What a weekend in Monaco. Despite the inclement weather and delayed start, the jewellery still sparkled, what a show it was. There is nothing like it and sadly if they take it away from us, there won’t be anything like it again.
Motor racing grand prix started in Monte Carlo in 1929 and now 93 years later the organisers are considering cancelling the event because of its unique challenges and difficulties. We know that it is almost impossible for front runners to overtake each other during the race and we know that there is practically no run off area for an errant car in which to crash. However, can we not keep the tradition going for this magical place which is known as the Jewell of the Formula One world?
We saw Sergio Perez last Sunday make Mexicans proud at Monaco. He is now the most crowned racing driver from Mexico, taking the mantle from his hero, former driver Pedro Rodrigues. Perez was in a class of his own for the whole weekend and really deserved his win at the Principality.
Poor Charles Leclerc had everything going for him after qualifying in pole position with team mate Carlos Sainz second and Perez third. Leclerc led the race until the first round of pit stops, where Ferrari fumbled and went back into the race in fourth position behind Perez in the lead, Sainz in second and Max Verstappen in third place. To add insult to injury the Monegasque didn’t even make it onto the podium.
The results do not however tell the full story of the momentous battle where you have to be millimetre perfect virtually all round the track. The first four cars all finished the race within three seconds of each other. George Russell and Lando Norris were very proud to bring two Union Jacks to the chequered flag in fifth and sixth positions, as they set the scene for the huge celebrations back in the UK for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee. How nice, jolly good young chaps.
The two British drivers really excelled and were followed home by Fernando Alonso in seventh and an angry Brit Lewis Hamilton in eighth, who could not get past his old McLaren teammate after a race long duel, they finished just four seconds apart at the flag. The final two point finishing places of ninth and tenth were achieved by Valtteri Bottas in his Alfa Romeo and Sebastian Vettel in his Aston Martin.
The shortened 64 lap race received full points status (25 for a win to one point for 10th position) after running a full two hours. The race had earlier been red flagged after a dramatic accident when Mick Schumacher’s car split in two after hitting the barriers. Fortunately, Mick was okay and the race restarted after the barrier had been properly repaired.
The rain in the early part of the race was a great challenge and it was amazing to see only one Williams and two Haas Ferraris not finish the race. Perez also won the award for driver of the day and Norris got an extra point for fastest lap in his McLaren Mercedes.
Next race is in Azerbaijan in two weeks’ time.
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