28/05/2023
NEWS STORY
It wasn't that long ago that Fernando Alonso was one of the sport's 'Marmite' drivers - or is that Vegemite for our friends down under - you either liked him or you didn't, there was nothing in between.
While there was no doubting his courage and skill, even as early as his Minardi days, the Spaniard had a 'certain' reputation for being overtly political in way that would shock Machiavelli, flitting from team to team he gathered more and more baggage, never more so than when partnered with Lewis Hamilton in the Briton's first season.
But now all that seems a lifetime ago, and there are few today who, like Max Verstappen, who wouldn't like to see the Spaniard claim victory.
The last win was at Barcelona in 2013, though not for want of trying.
Disillusioned with F1 he headed off in pursuit of the Triple Crown, and while he won at Le Mans, despite his best efforts victory at Indianapolis proved elusive.
So, here we are, twenty-odd seasons after he made his F1 debut and the two-time champ is third in the standings and starting alongside pole-man Verstappen.
In the previous five races, Alonso has proven himself to be as feisty as ever, and along with the unquestioned speed is the knowledge gained over the course of 360 grands prix.
However, much as Max might want to see a fairy-tale ending to today's race, the Dutchman, like Senna, Schumacher and several others before him, is remorseless, and once the visor comes down and the lights go out, sentimentality goes out of the window.
Too many times over the years we have seen the field come to grief at the opening corner here, and while both Max and Fernando are promising to fight it out from the outset, both are fully aware that any silliness could see their races over before they've begun.
Indeed, while we remember the Monaco maestros like Senna, Schumacher, Hill and Prost, over the years we have seen a number of shock winners, and today could well witness another.
Form pretty much goes out of the window in Monaco, where a strong car and a fearless driver can still lose out to one who opts for the 'softly, softly' approach.
Leclerc's 3-place penalty will make the afternoon that much harder for the local boy, though in all honesty he was facing a tough afternoon anyway, what with the SF23 being such a beast to drive around here.
Interestingly, the 2023 Ferrari, along with the Haas and McLaren, is slower than its 2022 counterpart.
That said, having only seen the chequered flag once in four starts, Leclerc will be happy to just get through the afternoon unscathed.
Ocon will therefore start from third, the Frenchman no doubt hoping to emulate countryman Olivier Panis, one of those 'freak' winners to which we previously referred.
The Alpine driver has good support from his teammate, while the Mercedes pair are in the mix, with Yuki Tsunoda just ahead of the McLaren pair.
Much as Liberty is building the hype around Las Vegas, Monaco still has it, and even though it is ludicrous that F1 cars are still whizzing around these tight, twisty, unforgiving streets - especially these bigger, unwieldly machines - surely yesterday's Q3 'shoot-out' (groan) is what F1's all about.
Though bright and sunny, there is the threat of showers over the course of the afternoon, and as we know from experience the weather can change dramatically and suddenly.
A further twist to that particular little nugget is the fact that Pirelli has its new full wet here, the one that doesn't require tyre blankets.
On a track where overtaking is almost impossible, the fastest strategy involves a single stop as soon as possible. On paper, the drivers should fit the mediums on the grid and change them between the twentieth and twenty-fifth laps for the hards in order to be the fastest. Another possibility is given by starting on the softs and then changing for hards between laps 15 and 20, with the possibility of doing the reverse also.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin to head out, Sargeant leads the way, followed by Magnussen, Stroll, Zhou and Bottas.
Air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 46 degrees. There is a 20% risk of rain.
As they head off on the formation lap, most are on hards bar Verstappen, Ocon, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Norris, de Vries, Albon, Sargeant, Hulkenberg and Perez who are on mediums and Zhou on softs. As ever, the Aston Martin pair are the only drivers on used rubber.
The grid forms, Alonso signalling his intentions by pointing his car at Verstappen's.
They're away! While Alonso makes a great start, Verstappen has the advantage, so the Spaniard settles for covering off Ocon. Into Ste Devote, Verstappen leads a sliding Alonso and Ocon, while Sainz holds off Hamilton and Leclerc edges ahead of Gasly.
Further around the lap, Stroll nudges Albon at Mirabeau, with Hulkenberg also clouting the Williams. As the Following Alfa slow to a halt, so too does Sargeant, who had previously been hit by the charging Hulkenberg.
"What was that," cries the American. "Head down, head down," he is told. "Everybody saw it!"
At the end of Lap 1, it's: Verstappen, Alonso, Ocon, Sainz, Hamilton, Leclerc, Gasly, Russell, Tsunoda and Norris. Hulkenberg, Perez and Zhou all pit.
After 2 laps a train is building behind Hamilton who is 1s down on Sainz.
Russell has been noted for being in an "incorrect position" at the start.
On hards, and 18th, Perez posts a new fastest lap (16.387).
Hulkenberg is given a 5s penalty for causing a collision.
6.9s down on the car ahead (Stroll), Perez sets a string of fastest lap.
2.4s down on the leader, Alonso has a 6s advantage over third-placed Ocon.
No further investigation of Russell decide the stewards.
Lap 8 sees the two leaders lapping within 0.006s of one another.
