Monaco GP: Verstappen survives downpour to claim victory

Max Verstappen survived a mid-race downpour to claim a dominant victory at the Monaco Grand Prix.

The Dutchman led comfortably from start to finish to lead Fernando Alonso in second, as the Spaniard rued a decision to stay on slick tyres just as the rain arrived.

Esteban Ocon ensured the top three from qualifying were the top three on the podium with an impressive drive in the Alpine.

Race Review

A clean start saw the top 10 stay in formation as Verstappen held the lead from Alonso at the front into Sainte Devote.

There was contact towards the back with Nico Hulkenberg divebombing Logan Sargeant into Mirabeau and Lance Stroll touching Alex Albon at the Loews hairpin but all continued.

Three drivers pitted for tyres on the opening lap including Sergio Perez, who started last after his crash in qualifying.

Verstappen and Alonso quickly began to pull away from Esteban Ocon in third, who was lapping a second slower than the leaders.

Carlos Sainz was boxed behind the Frenchman in fourth and hit the Alpine after out-braking himself into the Nouvelle chicane.

Despite damage to his front wing, the Spaniard could continue while Ocon was unharmed.

There was plenty of action towards the back as the Williams’ struggled for pace, allowing Stroll and the Haas drivers to make overtakes with Perez and Zhou also capitalising to gain places.

With conditions much cooler due to cloud cover, tyre graining became a big factor on the first stint.

Lewis Hamilton was the first leading driver to stop from fifth. Ocon and Sainz pitting to stay ahead, much to the frustration of the Spaniard who remained stuck behind the Alpine.

At the front, Verstappen reached the backmarkers and lost multiple seconds to Alonso behind.

Perez was among those being lapped but tried to capitalise on his teammate getting blue flags to gain places.

Checo would bump his way past Stroll but then made contact with Magnussen exiting the chicane, damaging his front wing and requiring a pit stop.

Verstappen and Alonso remained out at the front as the risk of rain increased entering the final 25 laps, which wasn’t ideal for the Dutchman on mediums compared to Fernando on hard tyres.

Right on cue, a sudden downpour came over the hill but only soaked part of the track around Mirabeau at first.

Verstappen had a spooky moment at Portier, sliding down the barriers on slicks as conditions worsened but was able to continue unscathed.

Alonso would pit but stayed on slicks believing the rain would pass, but it wouldn’t and soon drivers switched to intermediates.

Ferrari lost out in that phase as their drivers almost collided on slicks exiting the chicane and would double stack in the pits.

Leclerc got ahead of Sainz in the chaos to run sixth, whereas Carlos dropped from fourth to eighth behind Pierre Gasly.

Ahead, Verstappen was able to pit for intermediates at the right time and opened up a big advantage over Alonso, who had to make an extra pit stop in second.

Max gave his team a scare by tagging the barrier at the Swimming Pool chicane but as conditions improved, had a comfortable run to the finish to claim his second Monaco GP win.

Alonso was second ahead of Ocon, who delivered a brilliant drive to claim third for Alpine.

Mercedes would benefit from Ferrari’s dramas when the rain arrived as Hamilton finished fourth and Russell fifth.

Leclerc followed in sixth with Gasly seventh. Sainz was eighth as the two McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri completed the top 10.

Full results from the Monaco GP can be seen below: