26/05/2019
NEWS STORY
Though, after five successive 1-2s, most of us want to see the Mercedes steamroller derailed, few would begrudge them victory today.
In mourning following the loss of its non-executive chairman, despite the obvious pain it is feeling, the German team has continued, and what a superb job it has done.
A man of so many laudable qualities - see what we did there - one of Niki's true strengths was his no-nonsense approach to life and his bluntness.
If he is looking down on today's events, he, much like Kimi Raikkonen's approach to his 300th Grand Prix, won't be interested in the tributes or the tears, the Austrian will simply want to see 'business as usual' from his team, another emphatic 1-2.
A racer's racer however, Niki wouldn't want to see anything gifted to his team, no, he would want to see Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas under pressure from Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel whilst fighting their own in-team battle.
Not for Niki silences, caps and klaxons, but elbows-out racing from lights to flag.
Of course, the process began yesterday, when an absolutely blistering lap saw Hamilton break Bottas' heart, the Finn seemingly having done enough to take the most vital of poles.
However, despite the lack of words from Hamilton since the start of the weekend, when it really, really mattered the Briton let his driving do the talking. Niki will have liked that.
Quite what the Austrian will have thought about his old team as it managed yet another monumental balls-up isn't too difficult to imagine, though sitting on his cloud up there somewhere, red cap in place, sipping a cup of Ambrosia with James Hunt, there are sure to have been enough expletives to embarrass Romain Grosjean.
Not content with losing the titles, Ferrari appears to be on a kamikaze mission to wreck its credibility, the Maranello outfit stumbling from one crisis to another. Sadly, the team is clearly in freefall, and one fears that it is going to get worse before it gets better and in the process the careers of both Mattia Binotto and Charles Leclerc could be irreparably damaged.
Max Verstappen remains the one pesky fly in the Mercedes ointment, and at a time we get sentimental over the possibility of Mercedes 'doing it for Niki', what price an equally sentimental win for the Dutch youngster.
Twelve months ago we rejoiced in Ricciardo's redemption, the Australian scoring an emotional win a year after Red Bull robbed him of almost certain victory.
Thinking back to 2018, when Monaco was a real low-point for Max, what price his redemption this time around?
Starting from fifth today, courtesy of Pierre Gasly's grid penalty for impeding Romain Grosjean, is Kevin Magnussen, and with Ricciardo, Kvyat, Gasly, Sainz and Albon right behind, even if this was the long, long run to Turn 1 of Monza or Barcelona we would expect fun and games, but this being Monaco, and the infamous Ste Devote, we hope that common sense will prevail.
Starting from 15th, Leclerc will be keen to make a point, if only to his team, however, with the youngster needing good strategy in addition to a healthy dose of derring-do, one doesn't hold out much hope.
With the Cannes Film Festival taking place up the road, it seems only right that over the years we have witnessed race plots straight out of Hollywood; Ricciardo virtually the only driver to finish, a flood in the kitchens above the tunnel, Black Jack putting it into the straw bales in the final corner, Ayrton momentarily losing concentration and putting it into the wall at Portier than running off and hiding in his apartment for a week, Nigel suffering a phantom puncture... And don't get us started on Scott Stoddard!
Along with the impossible to believe Hollywood incidents we've witnessed over the years, in the town famous for its Casino it is appropriate that we have seen our fair share of luck, both good and bad. Whether fate will be kind to Williams this afternoon - or even Racing Point and Alfa Romeo - remains to be seen, but to be honest we wouldn't count on it.
As for the weather, a number of drivers, not least Leclerc, are placing their faith in the heavens opening up, and as we know from experience Monaco enjoys its own micro-climate which can see conditions change in an instant, and while, two hours before the start, it is bright and sunny, we can't take those blue skies for granted.
The more reliable weather agencies are predicting rain about an hour into the race, and in the wake of those five 1-2s, not to mention Mercedes obvious strength here (and everyone else) one can bet that it wasn't only certain drivers doing rain dances last night.
