] findings, meaning Verstappen and Hadjar both currently access the fastest engine in Formula 1.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Thomas Maher<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n