Pole-sitter Leclerc didn’t race. Hamilton finishes seventh.
MONTE CARLO, Monaco—Mercedes might have dominated Formula 1 racing recently. Still, Sunday afternoon in the streets of the principality, Max Verstappen proved that things could change as the Dutchman led most of the Monaco Grand Prix, ending up taking his first maiden win at this circuit by 8.9 seconds over Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz. McLaren’s Lando Norris finished in third.
The victory not only gives Verstappen a four-point lead over Lewis Hamilton in the driver’s standings but puts his Red Bull team one point ahead of Mercedes in the constructor’s championship after five rounds.
“It is so special here to win, and it is the first time on the podium,” said a thrilled Verstappen.
Without Charles Leclerc, Sainz’s Ferrari teammate not starting because of a driveshaft issue, Sainz took over the responsibility of the Scuderia and kept his pace despite Verstappen being far out in front.
“Yes, it was a great result. If you had told me that I would come to Monaco and finish second, I would say you are mistaken,” the Spaniard remarked. “When you see that your teammate, who was on the pole, is not there, you realize that the responsibility falls on you. And you want to give the team at least a podium.”
For Norris, it was another podium for the Briton, and he was incredibly pleased. “It is a dream to be on the podium here, and it is extra special. It is a bit of luck, and I had a good car and a strong weekend.”
Verstappen took advantage of the start, thanks to the absence of Leclerc. He blocked Valtteri Bottas and shot out in front, taking the lead with gaps of one, two, and four seconds ahead.
Then, Bottas retired midway through the race when his mechanic could not take off his front right tire due to a broken wheel nut. The Finn became the only other driver to retire from the race outside of Leclerc, making this year’s race the only event in its history to have no yellow flags or any cautionary period.
With Bottas out, Verstappen widened his gap and ended up not having any more threats from any other driver, taking the checkered flag by just under nine seconds.
In the rest of the top ten, Sergio Perez made it a double-points finish for Red Bull by taking fourth, while Aston Martin placed Sebastian Vettel in the top five for the first time this season. Pierre Gasly finished sixth in his Alpha Tauri, while Hamilton scored a disappointing seventh despite having the race’s fastest lap. Aston Martin also scored double points with Lance Stroll in eighth, while Esteban Ocon just held off Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi to place ninth in his Alpine.
“When I was a kid, I always watched this Grand Prix,” reflected Verstappen. Now, he has won it.
