Similar to Ferrari, it represents the pinnacle of Formula 1 and serves as an exceptional marketing tool. Everyone wants to be a part of it – the teams, the drivers, the celebrities – despite the absence of an actual race. In that sense, it contradicts the fundamental purpose of Formula 1. However, the money keeps flowing in.
Although we shouldn’t expect much excitement from the small principality these days, last Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix was particularly dull. The only thrilling moment came during the first half of lap 1, when Kevin Magnussen and Esteban Ocon demonstrated the futility of overtaking. Consequently, the stewards made the correct decision to stop the race with the red flag and restart. Unfortunately, this only reinforced the idea that the race may not be the main objective. There was only one strategy at play: avoid hitting the wall and hope others did the same.
Reputations in racing are always precarious. You are hailed as amazing if you pull off a bold overtake, but labeled as incompetent if you crash into yourself and others in the process. The key is to maintain a favorable ratio, preferably around 100:1, where heroic moments outweigh mistakes. Was Magnussen’s move on Sergio Perez foolish? Many would say yes, but I, on the other hand, disagree. It’s Monaco, and as a podium finish was out of reach, beating your teammate was the best possible outcome.
There was a brief moment where a very narrow gap presented itself, and Magnussen embodied Ayrton Senna’s definition of a racing driver. However, I consider Perez partially responsible. Not for not noticing Magnussen in his mirrors, but for being in that position in the first place. As a driver of an RB20, he had no right to get involved in a battle within the support race.
The situation of Ocon is different. After qualifying, the entirely French team based in the UK had a legitimate chance to secure valuable points. However, Ocon shattered that dream at Portier. “Sending it” is one thing; blindly entering a corner without a plan is another, especially when it involves your own teammate. Clearly, this concept was not understood by Ocon, resulting in a car that seemed to have more enthusiasm than skill from the driver. Meanwhile, the Alpine team worked tirelessly to repair Pierre Gasly’s car during the red flag period.
The end result: Gasly (the hero) earned a point, finishing in tenth place. Meanwhile, Ocon (the zero) watched from the grandstands and started making calls to secure a seat for the next season. I wonder if anyone answered? For those of us who predicted that this driver duo would be costly, our case is closed. Thank you, Esteban.