Perez is now 0.769s behind Stroll but his progress is halted as he joins the back of a train comprising at least 6 cars.
"We're happy to use the fronts to protect the rears," Alonso is told.
Sainz goes for a move on Ocon in the Chicane but comes to grief, damaging his front wing in the process. Despite the fact that the wing is broken he continues lapping.
"I need to know the damage," says the Spaniard. "I think he moved a bit late," he adds.
"There was no space for both of us," says Ocon.
Despite the damage being obvious to the rest of us, Ferrari leaves the Spaniard out on track.
"Maybe puncture of the front-right," asks Alonso. "All ok," he is assured.
Debris?
"Did you have some contact," he is asked. "Negative," he replies.
Nonetheless, he has dropped 5.4s behind Verstappen.
In 15th, Sargeant is under pressure from Magnussen, Stroll, Perez and Zhou.
"Some medium runners complaining of graining," Russell is told.
Sainz has been shown the black and white flag for causing a collision.
A great move down the inside at Mirabeau sees Magnussen pass Sargeant for 15th.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monaco here.
Shortly after, Stroll makes a great move on the American at Rascasse, with Perez following through.
Having been passed by Bottas for 13th, Albon subsequently pits.
On Lap 20, from out of nowhere, Alonso goes quickest in S1, though he remains 8s down on the leader.
"Box to overtake Ocon," Sainz is told. However, the Spaniard remains on track.
Williams admits that graining to the mediums is worse than expected.
Stroll is all over Magnussen, the Dane using all his experience to hold off the Canadian.
Sargeant pits again at the end of Lap 24, the American switching to softs. Williams subsequently reports that he had suffered a puncture.
"Alonso is reporting rear graining on the left," Sainz is told.
Norris is advised that rain could arrive around Lap 35, in less than 10 laps.
Not for the first time this afternoon, the Ferrari crew head out into the pitlane only to head back into the garage again.
"That front-left really isn't pretty," admits Verstappen.
"We're going to lose a lot of time in this traffic," adds the Dutchman as he prepares to lap 17th placed Hulkenberg.
"There's a risk of rain towards the end of the race," Perez is told.
Alonso has actually closed the gap back up again, the Spaniard now just 8.3s down on the leader.
Other than his not pretty tyres, Verstappen also has to contend with back-markers.
Hamilton pits at the end fo Lap 31, the Briton rejoining in 8th.+3
"Push now, everything you have," Leclerc is told as Mercedes goes for the undercut.
Ocon pits at th3e e3nd of Lap 32. It's a slow stop and the Alpine driver rejoins in 7th, 3.8s ahead of Hamilton.
Perez straight-lines the chicane as he battles Stroll, while also being lapped by his Red Bull teammate.
Sainz pits at the end of Lap 33, rejoining in 7th, behind Ocon but ahead of Hamilton.
"If we pit now we lose out to Alonso," Verstappen is told.
Perez has hit the Haas of Magnussen, with Stroll running over the resultant debris.
The Mexican subsequently pits for a new front wing and mediums. He rejoins in 19th.
Told that his strategy is to "cover Hamilton", he responds: "I don't care about Hamilton!"
"What is Charles pace?" asks Sainz. He is told that it is 17.5, compare to the Spaniard's 17.9.
Yet another incident involving Stroll, this time Magnussen is on the receiving end as they battle for 14th.
Ocon asks if there is any sign of graining to the hards. He is told that there isn't.
Stroll is shown a black and white flag for causing a collision.
"Rain is still several minutes away, if it gets here," Piastri is told.
Now working his way through the back-markers, Alonso is looking to build the requisite gap to Leclerc to allow him to pit. It currently stands at 20.3s.
"Gasly's backing me up I reckon," reports Russell, "I'm not sure why."
The answer most likely being the fact that Gasly's teammate is 4.5s down on the Mercedes.
Leclerc reports that his tyres are gone. Indeed, at the end of Lap 44 he pits, rejoining in 8th, 10s down on Hamilton.
"What happened to the rain" asks Alonso. "Rain in about 15 minutes," he is told.
Piastri clouts the barrier at the Swimming pool, as Gasly pits. The Frenchman rejoins in 7th, 1.5s don on Leclerc.
"There are some pockets of rain a few kilometres away from the track," Verstappen is told. "We're monitoring."
"Maybe drops of rain Turns 6 to Turn 8," Verstappen is told. That's the Hairpin.
"Spitting in Turn 3," reports Russell.
Norris pits at the end of Lap 51, the McLaren driver rejoining in 11th.
"It's raining more and more," reports Russell. "It's raining," adds Verstappen.
Indeed, Bottas misses the Chicane, and subsequently pits, as does Stroll.
As the rain intensifies, the field is tightly bunches as drivers slow down.
"I have to drive super slow," says Verstappen, as Ocon misses the Chicane.
In treacherous conditions, Verstappen is trapped among the backmarkers.
Sainz is all over Ocon, as Alonso pits at the end of Lap 54.
Alonso switches to mediums, even though his teammate and others are on Inters.
Russell pits, as do Ocon, Hamilton, Gasly, de Vries and Perez.
