Before we proceed, let’s make one thing clear. Yes, the race was monotonous and sleepy, but that has been the case for some time in Monaco.
However, the qualifying session always brings excitement to the Principality, which makes up for the boring race. Before anyone jumps to conclusions, it is crucial to emphasize that Monaco must remain on the Formula 1 calendar, as it is the most prestigious event.
The fact that the race in Monaco is a procession, with overtaking being rare, is not mainly the fault of the location. Instead, it is the consequence of F1 and the FIA continuously implementing regulations that have resulted in larger F1 cars. Although safety is one of the reasons behind this evolution, it is possible to have smaller cars that are equally safe, considering the advancements in the sport. The incident on lap 1 involving Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen clearly demonstrated that safety is of utmost importance.
Every year, when F1 visits Monaco, discussions arise about the race, accompanied by various ideas and suggestions for improvement. Some of these proposals are unacceptable or even ridiculous. However, the best solution may be to introduce smaller cars, not only to improve the race in Monaco, but also because drivers constantly complain about the behavior of the current large and heavy F1 cars.
Now, let’s talk about the race itself. From the early stages, it was evident that none of the drivers were willing to push the limits. Instead, the focus was on who could maintain the slowest pace to preserve the tires throughout the race distance. The only time we saw a driver accelerate was when the gap ahead was large enough to allow for a pit stop.
Even when pit stops occurred, there was hope for overtaking, but unfortunately disappointment prevailed, as only a few overtakes were made and they did not have a significant impact.
From the beginning of the weekend, it was clear that Ferrari and Charles Leclerc were the clear favorites. Red Bull faced evident difficulties, McLaren showed promising performances, while Mercedes once again dominated their own division.
The race was incredibly monotonous, but it was a joy to witness Leclerc finally achieve victory on the top step of the podium at his home Grand Prix. Throughout the weekend, he demonstrated exceptional speed and skill, without making any mistakes. Ferrari also deserves credit for providing him with a reliable car that had no mechanical issues.
Leclerc faced immense pressure during the race, but remained calm and error-free. Although Oscar Piastri failed to present a significant challenge, any small mistake could have had disastrous consequences for the local hero.
Fortunately, everything went well, and the young driver, who used to watch F1 cars speed by on his balcony, finally had the opportunity to drive one to victory. The emotions were palpable as he crossed the finish line.
Leclerc’s sixth victory in his F1 career seemed to be the culmination of all his hard work and dedication. His journey to this point has not been easy, as he had to overcome the loss of two important people along the way. His father, Hervé Leclerc, tragically passed away before seeing his son compete in F1, and his godfather and mentor, Jules Bianchi, also met a tragic end in an accident during the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix.
It became evident that Leclerc had these two people in mind while racing last Sunday, adding immense pressure to his already challenging task. However, he emerged victorious.
Congratulations to Charles! While Lando Norris’ victory in Miami was memorable, Leclerc’s triumph in the Monaco GP was even more significant. It’s hard to find someone who isn’t excited for him.
The Monaco GP marked the third consecutive race in which Red Bull and Max Verstappen faced difficulties. Now, we need to adjust our expectations to take into account their current situation, following their dominant performances since 2022.
Although Verstappen faced challenges in Miami, he managed to win the Sprint and secure second place in the race. Similarly, he encountered obstacles in Imola, but still claimed pole position and emerged victorious. However, he couldn’t recover in Monaco.
During the race, Verstappen didn’t have the necessary pace to overtake George Russell, who was on worn Medium tires, while Verstappen had fresh Hard tires. This demonstrates how minimal the current pace advantage of the RB20 is.
It’s important to note that Red Bull has not yet introduced a significant update to the car. Verstappen suggested that the issues he faced in Monaco were not simply a matter of setup, but inherent to the car’s design.
The current F1 champions faced challenges with ground effect cars in Monaco and Singapore, indicating that they have not yet overcome the weaknesses of the RB20.
Will an update solve these problems, or will they have to wait until 2025? Additionally, out of the remaining 16 stages in 2024, how many will pose a challenge for Red Bull and Verstappen?
The only moment of excitement we experienced in Monaco was the collision on the first lap between Perez and Magnussen, which unfortunately resulted in the exit of the unlucky Nico Hulkenberg as well.
First and foremost, we must express our relief that all parties involved emerged unscathed from the accident. This can be attributed to the high level of safety measures in place in Formula 1 nowadays.
Now, let’s focus on the incident itself. It was simply a racing incident, a result of two drivers who momentarily misjudged the situation. The onboard images of Perez clearly showed that he was checking his right mirror, where Magnussen was clearly present. Although he could have chosen to give space to his competitor and continue the race, he chose to close the gap.
As for Magnussen, what can we say? He will always be himself, notoriously as always, and decided to push through an opening that was quickly disappearing. The result? Chaos.
On a positive note, the Monaco Grand Prix stewards assessed the incident independently, without being influenced by Magnussen’s recent controversial actions that had dangerously brought him close to a race ban with his accumulated penalty points.
Consequently, they deemed it a racing incident and did not take into account its consequences. That was the right decision. We are not defending Magnussen, but it is important not to get carried away by the ongoing discussions surrounding the Haas driver’s questionable tactics. This time, it was not solely his fault.
© 2024
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