Alonso throws away his only chance of a win: Up and down in Monaco
The rain fell mainly on Spain's best chance of an F1 win this season in Monaco – until we're proved wrong by a home win next weekend
Alonso could well be around for Honda' Aston link-up
Grand Prix Photo
The world’s greatest drivers once again showed their skill by pranging turbo hybrid monsters into one another at 15mph.
Carbon-fibre confetti rained down on the Principality in anticipation of rain that made some of the world’s best-paid athletes look even more indignant.
The prima donnas screamed, growled and ground their teeth over the radio as if it was going to change something.
And, after all that, the same bloke won again.
It can only be the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix:
Goin’ down
Dropping the ball
On the right tyres at last
Grand Prix Photo
Alonso’s Monaco dodgy tyre call may have cost him his only chance to win this season. His exuberance in celebrating second might just have been papering over the frustration.
…and wrecking ball
Stroll-ing back to the pits (sorry). The only time the rest of the field was safe
Sky Sports F1
Meanwhile team-mate Stroll hit just about anything and everything in the Principality. Dad Lawrence was just glad his megayacht wasn’t parked next to the track within firing range.
Like a bull…
Sainz ticks another one off his hit list
Grand Prix Photo
Carlos Sainz was driving at his dainty best in Monaco, telling his team “Let’s push him [Ocon] to use his tyres”, before quite literally biffing the Alpine up the rear.
Poor calls
(Inhales breath): Grazie ragazzi!
Ferrari
Ferrari then tried to wrongfoot Enstone with some bluff pitstop calls. Alpine didn’t fall for it. Scuderia strategy at its finest there. Even when it doesn’t do anything, still gets it wrong.
Goin’ Up
Ocon supreme
Ocon leading by example in Monaco
Grand Prix Photo
Ocon gets people’s backs up sometimes – a semi-frequent lack of pace and some questionable on-track manoeuvres fuelling the fire.
However, a brilliant third in Monaco silenced some doubters.
Checo karma
High point of Perez weekend
Red Bull
After that very suspicious qualifying crash last year, some Checo karma came back in spades as the Mexican managed to crash at seemingly every corner. Maybe he was just trying to make a point?
New angle
Getting the full benefit of that Monaco action
Grand Prix Photo
With F1 in control of its Monaco broadcasting for the first time – instead of the Principality – the shots and presentation were so much better.
The obligatory Red Bull Goin’ Up, Goin’ Down entry
Why doesn’t the Red Bull energy station at MotoGP rounds feature a soft play area like Monaco F1? I may make a written complaint 🥂🥂🥂 pic.twitter.com/wpWdeLL61e
— Mat Oxley (@matoxley) May 27, 2023
Red Bull’s soft play swimming pool couldn’t be filled with water because of a Monaco hosepipe ban.
Then it rained bucket-loads.
What does it mean? After hours of research, analysis and deliberation… we’re not sure.