Sergio Perez (Red Bull), a week after his disappointing 2nd place at Barcelona Grand Prix, won his third victory. It was his first win on Monaco’s legendary street circuit and came at the end of an amazing race. After a delay of more than an hour because of rain, the race was stopped again on the 30th lap on red flag after the crash of Mick Schumacher (Haas), but he was uninjured. The Grand Prix was not completed in the 77 laps, but it finished on time three hours after its original start time (3:00 P.M.).
Sergio Perez won the Ferrari of Carlos Sainz, who tried to pressure him but couldn’t pass him in the tricky corners of Monaco. Max Verstappen was his championship leader.
Charles Leclerc is the big loser of today’s race. His team made a double strategic mistake and Monegasque ended up on pole. His team was slow in calling him back to the pits after Perez’s strategy. Perez was using intermediate tyres and was leading the race. Leclerc was five seconds slower than Perez, who used his intermediate tires to close the gap.
Five laps later, Leclerc and Sainz were recalled to make a second change. Ferrari makes the mistake but it is too late for the pilot who realizes it and returns to his teammate. Leclerc comes out of the pits only 4th, well behind Perez. The Monegasque finishes fourth, just behind Perez, if he sees it for the first time home.
Behind Lewis Hamilton (8th), was 8th. They finish on their side above the points. Pierre Gasly, who started 17th in his Alpine, finished 12th after a strong comeback at the beginning of the race. Esteban Ocon, who was penalized for colliding with Hamilton, finished 9th in Alpine. He fell to 12th.
Verstappen maintains his lead in drivers’ standings with 125 points, and his lead over Leclerc (116) is growing. Perez consolidates his third position and approaches Leclerc (110 point), ahead Sainz (84).
