Schedule of the Formula 1 Monaco GP at the Monte Carlo circuit

The Red Bull put their favoritism to the test on a track with options for the Ferrari, the Mercedes and the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso

The team Red Bull will re-examine his hitherto overwhelming dominance on the grid at the Monaco Grand Prix, the seventh round of the Formula 1 calendar, on a short but vibrant track through the streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine, just over 3 kilometers in one of the most favorable races to see the Spanish Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) win the desired victory 33while Ferrari and Mercedes seek to give, at last, the long-awaited surprise that shakes the World Cup.

After the forced two-week break due to the cancellation of the Emilia Romagna GP due to the heavy flooding in Imola, the excitement of F1 returns to a stage that promises a show. Since the first race was held almost 100 years ago, in 1929, the Monaco GP has been synonymous with excitement, uncertainty and agitation for drivers who must give their best version on one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar.

With hardly any fast zones -only at the exit of the tunnel and the finish line are close to 300km/h-, the DRS will not be a differential element, reason why Red Bull will not enjoy that small, but key advantage, to continue with its tyranny this course. Four doubles in five races held has been the letter of introduction of the Austrian team in an almost perfect start that has already channeled the drivers’ and constructors’ title.

Thus, the rivalry between its pilots, Max Verstappen and ‘Checo’ Pérez, presumes to be one of the attractions of the weekend. The Dutchman, current champion, leads the standings with 119 points, 14 more than his teammate (105), already far behind Alonso (75) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes / 56) as immediate pursuers. ‘Mad Max’ He will once again face his colder character and style consistent with the rage and hunger of the Mexican, who this year does see a hypothetical title closer.

In addition, Pérez already knows what it is to win in Monte Carlo, since last year he managed to cross the finish line first in a race that went through water in which there was everything. In this edition, the rain could also play a leading role, on a track where starting from the front row seems key as it is practically impossible to overtake.

This is well known charles leclerc (Ferrari) who has won the last two ‘poles’, although he has ended up going against the wall, in his hometown, where, however, a curse seems to surround him. He has only finished the race once, and he was left out of the podium. The Monegasque pilot will try again this weekend, with the obligation to climb the position in the World Championship, now seventh with 34 points, 28 of them achieved in the last two tests in Azerbaijan and Miami.

Opportunity for 33

Leclerc also has his partner, Carlos Sainz, between his eyebrows, who arrives at the GP in which more points (58) has achieved since his debut. In addition, the Spaniard, who caused a scare in the traditional match between drivers in the Principality due to a possible injury, hopes to score the first podium of the season and turn Monaco into his GP with more ‘drawers’ With 3.

The man from Madrid (44), like Ferrari, is not having an easy start, and he sees in Monaco a great opportunity to rejoin the ‘top 4’ from which he is now separated by 22 points. He and Leclerc will look to Monaco to guide the course of the ‘Prancing Horse’ and achieve the 800th podium for the team, which needs that definitive boost to fight again with the best.

“If I tell you that I don’t come here thinking that I can win, I would lie to you. It is a unique opportunity. I am going to attack more than any other weekend”. This is how Alonso wanted to make it clear in the preview of the Grand Prix that he is going with everything for the desired victory number 33. The conditions of the circuit, to which the rain in which the Asturian develops like a fish in water, makes the clear differences with Red Bull reduce and make the green cars more competitive if possible.

In addition, Alonso has two victories in Monaco in 2005, when he was world champion, and 2006. And his start in the current championship, with four podiums in the first five races, is encouraging. If he gets back on the ‘drawer’ in the streets of Monte Carlo he will equal what he achieved in 2005 (5/6) and 2006 (6/6), seasons in which he won the title. Plus he would equal Kimi raikkonen with 103 podiums as the fifth driver who has done it the most times in the history of the ‘Gran Circo’.

They also want to be in the battle some Mercedes that have come down, but loaded with improvements for Monaco, such as the introduction of some new pontoons, against the initial concept of the team. Hamilton will continue trying, amid the rumors that he will be at Ferrari next year, on a track in which he already won in 2018.