Monaco Grand Prix – Race: jackpot for Verstappen

Max Verstappen won a prestigious victory on Sunday in the streets of the Principality! First success in Monaco in the career of the Red Bull driver. The Dutchman also becomes the leader of the world championship thanks to the average result of Lewis Hamilton.

On the podium with Verstappen, Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris! The Monaco Grand Prix ended with 2 retirements: poleman Charles Leclerc before the start and Valtteri Bottas on board his Mercedes.

Verstappen takes advantage at the start

The Monaco Grand Prix 2021 took a big turn even before the start. Charles Leclerc, the poleman, abandoned in his box without taking his place on the grid. This was due to a crash into the barriers at the end of Q3 in the Piscine chicane, which damaged the transmission of the Ferrari #16.

There was also some action in the warm-up lap at La Racasse! Kimi Räikkönen

Stopped and restarted his Alfa Romeo after about ten seconds to take the turn. Delayed procedure but clean start! The new leader Max Verstappen fought to keep his position against Valtteri Bottas, closing the door on him. The Red Bull driver quickly built a gap over the Finn: two seconds ahead on the 10th lap, despite the Mercedes driver’s best lap on the 7th lap. A record taken back by Verstappen on the 12th lap, and then by his teammate Sergio Pérez.

Everyone made it through the first round without any problems, despite a strong move from Loews at the bottom of the rankings between the two Haas cars, **Mick Schumacher** diving on the inside of **Nikita Mazepin**. The overtaking in the early rounds: the drivers maintained their respective positions for the first 20 laps of the race!

The FIA still had work to do, reminding the drivers at the Port chicane, at the exit of the Tunnel. Nikita Mazepin was in the spotlight… then Lando Norris, who was in 4th position (20th lap)

Cruel for Bottas

There was no need to rely on rain this Sunday: the Monaco Grand Prix took place on a completely dry track, with sunshine in the sky of the Principality: 21 degrees in the air, 42 degrees on the track (at the start). The race became more lively with the pit stops.

It was actually Mercedes who started the pit stop wave: Hamilton’s undercut on the 29th lap, who tried to pass Gasly, without success. Disaster struck for Bottas on the 31st lap: an endless pit stop and a nut problem. Everything collapses for the Finn, who retired shortly after!

Jackpot, however, on the side of Sebastian Vettel. The Aston Martin driver passed Gasly and Hamilton. It was limited at the pit exit but the German driver took the advantage over the AlphaTauri one. To the great dismay of Hamilton behind, furious on his radio for not having benefited from his pit stop.

Tire change more efficient for Verstappen on the 35th lap, dropping from first to second place for a few laps. Always formidable in managing his tires, Sergio Pérez led the Grand Prix for a brief moment. Following his pit stop on the 36th lap, the Mexican came out in 4th place, behind Verstappen, Carlos Sainz, and Lando Norris, the new top 3 on the track.

Best lap for Hamilton

The end of the race was mainly a case of a battle from a distance. A race against the clock, with still a close battle at the front: Sainz catching up with Verstappen, within three seconds with 15 laps to go.

In 3rd place, Norris unintentionally inflicted humiliation on Ricciardo by lapping him. A staggering gap between the two McLarens, with the Australian stuck in the midfield, ahead of a non-existent Fernando Alonso. “Horrible” nonetheless, according to Norris, equipped with hard tires and caught up by Pérez.

Thin final consolation for Hamilton: the seven-time world champion stopped at the pit to get equipped with soft tires, without losing his 7th place. The Mercedes driver achieved the best lap on the 71st lap. But the British does not step on the podium at the finish for the first time since the Italian Grand Prix 2020.

But the big winner of the day is Verstappen: 12th victory in the career of the Dutch driver, ahead of Sainz and Norris!

Great day for Verstappen, who takes the lead in the drivers’ standings for the first time in his career. Red Bull also moves ahead of Mercedes in the constructors’ standings, by just one point!

The complete ranking of the Monaco Grand Prix:

After Monaco, discover the new drivers’ general ranking and the new constructors’ general ranking!