Red Bull driver Max Verstappen expressed his disappointment after a challenging first day of practice for the Monaco Grand Prix. The Dutch driver faced set-up struggles, radio complaints, and multiple brushes with the barriers during the sessions.

In the first practice session (FP1), Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez could only achieve 11th and 12th fastest times, respectively. Their best times were posted on medium tires. However, when they switched to softs for the second practice session (FP2), Verstappen secured fourth place on the timesheets, while Perez grabbed eighth position.

Throughout the day, Verstappen was heard over the radio complaining that his Red Bull car was bouncing around "like a kangaroo." He also had a few close encounters with the walls, including a momentary thump as he navigated the Mirabeau Bas corner.

Reflecting on the day's challenges, Verstappen stated that the circuit's bumpy surface, kerbs, and camber changes were posing significant difficulties for the Red Bull. These obstacles caused them to lose substantial lap time, affecting their overall performance. Verstappen expressed frustration at the lack of a clear solution or direction to address these issues.

When asked if there was an understanding of why the Red Bull car was struggling in Monaco, Verstappen emphasized that the problems faced were not easily solvable through setup adjustments. He noted that these issues were inherent to the design and construction of the car, making overnight changes impossible. Verstappen acknowledged Ferrari's superior pace, remarking that his focus for now was attempting to improve the drivability of the Red Bull rather than chasing the leading team's performance.

Verstappen's teammate Perez echoed his sentiments, highlighting the challenge of overcoming the limitations and balance issues faced by the Red Bull. Perez, who finished almost a second behind Verstappen, expressed the need to thoroughly evaluate their approach and make improvements to be in a better position to compete at the top.

Both drivers recognized that Ferrari currently seemed out of reach, acknowledging the strength of the Italian team's early pace.

As the Monaco Grand Prix progresses, the Red Bull team will be working diligently to address their car's shortcomings and find ways to optimize their performance. Verstappen and Perez remain determined to overcome these obstacles and aim for a more favorable outcome in upcoming races.

It is evident that the challenges faced by Red Bull in Monaco have put them on the back foot, but their resilience and tenacity will be put to the test as they strive to overcome these hurdles and compete at the highest level in one of Formula 1's most iconic races.