The Monaco Grand Prix stands as an unparalleled test of skill, precision, and nerve, a true jewel in the Formula 1 calendar. Its tight, winding streets, historic layout, and unforgiving barriers through Monte Carlo push drivers to their absolute limits even under ideal conditions. The 2022 edition, however, added an extra layer of complexity and drama with a rain-affected Sunday race, transforming the iconic circuit into a treacherous gauntlet. This unexpected turn of weather significantly amplified the challenge, leading to a dramatic reshuffling of strategies, numerous incidents, and ultimately, a captivating spectacle that highlighted the raw talent and resilience of the drivers. Some navigated the slippery asphalt with remarkable composure, showcasing their mastery in adverse conditions, while others found themselves grappling with the unpredictable grip, leading to a weekend filled with highs, lows, and crucial lessons.
Here, we delve into a comprehensive analysis of each driver’s performance at the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix, providing detailed ratings that reflect their qualifying efforts, race craft, strategic execution, and overall impact on a truly unforgettable weekend.
Monaco Grand Prix Driver Ratings: Navigating the Rain-Soaked Streets
The 2022 Monaco Grand Prix was a race defined by its challenging wet-to-dry transition, demanding quick thinking and impeccable car control. From the initial downpour that delayed the start to the strategic gambles on intermediate and slick tires, every decision and maneuver was magnified. Our ratings consider not only the final result but also the journey, the overtakes, the defensive masterclasses, and the unfortunate errors that shaped each driver’s weekend.
Lewis Hamilton – 5
Qualified: 8th (-2 places behind team mate)
+0.448s slower than team mate in Q3
Finished: 8th (-3 places behind team mate)
Lewis Hamilton’s Monaco weekend proved to be a challenging affair, marked by struggles with his Mercedes W13. On Friday, he candidly described the car’s stiff ride over the bumps as a “rollercoaster ride,” highlighting the persistent porpoising issues that plagued the team. His qualifying session was particularly frustrating; after starting his Q3 lap on the wrong engine mode, he was then denied a crucial second attempt by a late red flag, consigning him to eighth on the grid. In the early stages of the race, Hamilton ran in eighth place, trailing Fernando Alonso, before making an early switch to intermediate tyres on lap 15. A significant portion of his race involved an intense battle with Esteban Ocon, where he attempted multiple overtakes. Hamilton vocally complained about Ocon’s aggressive defending, with the two cars making contact twice. He eventually regained eighth position when Ocon pitted for slicks, maintaining his advantage after switching to hard tyres a lap later. Post-restart, Hamilton found himself stuck behind a deliberately slow Alonso, unable to find a way past the wily Spaniard. He spent the concluding laps fending off a charging Ocon, who remained within DRS range, ultimately finishing the race in eighth place, a result that underlined the team’s ongoing difficulties with the car’s characteristics on street circuits.
George Russell – 7
Qualified: 6th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
-0.448s quicker than team mate in Q3
Finished: 5th (+3 places ahead of team mate)
George Russell continued his remarkable consistency in 2022, securing another top-five finish despite the inherent difficulties of the Monaco circuit and his car. He described the car’s ride problems as making this his “hardest” Monaco experience, echoing his teammate’s sentiments about the challenging characteristics of the W13. Russell was beaten to fifth on the grid by Lando Norris in qualifying but felt that sixth was realistically the highest Mercedes could achieve given their performance. In the initial wet laps of the race, he maintained sixth place, running steadily behind Norris. He opted for a longer stint on wet tyres, demonstrating good judgment, before finally pitting for slick tyres on lap 21. This strategic decision paid off handsomely; utilizing his warmer slick tyres, Russell executed a brilliant overtake on Norris for fifth position as they exited Sainte Devote. He held onto fifth place for the remainder of the race, unable to quite match the pace of the front-runners but successfully consolidating his position. His flawless drive in challenging conditions, coupled with strategic acumen, ensured he continued his impressive streak of top-five finishes, once again outperforming his more experienced teammate.
