Chaos Race in Monaco! First of all, rain causes the start to be postponed. The Ferrari disaster involving pole setter Charles Leclerc makes Red Bull and Sergio Perez celebrate, Max Verstappen is third behind Carlos Sainz. Mick Schumacher puts his Haas against the wall.
1. Sergio Perez (Red Bull)2. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)5. George Russell (Mercedes)6. Lando Norris (McLaren)7. Fernando Alonso (Alpine)8. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)9. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo)10. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin)…Out: Mick Schumacher (Haas)
Extra point (fastest lap): Lando Norris (McLaren)
The most important thing in brief: Sergio Perez won the Formula 1 classic in Monaco. The Red Bull teammate of last year’s winner and world champion Max Verstappen relegated Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari to second place on Sunday in a race that was initially characterized by heavy rain. Championship leader Verstappen was third.
Only then did the Monegasque local hero Charles Leclerc follow in fourth place. After a tactical mistake by his Ferrari team, pole position was of no use to the 24-year-old at his home appearance in front of a full ranks. In the World Championship standings, Leclerc’s gap to Verstappen increased to nine points.
For Sebastian Vettel, after starting ninth in the Aston Martin, after two hours of the race it was enough for one point in tenth place.
A serious accident stopped Mick Schumacher prematurely. The 23-year-old German’s Haas racing car was torn in two when the crash hit the crash barriers. Schumacher was able to get out of the destroyed car on his own and was unharmed. His accident had caused another interruption. Because of the heavy rain at the scheduled start time, the Grand Prix in the Principality was postponed by over an hour.
No time to breathe. Just a few days after Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen took power in the world championship, he was once again the hunted. This time in Monte Carlo, the Dutchman’s adopted home.
His first challenger is Charles Leclerc, who was born in Monaco and has known every corner since childhood. So far, that hasn’t helped him much. The two in the Red Bull and Ferrari may have to be prepared for even more resistance from Mercedes this time anyway.
After three wins in a row, Max Verstappen has received an enormous boost and is starting as the world championship leader. In his world champion year 2021 he won for the first time in Monte Carlo, which he now wants to confirm.
But as with his Ferrari rival Charles Leclerc, who has been downgraded to being a pursuer and who has been plagued by bad luck and breakdowns in Monte Carlo and recently even demolished a historic racing car owned by Niki Lauda there, it also depends on the stability of his car.
However, the short circuit in Monte Carlo is at least not one that wears out the engine too much. It will be exciting to see whether Mercedes can continue the upward trend with record world champion Lewis Hamilton and his new partner George Russell.
Clearly: to qualifying. The one fast lap on Saturday is so decisive for the outcome of the race on Sunday. Since 1979, when Jody Scheckter won from pole position in the Ferrari, the eventual race winner has only failed to finish in the top three in qualifying three times.
What is always decisive in the race: When does the safety car have to come out with a previous probability of 80 percent? And how is the weather? According to forecasts, it could rain on Sunday. This can cause turbulence.
It will at least be exciting to watch how the drivers will heave the cars, which are almost 50 kilograms heavier, around the tight corners. In addition, due to the larger tires, the view from the cockpit is no longer what it was before. Every gang touch can mean the quick end in Monte Carlo.
So far it looks like talks are going on, according to the head of the Monegasque Automobile Club. It remains to be seen whether these will be brought to an end on the race weekend and a new contract will be announced in a PR-heavy way. Without changes, for example on the overtaking-hostile course, the former crown jewel in the racing calendar will also have a hard time, especially since Las Vegas could set completely new standards in the future.
Toni Kroos is really angry. He just won the Champions League with Real Madrid. But after the game against Liverpool he bickers live on ZDF with reporter Nils Kaben and angrily breaks off the winner’s interview. The Zoff in the wording.
