The Dutchman picked up his fourth victory this season after a perfect run in the Principality on Sunday.
And in the end, Max Verstappen wins. The Red Bull driver won the Monaco Grand Prix without trembling, in the streets of the Principality, on Sunday May 28. Imperial, he ahead of Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon, who won the first podium of the season for Alpine after a nice gamble to put on the right tires in the rain before the rest of the peloton. This is the Frenchman’s third career podium, the first since his victory in Hungary in the summer of 2021.
Even the rain doesn’t bother him. On the narrow Monaco track, the Dutchman mastered his race. After a good boost when the lights went out, he raced in the lead, far ahead of the other drivers. Returning to the pits at the right time in the pouring rain to put on suitable tyres, while he had not yet stopped, he rode without pressure towards the finish.
With this fourth success this season, the 39th of his career, he equals Sebastian Vettel at the top of the ranking of the most victories for the Austrian team. And he is widening his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship, with 39 points ahead of his runner-up, his teammate Sergio Pérez. The Mexican fails 16th after a very difficult race (five pit stops).
Ocon dances in the rain
Behind the intractable Red Bull n°1, the feat of the day comes from the French ranks, with Esteban Ocon’s podium for Alpine. Third on the grid after benefiting from Charles Leclerc’s penalty, the Norman driver was solid in resisting the numerous attacks from Carlos Sainz, who hit him from behind on the 12th lap. At the end of the race, when the rain arrived and he was stuck a little further in the peloton, he was the first to dive into the pits to put on intermediate tires, suitable for a wet track, and recover third. place in stoppage play.
“We did it, it’s a great weekend! We didn’t make a mistake, we attacked at the right time. I’m enjoying this podium, I hope it’s the first of a long list”he exulted on arrival. His teammate Pierre Gasly finished in 7th place, also in the points, for a very good Sunday in the tricolor clan.
Between the Dutchman and the Frenchman, the experienced Fernando Alonso finished in second place, his best result this season, and climbed on his fifth podium in six races. He confirms the very good form of his Aston Martin team, still clinging to second place in the constructor’s classification, despite the retirement of Lance Stroll in a turbulent end to the Grand Prix, marked by several spins and exits from the track on the asphalt. tempera.