Max Verstappen dominated the 2021 Monaco GP, taking advantage of Charles Leclerc’s absence from the race; the Dutchman, starting from second position, overtook Valtteri Bottas at the start with a lightning start. From that moment on, he controlled the match without ever being questioned.
Carlos Sainz achieved his first podium with Ferrari, finishing in second place. The Spaniard benefited from Leclerc’s accident, which forced him to retire. Sainz overtook Lando Norris in the final stages of the race. The race was full of accidents and retirements, including that of Fernando Alonso. The Safety Car was deployed twice.
The qualification
In a daring way, crashing into the chicane of the swimming pools, Charles Leclerc took pole position of the Monaco GP, ahead of Verstappen and Bottas. Carlos Sainz tried to go beyond fourth place, but the red flag did not allow him to complete an otherwise very positive lap. Disappointing, Hamilton was only seventh.
Q1: EVERYONE ALREADY AT THE LIMIT, ALFA GOOD, ALONSO BAD
You know, in a city like Monte Carlo where the barriers are close and even a simple crossing you pay with a bang, confidence is essential. So at the green light in Q1 everyone was on track to start running. Already after the first laps, the Ferrari-Red Bull fight heats up, with Mercedes and McLaren.
The feeling is that the track is subject to an impressive improvement and the timing of the round is fundamental. At the end of a very tense first session the following were eliminated: Tsunoda, Alonso, disappointment of the day, Latifi, Mazepin and Schumacher who didn’t take part in qualifying at all after crashing in Q3.
Q2: RICCIARDO SURPRISE OUT, GIOVINAZZI AMAZING
In Q2, Verstappen and Leclerc were the first to take to the track to refine their laps and prepare for Q3. Also the second qualifying session it is extremely conflicted. The fight to get into Q3 is very close, as is the fight between Verstappen and the Ferraris for first position.
In the end, Q2 also holds some surprises. While Stroll and Ricciardo were sensationally eliminated, along with Raikkonen, Stroll and Russell. Antonio Giovinazzi is very positive who finds the perfect ride and enters Q3.
Q3: SURPRISE FINAL AND LECLERC IN POLE
Q3 confirms the efficiency of the Ferraris, while highlighting the difficulties of Mercedes and especially Lewis Hamilton. After twelve minutes of pure adrenaline Charles Leclerc sensationally wins pole positioncrashing at the exit of the pools and causing a red flag.
Despite the accident, the Monegasque will be very happy a cool chance in the race. Sainz and Verstappen were disappointed as they were improving and instead were forced to lift their foot because of the red flag.
Well done Bottas, third clearly ahead of Hamilton only seventh. Excellent work also by Norris, fifth and Vettel, eighth. For Ferrari now watch out for the change by Leclerc: the impact against the barriers was heavy and the risk that he could be replaced cannot be ruled out. In this case it will be five positions.
The starting grid
THE RACE
There qualification (with a bang) it made the Red fans dream again. With Charles Leclerc capable of grabbing the Pole Position in his Monaco, marked by a not-so-subtle kiss against the barriers at the swimming pools and which would later cost him dearly. And in fact, shortly before the start of the race comes the cold shower: i problems (not solvable) on lap out they didn’t even allow Leclerc to start. Verstappen thus wins and imposes himself, without ever having any deep worries.
PRELUDE
From Thursday’s rehearsals, through the Saturday qualifying, until the race. A weekend in which Ferrari was able to become the protagonist, alongside the usual Red Bull and Mercedes. Or rather: alongside Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas, while Hamilton seemed less at ease driving the W12 through the streets of the Principality, failing to be the usual Lewis.
The start from the first spot on the grid was ensured by the Scuderia, which with a communicated via social media, had confirmed that there was no need to replace the gearbox. So the Race seemed to start with Leclerc and Verstappen on the front row. It seemed, indeed. At the very first outlap the ghosts revealed themselves with the Poleman who was then unable to even take part in the race.
START
The pilots then arranged themselves, leaving the space dedicated to the Polesitter empty. A situation that had put both the Dutch and the Finn in the best conditions in theirs comparison with the seven-time world champion – who instead only started in seventh (actually sixth). An opportunity however for the other Ferrari, that of Carlos Sainz, to reach the first podium with the Red in Monaco.
At the start Verstappen proved to be good, smart and aggressive in immediately closing space for Bottas; while behind some managed to gain positions: like Schumacher on Mazepin, and Stroll and Raikkonen on Ricciardo. The strategies in Munich they can’t vary much, and so here is the usual “train”.
