Verstappen wins in Monaco as Perez draws a blank

Max Verstappen
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Double world champion Max Verstappen won a soggy and slippery Monaco Grand Prix from pole position to stretch his Formula One lead to 39 points and earn Red Bull a sixth win in as many races this season.

In a race livened up by a downpour after a processional 51 laps in dry conditions, Spaniard Fernando Alonso finished second for Aston Martin but a massive 27.9 seconds behind at the chequered flag.

Frenchman Esteban Ocon completed the podium in third place for Renault-owned Alpine, their first top three finish of the season.

Mercedes’ seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton was fourth and collected a bonus point for fastest lap.

Last year’s winner Sergio Perez, Verstappen’s closest rival and team mate, was twice lapped on his way to 16th place after starting last. The Mexican also made five pitstops on a nightmare afternoon.

“That was a real Monaco,” Verstappen said after a 78-lap race that lasted an hour and 48 minutes on a tricky street circuit where overtaking is a rare occurrence.

“It was incredibly slippery and when you are that far in the lead you don’t want to push too hard but also you don’t want to lose too much time so it’s quite difficult in that scenario.

“I clipped the wall a few times and it was super difficult out there. But that’s Monaco.”

The win was Verstappen’s fourth of the season, second in Monaco and 39th of his career. It also made him the driver to have won most races for Red Bull, one more than retired four times champion Sebastian Vettel.

Verstappen now has 144 points to Perez’s 105 and Alonso’s 93. Red Bull have 249 points in the constructors’ standings with Aston Martin on 120 and Mercedes 119.

– Reuters