After being left off the 2020 Formula One schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the jewel in the crown is back on the calendar for this year as the Monaco Grand Prix takes off. Join The Roar for live blog coverage from 10:50 pm (AEST).
The notoriously difficult to pass circuit comes at an interesting time in the 2021 world championship, as the ball firmly rests in Red Bull and Max Verstappen’s court to gain points back on Lewis Hamilton.
Pole position at Monaco almost guarantees victory during the 78-lap grand prix, making qualifying the most crucial of the season. That can be attested by Daniel Ricciardo, who made his ailing Red Bull as wide as possible to hold on for an emphatic win back in 2018.
A spanner was thrown into the works this time around when Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was able to claim a surprise pole position, ahead of Verstappen who joins him on the front row. Hamilton meanwhile was left adrift in seventh.
Leclerc, though, will sweat on whether Ferrari will be able to recover his gearbox, following a crash that he sustained only moments after completing the pole lap – which red-flagged the remainder of Q3.
Ferrari’s speed through the low-speed corners of the Principality has turned heads and is said to be genuine, if their competition is to be believed. For Leclerc though, merely finishing his home grand prix would be an achievement – having failed to finish in his past four visits.
A special livery adorns the McLaren, celebrating their partnership with Gulf Oils and Lando Norris with a fresh multi-year contract and qualifying inside the top five, while former race winner Ricciardo struggled down in twelfth.
Williams also celebrate a special milestone, notching up their 750th grand prix – joining only McLaren and Ferrari to achieve this. Fifteenth for George Russell was the best they could accomplish, but given the chaotic nature of Monaco, a points finish cannot be ruled out.
With Hamilton potentially facing a race of damage limitation, will we see Verstappen take back some vital points in the championship? And can the Ferraris capitalise on a track that suits their car?
Who claims glory on the French Riviera? Tune into The Roar from 10:50pm (AEST) for all the action with our live blog of the Monaco Grand Prix.
Lights out: 11am (AEST)
Venue: Circuit de Monaco
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), 2. Max Verstappen (Red Bull), 3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes), 4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), 5. Lando Norris (McLaren), 6. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri), 7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). 8. Sebastian Vettel (Aston Martin), 9. Sergio Perez (Red Bull). 10. Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo), 11. Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 12. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren), 13. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin), 14. Kimi Räikkönen (Alfa Romeo), 15. George Russell (Williams), 16. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri), 17. Fernando Alonso (Alpine), 18. Nicholas Latifi (Williams), 19. Nikita Mazepin (Haas), 20. Mick Schumacher (Haas)
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Thanks Andrew! Look Dan keeps talking about his driving style not suiting the McLaren, but surely that can only go so far considering his teammate has already 2 podiums this season. Guess we have to play the long term game with this one.
andrew
Roar Rookie
Don't have Fox Jawad so I don't get to see the races. Just read your blog, great reporting. Max is going to take the title fight down to the wire if he keeps this going. Ricciardo? Well Dan it's back to the drawing board. Norris's car is firing so what's happening ?
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Well that then concludes this live blog of the Monaco Grand Prix, thank you very much as always for joining me on The Roar and sharing your thoughts. A short two-week break between races and the championship will get going again on the streets of Baku in Azerbaijan! Bye for now.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-------- DRIVER'S -------- 105 - Max Verstappen 101 - Lewis Hamilton 56 -- Lando Norris 47 -- Valtteri Bottas 44 -- Sergio Perez 40 -- Charles Leclerc 38 -- Carlos Sainz 24 -- Daniel Ricciardo 16 -- Pierre Gasly 12 -- Esteban Ocon 10 -- Sebastian Vettel 9 --- Lance Stroll 5 --- Fernando Alonso 2 --- Yuki Tsunoda 1 --- Antonio Giovinazzi 0 --- Kimi Räikkönen 0 --- George Russell 0 --- Mick Schumacher 0 --- Nikita Mazepin 0 --- Nicholas Latifi
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 149 - Red Bull Racing Honda 148 - Mercedes AMG 80 -- McLaren Mercedes 78 -- Ferrari 19 -- Aston Martin Racing 18 -- Scuderia AlphaTauri 17 -- Alpine 1 --- Alfa Romeo Racing 0 --- Williams Mercedes 0 --- Haas Ferrari