Assuming it remains dry, the theoretically fastest strategy is a one-stopper. There's also a very wide pit stop window, due to the low tyre wear and degradation. The quickest way is to start on the softs, then switch to the hards at any point between laps 10 and 22, according to each team's tactical needs. This wide window also means that teams could potentially take full advantage of a well-timed safety car period, which is always a strong possibility in Monaco.
A slightly slower strategy is to start on the softs and then switch to the mediums at any point between laps 18 and 25. Obviously this requires a bit more tyre management, as it involves going further on a softer compound.
Finally, there's a two-stopper, but this would only be relevant if degradation on the soft is higher than expected, maybe with higher temperatures. In which case, it would be two stints on the softs of 10 to 12 laps each, followed by a final stint on the hards.
The pitlane opens and one by one the drivers head out. Among the first out is Hamilton who is sporting a Lauda tribute helmet, as is Vettel, who has been wearing his all weekend.
"Bit on the nose in the tunnel," reports Russell, "rear end is floating a bit."
Along with black armbands, the Mercedes crew are all wearing red caps.
Though still bright, there are clouds in the distance, Race Control claiming an 80% chance of rain.
The drivers gather at the front of the grid for the minute's silence, all sporting their red caps emblazoned with the name 'NIKI'. The national anthem follows.
As it is revealed the risk of rain is now 90&, the leading ten all start on softs, as are Grosjean, Raikkonen and Giovinazzi. The rest are on mediums.
Hamilton is told that rain, if it comes, would require Inters.
The Briton leads the field away on the warm-up lap.
The grid forms.
They're away.
Hamilton makes a great start, while Bottas does well do hold off Verstappen who runs over the kerb on the inside at Ste Devote. King of the late brakers Ricciardo nails Magnussen at the first corner, while Giovinazzi, Leclerc and Kubica cut it.
A clean start and pretty much a clean opening lap, though Raikkonen and Stroll touch at the hairpin.
At the end fo lap 1, it's: Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen, Vettel, Ricciardo, Magnussen, Gasly, Sainz, Kvyat and Albon. Leclerc is 14th but subsequently passes Norris at the hairpin for 13th.
Leclerc is all over Grosjean who is all over Hulkenberg, such is the nature of the circuit.
Having looked at that first corner incident, the stewards are to take no further action as Leclerc didn't gain a place by cutting the corner. He did get ahead of Grosjean, but slowed to hand the place back.
Out front Hamilton is setting a hard pace, after 4 laps he's 1.3s ahead of his teammate who has a 1.5s comfort gap to Verstappen.
Leclerc continues to harry Grosjean, the Ferrari driver taking a trial lunge at the Nouvelle Chicane.
In fifth, Ricciardo is already 15s down on fourth placed Vettel, who is 4.6s down on the leader.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monaco, here.
Lap 7 sees a new fastest lap from Vettel (16.278).
Leclerc makes a bold move on Grosjean at Rascasse, going through on the inside and leaving the Haas driver no choice but to yield.
Having lost out at the start, Magnussen is all over Ricciardo.
Leclerc tries a similar move on Hulkenberg at Rascasse, but the German is having none of it and the Ferrari driver spins after clouting the barrier.
The youngster has a left-rear puncture and has to make his way back to the pits. As he slips down the field to last, his tyre is shredding and damaging the floor dumping debris on the track.
Leclerc pits, as does Hulkenberg. They rejoin in 19th (Hulkenberg) and 20th.
The Safety Car is deployed in order to clear the debris, Russell pits, as do Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen and Vettel. Verstappen is released into the past of Bottas and Vettel. The Red Bull and Mercedes touch.
A lap later, Ricciardo, Magnussen and Perez pit.
Behind the safety car, Hamilton leads Verstappen, Bottas, Vettel, Gasly, Sainz, Kvyat, Albon, Grosjean and Norris.
Bottas pits again, the Finn switched to the hards, like Verstappen and Vettel. He is thought to have picked up a puncture in the clash with the Red Bull.
Leclerc enquires about the damage to his car, his main concern is whether he can push or not. Of course, down in 20th he'll need to push.