Verstappen clouts the barriers at Portier but continues.
As Sainz goes off, Verstappen is told that he is to pit for Inters. As the rain increases Alonso will also need to pit again.
Verstappen pits for Inters as Alonso pits and the Ferraris almost trip up over one another in the conditions. Leclerc and Sainz subsequently pit.
Magnussen is the only driver on slicks (hards), as Verstappen leads Alonso, Ocon, Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc, Gasly, Sainz, Tsunoda and Piastri.
In a frantic few minutes Stroll has been off and lost his front wing, while Sainz had a spin and did well to stay out of the barriers.
After 56 laps it is now raining heavily.
"We're going to box for full wets," Magnussen is told.
Russell and Perez have been noted for an unsafe rejoin at Turn 5 (Mirabeau).
Oh dear, Magnussen has hit the barriers at Rascasse before reaching the pitlane. He is able to continue however.
"What is the forecast," asks Sainz. "Will stay for five minutes," he is told.
Sargent is under investigation for speeding in the pitlane. He is subsequently given a 5s penalty.
Russell is handed a 5s penalty for an unsafe rejoin. Replay shows he headed up the escape road at Ste Devote and almost hit Perez as he rejoined the track.
Hulkenberg appears trapped in the escape road at Ste Devote.
Another hairy moment for Perez, as Hulkenberg is noted for serving a penalty incorrectly.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monaco here.
Toto Wolf comes on the radio to assure Russell that everything is "cool".
"It's getting to the point... it's pretty dangerous out here," says Hamilton.
Aware that Alonso was closing the gap, Verstappen ups his pace.
Russell asks if he can pass Hamilton, assuring that he will go more than 5s ahead and will subsequently hand the place back. He wants this to protect himself from Leclerc. Mercedes declines the offer.
Hulkenberg is given a 10s time penalty for serving his previous penalty incorrectly.
"We need to find some pace, mainly under braking," Tsunoda is warned. The Japanese, currently 9th, and under pressure from Norris, takes the advice with his usual calm and grace.
Gasly is shown the black and white flag for track limits violations.
Norris passes Tsunoda on the run to Ste Devote, with McLaren teammate Piastri also sizing up the AlphaTauri driver. Indeed, the Australian subsequently nails the hapless Japanese. As his day goes from bad to worse, Tsunoda heads down the escape road at Mirabeau.
"F***," brakes are unreal man," complains Tsunoda.
"Do you see anything other than an Inter," Verstappen is asked. "No, no," comes the reply.
"I clipped the wall a little bit," says Verstappen, "check the right-rear."
It is revealed that it was the team that made the call in terms of fitting slicks to Alonso's car, the Spaniard having wanted to wait and see how things developed.
On Lap 72, Verstappen laps his teammate for the second time, as the Mexican battles with Hulkenberg for 16th. Perez subsequently pits, switching from full wets to Inters.
"I'm struggling for grip," reports Hamilton.
After Stroll, Magnussen looks set to be the second retirement of the afternoon.
"The car doesn't feel right," reports Russell following that clash with Perez. However, the Briton is assured he's doing a good job.
Verstappen begins the final lap, 27s ahead of Alonso, who is 10s ahead of Ocon.
The Dutchman takes the flag, Alonso is second, ahead of Ocon, Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc, Gasly, Sainz, Norris and Piastri.
Bottas is eleventh, ahead of de Vries, Zhou, Albon, Tsunoda, Perez and Hulkenberg.
So, no fairy-tales, though Alonso will be delighted with second, just Ocon will be over the moon with third.
Indeed, he is. "We've done it!" he grins. "What a super weekend from everyone at the team. We improved the car from beginning to end and we didn't put a foot wrong.
"Even when we put on the Inters, it was the perfect moment to do it," he adds. "I touched the wall enough yesterday, I didn't need to today, to give any more heart attacks to the team."
"It was difficult," admits Alonso, "we opted to start on the (hard) tyres so we gave up on the possibility into Turn 1.
"Max drove super well on the mediums," he adds, "so we didn't have a chance. Then the rain made things a bit difficult.
"Braking was extremely fragile, I think everyone did an amazing job today to keep the cars on track."
"It was difficult because we were on the medium initially," says Verstappen, "we didn't want to stay out that long but we had to because the rain was coming.
"Then the rain came, it was incredibly slippery, I clipped the walls as it was super difficult out there, but that's Monaco.
"It's super nice to win it with the weather and everything, to stay calm and bring it home."
While the rain spiced things up what we really needed was for it to dry up again quickly or whatever, as it is changeable conditions that really produce the thrills.
Fact is, this was one race where it was thought that Red Bull would be hard-pressed, yet other than Perez' troubles it was pretty much business as usual.
Now it's on to Spain, where Max scored his first win back in 2016 and is likely to add to his tally.
Of more interest however should be those Mercedes upgrades, while Ferrari needs to get its act together after a disappointing weekend here.
Alpine had a great weekend, and McLaren will be pleased also, while Aston Martin will surely need to have a word with young Lance who continues to lose ground to his teammate.
See you next weekend.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monaco here.