Starting from the second row in Monaco is a real handicap, especially when two Ferraris are in first place. But the Red Bull strategy worked perfectly with a first stop on lap 16 for Sergio Perez to put the middlemen. A winning move for the Mexican since he chained fast laps with new tires while the Ferraris and Verstappen were still on the track and on rain tyres. Then, on lap 22, Red Bull responded to Ferrari’s double pit stop from the previous lap and the shot then became perfect as Perez reclaimed the lead ahead of Sainz, Verstappen and Leclerc. The final classification. Sergio Perez, faster than Verstappen throughout the weekend, scored his third career success. A great reward for the Mexican, author of a solid start to the season. A satisfying day also for Max Verstappen who took three points from Charles Leclerc and consolidated his position as leader in the world championship.
Quietly, George Russell continues to impress. Fifth in Monaco, the Mercedes driver has never left the top 5 since the start of the season. His consistency is a real strength for his team and weekend after weekend, the ex-Williams driver gives a lesson to … Lewis Hamilton, only eighth on the Rock on Sunday. After seven races, Russell has already gleaned 84 points for what can be called a successful acclimatization for the 24-year-old driver.
This seventh place in the Principality will do Fernando Alonso good. The Spanish driver was quite unlucky since the start of the season but has just had two races in the top 10 after his ninth place in Barcelona. What to restore his morale. It also helps to score points as Esteban Ocon, twelfth, was ejected from the top 10 following a five-second penalty after contact with Lewis Hamilton.
The Scuderia has awakened its old demons. Long mocked for their strategies, the Italians had recently rectified the situation. Sunday in Monaco, everything resurfaced. So in the lead, Charles Leclerc was pushing to switch directly from rain tires to those for dry tracks. Just like Carlos Sainz. But his team made the choice to bring the Monegasque back on the 18th lap to put on intermediate shoes. A losing bet since the poleman came out behind Sergio Perez. Already annoyed by this strange choice, number 16 became furious on lap 21 when the Scuderia opted for a double stop in order to put hard tires on its single-seaters. Ferrari had then lost the race lead to Perez and Leclerc had lost the podium, relegated to fourth place. A sentence difficult to accept for him, especially at home. The Monegasque still loses big points in the championship, especially after his retirement in Spain last weekend.
After a positive start to the season, the American team has been suffering for three races. It has failed to score points since Imola and on Sunday its two drivers retired. Kevin Magnussen suffered a loss of power as he battled for a top and Mick Schumacher literally cut his car in half at the Piscine bend. A scary crash but the pilot came out unscathed and that’s the main thing.