If we didn’t think we’d hear about track limits in Monte Carlo, well, we were proven wrong. Shortly after 21 laps both Mazepin and Norris had already been warned of a black/white flag over their heads for having repeatedly failed to respect the boundaries in turn 10. Schumacher was also warned of this on lap 41, and Tsunoda on lap 77.
CHAOS MERCEDES
At the 30th Hamilton opened the pit stop game, inaugurating the usual dance. Then with Bottas here’s the plot twist! The unexpected retirement of the Finn was caused by the fact that, during the stop, the crew sensationally failed to remove the worn front right. The race (in seven laps) suddenly heated up: between the Mercedes’ strategic errors also capable of making its top driver lose a position and the excellent work of Red Bull, Aston Martin and AlphaTauri.
With Ferrari who instead did his thing with Sainz, and in the same way Mclaren with Norris. The Spaniard deserves credit for being able (for most of the GP) to keep up of the leading RB16B. A curiosity is given by number of lapped – all the drivers from eighth position (occupied by Stroll) were lapped – and frominvestigation into the Canadian’s Aston Martin for not keeping to the right when exiting the pits (later without consequences).
MONACO GP 2021, WINNERS AND LOSERS
A Monaco that has seen not only Max Verstappen was victorious, but all of Red Bull was able to put Perez in a position to undermine the third position of the Englishman’s McLaren, without however managing to overtake. A bittersweet race instead for those from Maranello. Disappointed with the fate of the Monegasque but enthusiastic for Sainz (2nd), able to conquer his first podium in the Principality (and, more generally, his first podium with the Cavallino). Lawrance Stroll’s team was also a winner given the results brought home by Vettel (5th) and Stroll (8th).
Among those who did well this weekend were Alfa Romeo – Giovinazzi (10th) and Raikkonen (11th); and in its own way also Williams – Russell (14th) and Latifi (15th). Disappointment for Ricciardo who even finished lapped by his teammate in twelfth position, and for Alonso (also far from Ocon).
Mercedes is definitely the winner, which after some time, is the protagonist of a debacle in Monte Carlo. The additional Fast Lap point won by Hamilton (finished 7th) is only a very small patch in an unconvincing weekend already from Thursday. While Verstappen and Red Bull take the lead in both the drivers’ and constructors’ championships for the first time.
Max Verstappen: “Winning here is a source of pride“
“AND It’s really special to win the Monaco Grand Prix. It’s even my first win here and it was a great race. There are several laps to go on this circuit, so it’s always difficult maintain constant concentration for the entire duration of the race, but it was really cool. There is always a bit of worry, too when everything seems to be going smoothly. You never know what will happen during the race and you have to be maniacal in everything, especially here. Furthermore, you have to manage the compounds and also find the right time to make the pit stop. But I believe I am managed to keep everything under control. I remember watching this race with great admiration as a child. The charm that its story emanates is undeniable. Be here and winning is in fact a source of pridebut I already want to look ahead, as the season is really long.”
Carlos Sainz: “We must be proud of the progress made”
“It’s a good result. If they had told me before coming to Monaco that I would get second place I would have accepted straight away. Despite all the circumstances that occurred over the weekend: Charles’ pole and my frustration at not being able to complete the last lap which was goodwhen I think back to this weekend I will be still happy and proud of what we did. I think Ferrari has to be fair of progress done this year. When you see that the other car can’t start and was on pole, you definitely feel like you have more responsibility. This is because the whole weekend is on your shoulders, and moreover you want give at least one podium to the team. I had to get the start right, manage traffic and make the pit stop at the right time. Despite the problems Valtteri had, I still felt I’m comfortable with the single-seater Today. Surely the team deserved this podium. Honestly Today I am happier than yesterday. Yesterday was a very hard day for me. Having started from fourth position and finished second in Monaco makes it a good day for me as a driver. Overall though, they are aware that it is not a good day for the team, for what happened to Charles. I think the team deserved a win this weekend and I think today Charles could have won. I feel down for him and for Ferrari, but I hope I made them happy with second place obtained. We must be proud of the steps forward and the progress made, but I think that fight for victory it won’t happen again this year. Thinking about it maybe in Singapore we will have a chance, but in general there won’t be another weekend like this. If they arise, I hope we can make the most of them by winning.”
Lando Norris: “I didn’t think I would get on the podium“
“I don’t know what to say, I didn’t think that I would have been on the podium Today. I have to thank these guys. AND always a dream to be able to get on the podium here. It’s something special, I didn’t think that it would have happened. A little bit of luckbut I have to say that I also drove quite well and had a good car throughout the weekend. It was a very strong weekend. The podium is here something special, I want to enjoy this moment. A beautiful trophy, I can’t wait to get it enjoy the podium.”
