A few hours ago, Sergio Perez became the winner of the Monaco race. But then Ferrari lodged a protest against the rating – unsuccessfully.
Sergio Perez and Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen retain their victory and third place respectively at the Monaco Grand Prix. As the world automobile association FIA announced a good three and a half hours after the end of the race, Ferrari’s protest submitted after the seventh race of the season was rejected.
The Scuderia’s accusation was that both Red Bull drivers had left the solid line to the left with the left front tire after changing tires when exiting the pits. However, the FIA came to the conclusion that both cars touched the line but did not illegally cross it.
Action was not directed against Red Bull
“We lodged the protest because we want to ensure clarity,” Ferrari team boss Mattia Binotto justified the protest in a media round on Sunday evening. The action is “not directed against Red Bull in particular”, rather they want “clarification on a matter that is obvious and clear to us,” said Binotto.
Perez crossed the finish line first, just ahead of Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, followed closely by Verstappen and the second Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. Because of this result, Verstappen extended his world championship lead at Monegasque Leclerc from six to nine points.