Monaco Grand Prix: Verstappen breezes to victory, makes Red Bull history

Max Verstappen was at his brilliant best as he strolled to a second career win at the Monaco Grand Prix and 39th Formula One win overall, a new record for Red Bull Racing.

After an impressive showing saw him win the Miami Grand Prix, Verstappen must have been disappointed to see the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix get postponed in the following week.

The Dutch driver secured pole position with a terrific lap in Monaco, with rival and home favourite Charles Leclerc receiving a grid penalty, meaning he had to start from P6.

Verstappen was in control of the race from the start, having started at the front of the pile. The Red Bull star showed great mastery of the circuit even as the rain poured down, managing the race effectively from start to finish and winning by a considerable margin. The two-time world champion finished ahead of Aston Martin veteran Fernando Alonso, with Alpine Racing’s Esteban Ocon finishing in third place. Ocon became the first Frenchman to earn a Podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix since 1996.

Mercedes’ pair of Lewis Hamilton and George Russell finished in fourth and fifth respectively, with Leclerc in sixth place and Pierre Gasly in seventh. Carlos Sainz finished eighth, Lando Norris was ninth and Oscar Piastri finished in tenth place to pick up the final points from the race.

Hamilton earned an extra point for having the fastest lap in the race, and Ocon was voted as the Driver of the Day. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll was the only driver who retired from the race, doing so in the 63rd lap.

Following the Monaco Grand Prix, the season will continue in Barcelona next week for the Spanish Grand Prix.