Monaco GP Race Report

The grey clouds were looming over the moneyed cliffs of Monte Carlo and a wet race seemed our only chance of an enjoyable race.  Be careful what you wish for.  Before the race, Sainz commented that he wouldn't be racing LeClerc as this isn't a track you can actually race at.  It's a race where the tires and the pit stop strategy and teamwork therein is going to make or break it as entertainment.

Just as the race was due to start the heavens opened and the race start was a little delayed.  The drivers tried a few formation laps behind the Safety Car then the race was red flagged and stopped.  So much for rain bringing electric racing.

Behind the Safety Car,  Latifi  drove his Williams straight into the wall at the hairpin, then Stroll hit the barriers side on.  Next the Canadians nearly collided in the pit lane.  Gasly was also in on the first racing lap for the Intermediate tire.  I know wet conditions, living in Glasgow, and I wouldn't have said it was Inters o'clock.  But as the laps went by it was Gasly on those tires that brought the racing to Monaco.  It looked like the other drivers would go straight from Wet tires to Slick, dry weather, tires.  Hamilton pitted, would it be him to lead the way?  No, Intermediate tires.  Perez playing the same strategy as the Red Bull guinea pig after him.   Hamilton and Ocon started battling.

LeClerc and his rival Verstappen pitted at the same time for a cautious Wets to Intermediate tire change, which allowed Perez to take overtake them.  Albon took slick tires alongside Schumacher, rolling the dice as they pass the casino.

Sainz came in for dry tires too and Ferrari double-stacked him with LeClerc behind.  The team had radioed him to come in, then to stay out but it was too late.  Once again Ferrari Ferraried their race up.  Red Bull then also double-stacked.  Perez overtook Sainz in the pits; with Verstappen overtaking LeClerc too.

A third of the way in to the race, Mick Schumacher managed a typical Monaco, dramatic spin and crash which led to the Safety Car being deployed.  A few laps later the Red Flag was flown to stop the race and there was so much car to sweep up, both the nose and the back end came off.  A key safety point though: no tires ran free.

After another rolling start, the laps ticked by in a processional format.  The lap counter switched to a clock.  With 10 minutes to go the top 4 (2 Red Bulls and 2 Ferraris) were nose to tail.  It did all come down to tires and pit stop strategy and Red Bull won it with Perez with an old skool over cut.   After all that effort Gasly didn't even get points.  LeClerc commented that this was "abysmal".