Charles Leclerc got another Monaco pole position on Saturday. With Max Verstappen only managing 6th, it seemed as though the Monegasque had the perfect opportunity to finally win his home race.
Oscar Piastri put in a stellar performance to qualify in second place, which Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris qualified in third and fourth on the grid.
The race got off to an exciting start as Sainz tried to get past Piastri in the first corner, but got a puncture when his front left tire collided with the McLaren’s floor.
Further down the field, Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen collided and caused a red flag. The track had to be cleaned up, which gave Sainz a “get out of jail free card”.
At the restart, the grid order was reset and the cars were all fitted with fresh tires. There was no spectacular racing or exhilarating overtakes, but Charles Leclerc drove a commanding race to finally get his coveted Monaco race win.
The Monegasque was emotional on the podium alongside Piastri and Sainz, and it was a well-deserved victory.
Red Bull Have a Fight on Their Hands
Verstappen’s lead has now been reduced to 31 points over Charles Leclerc in the standings. In the Constructors, Red Bull’s lead is just 24 points.
With Sergio Perez struggling in comparison to his teammate and both Ferrari drivers in great form, it’s only a matter of time before the Scuderia make their way into the lead of the team’s standings.
Verstappen still has a strong lead in the drivers’ standings, but Leclerc has been closing the gap. The points difference between the two in Monaco made a huge difference in the title battle, and it could be the start of a serious title fight beteween the two for the remainder of the season.
Then there’s the threat McLaren brings to the table. With a win in Imola and a podium in Monaco, the British outfit are quickly closing the gap to Red Bull, and they certainly have the pace to compete for wins.
Has Hamilton Written Off His Season?
Lewis Hamilton is having an,other disappointing season. It’s his final year with Mercedes, and so far, he’s been pretty downbeat about his performances. An interview in Monaco suggested that the team is rallying behind George Russell rather than the 7-time World Champion.
Hamilton suggested that he’s going to be behind Russell in qualifying for most of the season. With Hamilton heading to Ferrari, Russell will be Mercedes’ priority for the rest of the season regarding upgrades and preferential strategy.
Is that the right call from Mercedes, or should they keep their options open?
Where is Sainz Going?
With Carlos Sainz out of a seat, rumours have been all over the place as to where he’s headed off to next. First there was Audi — which the Spaniard reportedly rejected.More recently, Sainz was rumored to be in talks with Mercedes to replace Hamilton, but that has apparently been called off as well.
This weekend, reports are suggesting that Sainz is in advanced talks with Williams. Now, that might sound crazy — why would a driver of his calibre be going to a backmarker team? But it might not be so crazy after all.
Alex Albon just signed a two-year contract extension at Williams, which suggests that the team has potential. With James Vowels at the helm, the team has been building towards the 2026 rule changes. They have the potential to become more competitive in the future, so it might not be a bad move.
Heading to Canada
Formula 1 heads over to Montreal in two weeks time for the Canadian Grand Prix. With Ferrari and McLaren closing the gap to Red Bull, we’re expecting to see another thriller! Can McLaren and Ferrari take the fight to the reigning World Champions again?
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