Last year, Formula 1 implemented a mandatory two-stop strategy for the Monaco Grand Prix, hoping to “improve the racing spectacle” at the sport’s marquee event.
While that did not deliver the overtaking and strategy options that the sport hoped for, this year gave us a different means of achieving that goal.
Penalties, safety cars, retirements, and more penalties.
But when the dust settled, it was Kimi Antonelli at the front of the field yet again, taking his fifth consecutive Grand Prix win by holding off Lewis Hamilton after a standing restart with just a handful of laps remaining.
A dizzying array of unexpected events, starting with Max Verstappen retiring almost immediately after the lights went out when his RB22 failed at the start, turned what looked to be an easy drive to the checkered flag for Antonelli into a chaotic affair over the final 20 laps. Lance Stroll found the wall on Lap 60, bringing out the safety car and pulling the field closer to Antonelli at the front. And just as the race resumed Charles Leclerc, who was running in third, hit the wall right at the restart, bringing out a second safety car and ending his day with heartbreak at home yet again.
But events were just getting started, as race officials then called for a red flag, due to the track surface breaking up at Turn 19. The field came down pit lane, and the latest restart in Monaco Grand Prix history awaited.
If that was not enough, there were several penalties for the race stewards to sort through. Including an investigation for a handful of drivers noted for speeding in pit lane, and whether some of those drivers who were given a five-second penalty for that infraction served those penalties properly. That included George Russell, who was noted for a five-second penalty for speeding in pit lane, and did not seem to serve that properly during the safety car brought out by Stroll’s incident.
Russell was then given a drive-through penalty for failing to serve the initial penalty properly, ending any chance of a podium finish for the Mercedes driver. Isack Hadjar, who was sitting up in P3 during the red flag, was noted for a safety car infringement for failing to stay within ten car lengths of the car in front of him, and the young driver had a penalty investigation to sweat out as he waited for the restart. As did Hamilton, for the same potential infringement.
When the restart was called for, the drivers sitting in P2 through P5 – Hamilton, Hadjar, Russell, and Pierre Gasly – were all either facing an investigation, or facing another penalty to serve. Russell was facing his drive-through penalty, while Gasly needed to serve a pair of five-second penalties for speeding in pit lane.
Eventually, both Hamilton and Hadjar were cleared of those potential infractions before the restart.
The next big question? How would the restart be handled? Would Rui Marque, F1’s Race Director, call for a rolling start or a standing start? The decision was fully within his discretion.
Given the pristine conditions, Marque called for a standing start, putting Antonelli under pressure one more time to secure his first Monaco Grand Prix win. If there has been a weakness for Antonelli and Mercedes this season, it was at the start.
A genuine battle off the line to win F1’s crown jewel was on tap, with Antonelli set to duel the seven-time Drivers’ Champion over the final few laps.
The lights went out, and Antonelli did enough off the line to hold Hamilton at bay. Hadjar was slow off the line and dropped to fifth, with Russell and Gasly sliding ahead of him, but both Russell and Gasly had penalties to serve.
Then there was another incident, as Nico Hülkenberg made contact with Carlos Sainz Jr. at the hairpin, dropping the Williams driver out of the points, and out of the race. Russell came in on Lap 73 to serve his drive-through penalty, which sent him tumbling down the pecking order. He rejoined the fight down in P14, his chances of a podium having vanished.
At the front, Antonelli drove away from Hamilton, delivering the fastest lap of the race on Lap 76, building a five-second gap over Hamilton with just two laps remaining. Gasly was running in third, but still had ten seconds worth of penalties to serve, which would be added to his time after the checkered flag. And with Hadjar, facing yet another investigation for a potential red flag infringement that would be decided after the race, Oscar Piastri in P5 was in position for a podium finish of his own.
But it was Antonelli’s day for sure, as he crossed the line ahead of Hamilton, who took his second consecutive P2 finish for Ferrari. Hadjar was promoted to P3 at the finish given Gasly’s penalty, followed by Piastri, Liam Lawson, Arvid Lindblad, Gasly, Alexander Albon, Hülkenberg, and Esteban Ocon.
However, Hülkenberg was given a ten-second penalty just after the checkered flag for the collision with Sainz, which promoted … Sergio Pérez into P10.
At least for the moment, as Pérez was facing an investigation of his own for being outside of his starting box at the restart.
If Pérez is given a penalty then it would be Fernando Alonso promoted to P10.
The story, however, remains Antonelli. F1 has never seen a teenager win a Drivers’ Championship, but with the victory, the 19-year-old moved to 156 points on the season. That puts him 66 points ahead of Hamilton, who moved into second with 90 points.
“It’s been an incredible weekend, incredible race, and it was one of those days where we had incredible pace,” said Antonelli to David Coulthard after the finish.
“It was a very enjoyable day.”
As for Hamilton, it was his eighth podium in Monaco, matching the mark set by the late Ayrton Senna.
“I think we’ve been progressing over the past months, can’t quite keep up with [Mercedes] just yet … but to get another second place is such a great feeling,” said Hamilton trackside after the checkered flag.