Hamilton is on mediums, while the three behind are on hards.
The Safety Car pulls off at the start of lap 15, Hamilton disappears into the distance.
That said, the Briton is already expressing concern over his tyres.
Oh dear, Kubica has spun at Rascasse and causes a Schumacher traffic jam. Replay shows the Pole got a helping hand from Giovinazzi.
Among the drivers who lose time as the log-jam is cleared is, yep, you've guessed, Leclerc.
Verstappen is under investigation for unsafe release.
Next time around Leclerc pits and switches from hards to softs. Two laps later the youngster pits again, sadly this time it is terminal.
Kubica and Giovinazzi are under investigation for that Rascasse incident.
The leading four are covered by 2.464s.
On mediums that he knows cannot last the distance, Hamilton is managing his tyres. However, he is concerned that his slow pace leaves him open to his rivals.
Verstappen is handed a 5s time penalty, which is a lot better than the drive-through he might have been expecting.
"Possible chance of very light rain in five minutes," Hamilton is told.
After 25 laps, it's: Hamilton, Verstappen, Vettel, Bottas, Gasly, Sainz, Kvyat, Albon, Grosjean and Norris. However, only the leading four have stopped. Of those other drivers that have pitted, Ricciardo is currently 13th, ahead of Magnussen, Perez and Hulkenberg.
Giovinazzi (currently 18th) gets a 10s time penalty for causing a collision.
Appraised of his time penalty, Verstappen is given the all-clear to do what he wishes. "You can overtake Hamilton and drive off into the distance," he is told, "I'll leave it up to you mate, no risks."
Gasly pits at the end of lap 27, switching to the mediums. He rejoins in 9th.
Perez reports "drops of rain".
Sainz pits at the end of lap 30, rejoining in 9th, behind Gasly on mediums.
We should see a flurry of pit stops in the coming laps from the midfielders. However, it is doubtful whether that early stop has worked for Magnussen, Ricciardo, Perez and Hulkenberg.
Kvyat pits at the end of lap 32, the Russian rejoining just behind Sainz in 9th. As the Russian leaves the pitlane he is alongside the McLaren, which has just posted the fastest lap (15.891), but Sainz has the pace and holds him off.
Hamilton is told that if he needs to stop again, which isn't a given, he would switch to hards. He is also told that Verstappen has left-front graining.
"The car just can't get around the corners," reports Stroll.
Meanwhile, Raikkonen reports: "Again, he's just ******* driven into me!" of a certain Canadian Racing Point driver as they clash at the hairpin.
"Are the other two holding back or are they struggling to keep up," asks Hamilton. The team attempts to calm the Briton.
Stroll pits at the end of lap 39, much to the relief of the Iceman.
Next time around, Albon pits. The Toro Rosso driver rejoins in - yep, you've guessed - ninth.
With Grosjean the only one of the front-runners still to stop, Gasly is now back in sixth.
Hamilton continues to worry about his tyres.
"Let's go, let's go, let's use the tyre," Grosjean is told, the Haas driver having completed 43 laps on his softs. As has Raikkonen.
In ninth, Albon posts a new fastest lap (16.934), as he shadows his teammate who is unable to pass Sainz.
As Giovinazzi pits, Hamilton is catching the backmarkers. Indeed, there is a train of seven cars ahead.
Replay shows Magnussen and Perez rubbing wheels at the chicane, which the Dane proceeds to cut.
I'm definitely in a bad way," reports Hamilton as he closes on Stroll.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 47, the Finn rejoining in 17th. Elsewhere, Stroll is handed a 5s penalty for cutting the chicane during his previous scrap with Raikkonen.
While the leading three pass Stroll with relative ease, not so Bottas who loses several seconds behind the Racing Point.
Verstappen is told to "lift and coast" as Red Bull admit concern at his brake temperatures.
Despite his continuing concerns, Hamilton, who insists his tyres are "dead" is told: "We're not going to box now".
Grosjean pits at the end of lap 50, switching from those softs to mediums. He rejoins in 9th, just ahead of Ricciardo.
