2021 Monaco GP Review: Verstappen leads the championship after Mercedes falter

Max Verstappen and Red Bull took the championship top spot with a win on the streets of Monaco, while title rivals Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes endured a tough weekend.

It was a story of what could have been for Monegasque Ferrari man Charles Leclerc, he took pole in dramatic fashion on Saturday, crashing as drivers attempted their final run. Ferrari, however, missed some damage to Leclerc’s car, taking him out of the race before it started.

Verstappen now started at the front of the field, despite being in the second grid spot. He had to close the door aggressively on Valtteri Bottas, holding the lead into turn one.

With Hamilton struggling down in sixth, Mercedes’ day was about to go from bad to worse. Bottas stopped from second on lap 30, but a mistake on the front right tyre saw the pit crew machine off the teeth on the wheel nut meaning the tyre could not be removed, forcing the Finn into retirement.

This would see the podium set, Verstappen leading from lights to flag, while Carlos Sainz Jr. was promoted to second for Ferrari, and McLaren’s Lando Norris to third.

Meanwhile, Red Bull made a clever strategy play, taking advantage of Mercedes pitting Hamilton early. Sergio Perez went further and faster, jumping Hamilton, as well as Sebastien Vettel and Pierre Gasly to move from eighth to fourth.

Vettel also made a gain for himself in the pit stops, jumping Hamilton and Gasly to go from P7 to P5.

Vettel would hold onto fifth, scoring his first point for Aston Martin. Antonio Giovinazzi also made the point for the first time this season, bringing his Alfa Romeo home in tenth.

Hamilton would take a crumb of comfort late in the race, pitting for fresh soft tyres to set the fastest lap, cutting Verstappen’s advantage gained in Monaco from 19 to 18 points.

So Verstappen holds a four point lead atop the driver’s standing, with Red Bull one point ahead of Mercedes in the constructors’ as F1 heads to the streets of Baku, Azerbaijan on June 6.

Race Result:

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull, #33)

2. Carlos Sainz Jr. (Ferrari, #55)

3. Lando Norris (McLaren, #4)

4. Sergio Perez (Red Bull, #11)

5. Sebastien Vettel (Aston Martin, #5)

6. Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri, #10)

7. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes, #44)

8. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin, #18)

9. Esteban Ocon (Alpine, #31)

10. Antonio Giovinazzi (Alfa Romeo, #99)

11. Kimi Raikkonen (Alfa Romeo, #7)

12. Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren, #3)

13. Fernando Alonso (Alpine, #14)

14. George Russell (Williams, #63)

15. Nicolas Latifi (Williams, #6)

16. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri, #22)

17. Nikita Mazepin (Haas, #9)

18. Mick Schumacher (Haas, #47)

19. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes, #77) DNF, 30 Laps, Wheel Nut

20. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari, #16) DNS, 0 Laps, Drive Shaft