Monaco: post-race analysis 2022

Well, I always lambast Monaco for being boring and this year was quite the exception, providing a delayed and somewhat truncated race but one that was altogether more engaging than usual.

There was chaos at the delayed start (16 minutes later than planned) as unexpected rain and a formation lap (laps, as it transpired) behind the safety car necessitated full wet tyres and engineers frantically changing wheels.

After a couple of these and heavier rain it was deemed too wet to race (probably rightly). We then had quite some time hanging around while rain fell. When it calmed enough for a rolling start after following the safety car, things got underway.

The top quartet started pulling away from those behind and, for the most part, it was formation flying. Leclerc pulled perhaps 5-7s on Sainz but otherwise there was just a couple of seconds between the top chaps. At this stage, all looked rosy for the Monegasque at his home race. And then Ferrari did a Ferrari.

The question was whether to pit relatively early for the inters, ramp up the pace, then pit for slicks, or hold on for a straight shift to the dry tyres. Leclerc lost out to Perez, who had taken full advantage of a swap to inters pretty early on, and slipped back to 3rd. At this stage, Sainz led but had not pitted. He was adamant on the radio that the change should be to dry tyres.

The Spaniard was right. While Perez rocked up close to him, it was in the pit stops to dry that things really shifted, the Mexican taking the lead ahead of Sainz. Worse still for Leclerc, who was in 4th, behind title rival Verstappen.

There was a red flag during the dry portion of the race, Schumacher’s Haas rotating wildly and breaking in two after smashing into a barrier (the red flag was needed to mend this). Oddly, while Ferrari kept their chaps on the hard tyre, Red Bull switched theirs to new mediums.

After the rolling restart, again to Perez’s advantage, Alonso deliberately backed up the pack, pushing Hamilton back towards Ocon who had a 5s penalty for causing a collision (with Hamilton). Fortunately for Perez, this got going when Alonso was told to speed up to try and help Ocon stay in the points (unsuccessfully).

Despite Perez’s tyres going off, due to him locking up, Sainz was unable to make headway but was able to fend off Verstappen to retain 2nd. The Dutchman completed the podium and Leclerc, who had pole and had seemed in control and cruising to victory, ended up only 4th.

Russell got 5th for Mercedes, but had the race been a little longer Norris (who was pitted late on for a charge) may well have got him. Alonso retained 7th ahead of Hamilton, with Bottas and Vettel scoring. Strong result for Vettel given his car.

Retirements, apart from Schumacher, were his team mate Magnussen and Albon, both with reliability woe.

So, an entertaining race and a deserved win for Perez. He’s now on 110 points to Leclerc’s 116, and Verstappen’s 125. The Dutchman’s going to have to keep his eyes peeled.

Next race is Azerbaijan in a fortnight.

 

Morris Dancer

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