After 51 laps, with everyone having pitted, Hamilton leads Verstappen, Vettel, Bottas and Gasly, the four covered by 3.777s. Gasly is fifth, 12.s behind Bottas, ahead of Sainz, Kvyat, Albon, Grosjean and Ricciardo.
However, while Verstappen is just 0.772s down on Hamilton, let's not forget that 5s time penalty.
"Ahead of you is your friend Stroll," Raikkonen is told. "He is on hard tyres".
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monaco, here.
Hamilton is now arguing with Bono (his engineer) over his tyres. The world champion is told to maintain his pace and not to pass the backmarkers ahead.
"I don't know what you were thinking when you put these tyres on man," says Hamilton, "you need to hope for a miracle."
Suddenly Verstappen is much closer to Hamilton, the Red Bull driver having clearly been made aware of the Briton's concerns.
"Lewis, it's James, you can do this," insists the team's chief strategist.
At the end of lap 62, Gasly pits and rejoins still in fifth on softs. Fastest lap anyone?
Lap 65 sees Bottas post a new fastest lap (15.163), as he maintains a 3.5s gap to Vettel. With Verstappen's time penalty the Finn is currently third.
Now Gasly goes quickest, the Frenchman crossing the line at 14.567.
Verstappen it told that he has more power for the remaining laps. "Mode seven, when you're ready".
"That's great news," sighs Hamilton when told of Verstappen's extra power.
The Red Bull driver makes a move at the hairpin, but Hamilton has it covered.
Elsewhere, Norris is all over Ricciardo for tenth.
Now the leaders close on Magnussen. Verstappen misses the Swimming Pool chicane but doesn't gain or lose anything.
Lap 72 sees another fastest lap from Gasly (14.279).
Once again, at the hairpin, Verstappen sneaks a look, the youngster almost losing it as he applies the power a little too early and a little too heavy.
Grosjean is given a 5s penalty for crossing the line at the pitlane exit. However, with a 13s advantage over Ricciardo he won't lose out.
Verstappen makes a move on Hamilton at the Nouvelle Chicane, they touch. Hamilton cuts the chicane, having been nudged by the youngster, while the Red Bull driver goes the long way round. However, did either car sustain damage?
Vettel watches on.
They begin the final lap as it is revealed the stewards are looking at that incident.
Hamilton takes the flag, ahead of Verstappen, Vettel and Bottas, however that 5s penalty means the German and Finn join the Briton on the podium.
Gasly is fourth, ahead of Sainz, Kvyat, Albon, Grosjean and Ricciardo.
Norris is eleventh, ahead of Magnussen, Perez, Hulkenberg, Russell, Stroll, Raikkonen, Kubica and Giovinazzi, Leclerc being the only retirement.
Bono, James Vowles and Toto Wolff all congratulate Hamilton, but there is no response from the cockpit.
"That was definitely the hardest race I've had," admits Hamilton. "I really was fighting with the spirit of Niki," he adds, though we don't actually remember Lauda ever being a Moaning Minnie.
"I know he'll be looking down, I was just trying to make him proud. We truly miss him."
Asked about his tyres, he admits: "I wasn't going to come in... I was going to crash, or finish!"
"We tried to stay there, put the pressure on, stay in range," says Vettel, "I struggled with my rear tyres, mine were just not getting hot which made it a bit tricky. We know we've got work to do, we are not yet quick enough."
"A disappointing weekend for me," admits Bottas, the speed was there. The small margins yesterday made today difficult."
Disappointment of course for Verstappen, who wasn't to blame for the unsafe release, and is sure to have plenty to say about it.
While the rain didn't materialise, the race had its moments, even if most of them belonged to either Leclerc or Stroll.
Though Ferrari takes the blame for Leclerc failing to make it to Q2 yesterday, today's issues were all down to the youngster. Hopefully a lesson learned.
A well-deserved win for the world champion, who, despite the non-stop moaning, soaked up the pressure to take a win that will surely have had Niki smiling.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monaco, here.