LECLERC WINS IN MONACO
Monaco, the Grand Prix every driver wants to win, a race very few drivers have won. The jewel in the Formula One crown. The race win that had eluded Charles Leclerc for so many years but this year was different - he had been on the pace and above the pace all weekend since FP1 and simply dominated all race despite the first lap drama. Oscar Piastri in just his second Monaco Grand Prix takes second in a controlled race from the Aussie driver and Carlos Sainz makes it a 1-3 for Ferrari.
It never is the most exciting race in Formula One but often causes a lot of drama...
On the start it was pole man and home hero Charles Leclerc who got a great getaway and lead into turn one with Oscar Piastri holding second from Carlos Sainz in third.
But as Sainz attempts an early pass on Piastri ahead of him into Casino Square Sainz get's puncture and is stranded waiting to get going again.
But thankfully for Sainz there was contact further the back with Sergio Perez and the two Haas drivers of Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen both out, in a dramatic crash going up the hill on the exit of turn one. This causes a red flag not only to clear up the debris and three cars but also to fix the barriers.
Sainz got going again and was able to make the restart and depending on when the red flag was shown Sainz could go from last to third. As the drivers didn't complete a lap the order was taken back to the start so Sainz was gifted back P3 which he would go on to hold all race over Lando Norris.
There was also contact between the two Alpine drivers with Esteban Ocon going air born for a brief moment after trying an audacious move on teammate Pierre Gasly. Esteban Ocon is retired from the race during the red flag after Alpine were able to look over the car. Ocon has been given a grid drop for the next race and also a very harsh warning from team principal Bruno Famin who said after the crash the team will have to consider Ocon's future...
We got going again on Lap 3. With a carbon copy of the first start (minus the crashing) with Leclerc leading with Piastri second, Sainz in third with Norris in fourth and George Russell fifth.
On Lap 50, Stroll has a puncture not long after pitting so the Aston Martin has to pit again ruining the race for Stroll.
The next race is the Canadian Grand Prix.
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: Under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. All images are owned by Formula One.
Comments