In a thrilling and rain-soaked Monaco Grand Prix, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen emerged as the winner, overcoming a mid-race downpour and a formidable challenge from Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso. Verstappen secured his fourth victory of the season, further solidifying his lead in the championship standings.
Verstappen had initially maintained a comfortable lead, but his race took an unexpected turn when his team delayed his pit stop in an attempt to synchronize it with the incoming rain. Meanwhile, Aston Martin missed a strategic opportunity to potentially surpass Verstappen by opting to pit Alonso for dry tires as the rain intensified.
However, the decision proved costly for Alonso as he had to pit again for intermediate tires on the following lap, ultimately extinguishing his chances of claiming the lead. Verstappen capitalized on the situation, making the right tire choices and successfully navigating the treacherous conditions to retain his position at the front.
The rain created chaos on the track, with half of it being wet and the other half dry during a critical phase of the race. Several drivers, including Verstappen and the Ferrari drivers, chose to stay out, while others switched to intermediate tires. Verstappen’s skillful driving helped him maintain control despite briefly colliding with a wall at Portier.
Although Alonso closed in on Verstappen after changing tires, the Red Bull driver managed to increase his lead once again and ultimately secured the victory. Behind them, Esteban Ocon of Alpine showcased impressive defensive driving to hold off challenges from Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, securing a podium finish.
Ferrari’s strategists faced scrutiny for their decision-making, as delaying their pit stops cost Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz positions, leaving them in sixth and eighth place, respectively. Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s teammate, experienced a race to forget, encountering multiple setbacks that included a collision and crashes during the rain, leading to five pit stops and diminishing his championship hopes.