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RACE REPORT Max Verstappen put in a faultless drive to win the Monaco Grand Prix and for the first time in his career lead the world championship, as pole sitter Charles Leclerc failed to even start the race. The Monegasque driver suffered from a driveshaft failure on the out-lap to the grid pre-race, as a result of the damaged caused to his Ferrari in the crash during qualifying. Pole position was left vacant, allowing Verstappen a clear run into Saint Devote ahead of Valtteri Bottas on the second row and the other Ferrari of Carlos Sainz. A difficult qualifying for reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton saw the Briton start the race in seventh and remain there in the opening stages of the race, behind the AlphaTauri of Pierre Gasly. The Briton was the first of the leaders to pit on Lap 30 for the hard tyres, though this ended up further ruining his weekend, as he was overcut by not only Gasly – but Sebastian Vettel and Sergio Perez, who both started behind Hamilton. Matters were made worse for Mercedes, when a lap later Bottas pitted and the mechanics couldn’t remove the front- right tyre. The result meant that the Finn was retired, delivering a significant blow to the Silver Arrows in the constructor’s championship. This elevated Lando Norris up into the podium places, ahead of Perez, Vettel and Gasly – who all caused Hamilton further fury during the second half of the race. A late stop for the seven-time champion though, did see him the fastest lap of the race and gain an extra point in the standings. Perez did give Norris a brief run for third, having been quicker than the McLaren in the dying stages of the race, though ultimately the lack of passing opportunities meant that the Briton was ensured a spot on the podium. Verstappen cruised to an 8.9 second victory over Sainz, who was able to console Ferrari with a maiden podium for his new team – all while the wound of what could have been with Leclerc remained raw. A second podium of the season for Norris sees him jump ahead of Bottas and back into third in the standings again, while his teammate Daniel Ricciardo endured a difficult weekend off the pace and out of the points. Aston Martin achieved their best finish of the season, as both Vettel and Lance Stroll delivered points. The four-time world champion also scored his first points in fifth since moving to the British marque from Ferrari. While Antonio Giovinazzi also put Alfa Romeo on the board for the first time in 2021, capitalising on an excellent top-ten qualifying result from earlier in the weekend.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
STANDBY FOR RACE REPORT & UPDATED STANDINGS
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Thoughts on this one Roarers?
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
POST-RACE INTERVIEWS - Hosted by David Coulthard VERSTAPPEN - "It's so special here and my first time on the podium here. It's really cool." "You never know what's going to happen." "I was pretty much in control." SAINZ - "It is a good result." "The whole circumstances of the weekend, maybe it doesn't taste as good." "It was all about getting the start right." "I was feeling the car was very good today." NORRIS - "I didn't think I'd be here today!" "It's down to these guys you know." "It's always a dream to be on the podium. A bit of luck and some good driving."
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RESULTS FROM THE 78-LAP MONACO GRAND PRIX 1 M. Verstappen 2 C. Sainz 3 L. Norris 4 S. Perez 5 S. Vettel 6 P. Gasly 7 L. Hamilton (Fastest Lap) 8 L. Stroll 9 E. Ocon 10 A. Giovinazzi 11 K. Räikkönen 12 D. Ricciardo 13 F. Alonso 14 G. Russell 15 N. Latifi 16 Y. Tsunoda 17 N. Mazepin 18 M. Schumacher RET V. Bottas DNS C. Leclerc
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
MAX VERSTAPPEN WINS THE MONACO GRAND PRIX! It may have been heartbreak for Charles Leclerc, but Ferrari can celebrate second for Carlos Sainz. And another podium in 2021 for Lando Norris and McLaren!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 78/78: FINAL LAP
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 77/78: It looks like the McLaren in third will be safe. Meanwhile there's a late waving of the black and white flag for Tsunoda, who's been caught abusing track limits by Race Control.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 76/78: THREE LAPS TO GO
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 75/78: Perez drops behind by 2 seconds again, possibly to charge up that ERS battery for one last charge at a podium spot.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 74/78: Verstappen's lead meanwhile is stretched to 8.6 seconds over Sainz.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 72/78: Perez much quicker than the McLaren of Norris, but at the moment there is no DRS for the Red Bull driver. Only a mistake from Lando would give Perez the opportunity to pass.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 71/78: Hamilton sets the fastest lap of the race then with a 1:12.909, so that extra point at the moment will be going the way of the Briton. It also happens to be the race lap record too.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 70/78: VER SAI NOR PER VET GAS HAM STR OCO GIO RÄI RIC ALO RUS LAT TSU MAZ MSC the order of the field. Bottas and Leclerc out of the race.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 68/78: Race Control deem no further action to be taken on Stroll. Footage showed that he was right on the line and not over it. Hamilton also takes a second pit-stop, no doubt to pursue the fastest lap for that extra world championship point. He goes onto the soft compound.