Max Verstappen – 6
Qualified: 4th (-1 place behind team mate)
0.037s slower than team mate in Q3
Finished: 3rd (-2 places behind team mate)
Max Verstappen’s Monaco Grand Prix weekend was a solid but not dominant performance, culminating in a third-place finish. He appeared to struggle somewhat to find the ultimate pace compared to his teammate, being the slowest of the top two teams in all three practice sessions. In qualifying, Verstappen expressed difficulties in finding a decent balance for his Red Bull RB18. He was on course to improve his Q3 time, which could have potentially challenged for pole, but a late red flag prematurely ended his session, leaving him in fourth place on the grid. During the early, wet phase of the race, he maintained fourth position. Red Bull executed a critical strategic move by bringing him in for intermediate tyres after his teammate, rejoining the track still in fourth. Crucially, he then followed his teammate’s lead by pitting for slick tyres immediately after Sergio Perez, which allowed him to leapfrog the Ferraris who made less optimal calls. This effective undercut strategy propelled him into third place. Following the red flag, he switched to medium tyres and skillfully managed to stay ahead of Charles Leclerc for the rest of the race. Post-race, Ferrari lodged a protest against both Red Bull drivers for allegedly crossing the pit exit line, but the stewards dismissed the protest, confirming Verstappen’s podium finish in a challenging strategic race.
Sergio Perez – 7
Qualified: 3rd (+1 place ahead of team mate)
+0.037s quicker than team mate in Q3
Finished: Winner (+2 places ahead of team mate)
Sergio Perez delivered a masterful performance in Monaco, securing a memorable victory that cemented his status as a street circuit specialist. His weekend was not entirely without incident, as he incurred a fine for exceeding the pit lane speed limit in practice and another for impeding George Russell in third practice. However, these minor penalties did little to deter his pace, as he consistently demonstrated superior speed to his world champion teammate, Max Verstappen, throughout all practice and qualifying sessions. He qualified an impressive third, though his own crash at Portier unfortunately ended Q3 prematurely. In the early, wet phase of the race, Perez ran in third, but Red Bull made a decisive strategic call, bringing him in first among the front four for intermediate tyres. This aggressive undercut proved pivotal, allowing him to successfully move ahead of Charles Leclerc into second place. The crucial moment arrived when he capitalized on Carlos Sainz Jnr being held up by Nicholas Latifi on his out-lap. Perez pitted for slicks immediately after the Ferrari driver and rejoined the track in the lead, a brilliant piece of strategic execution. He maintained his lead comfortably after the subsequent red flag, switching to medium tyres under the safety car. Despite suffering from noticeable graining on his front tyres in the later laps, Perez absorbed immense pressure from the Ferraris behind him, crossing the finish line to take a well-deserved race win. Similar to Verstappen, he faced a post-race protest from Ferrari regarding the pit exit line, but this was also dismissed, solidifying his victory.
Carlos Sainz Jnr – 6
Qualified: 2nd (-1 place behind team mate)
+0.225s slower than team mate in Q3
Finished: 2nd (+2 places ahead of team mate)
Carlos Sainz Jnr experienced a mixed Monaco Grand Prix, showcasing strong pace but ultimately falling short of victory due to a combination of strategy and unfortunate timing. His weekend began with a reprimand for impeding Lance Stroll in practice. While generally quick, he consistently found himself marginally behind his teammate Charles Leclerc in every practice and qualifying session. In Q3, Sainz felt he left “a couple of tenths on the table” after passing Lewis Hamilton, but a subsequent red flag prevented him from attempting a second, potentially faster lap, securing him second on the grid alongside his teammate. In the initial wet laps of the race, he held a solid second position. Ferrari opted for a bold strategy with Sainz, keeping him out on wet tyres longer than many rivals before switching directly onto slick tyres on lap 21, bypassing the intermediate compound. He firmly believed that being caught behind the slower Nicholas Latifi on his slick tyre out-lap was the critical factor that cost him the opportunity to undercut Sergio Perez for the race lead. Despite his best efforts in the closing laps, and clearly having the pace, Sainz was unable to find a way past Perez on the narrow street circuit. He maintained second place for the remainder of the race, a strong result but tinged with the frustration of what might have been had circumstances aligned differently.
Charles Leclerc – 8
Qualified: Pole (+1 place ahead of team mate)
-0.225s quicker than team mate in Q3
Finished: 4th (-2 places behind team mate)
Charles Leclerc delivered a near-perfect performance for much of his home Grand Prix weekend, only to be cruelly denied a podium finish by a series of strategic blunders from his team. He was the fastest driver in almost every session, topping the timing sheets in all practice and qualifying sessions except for third practice. Consistently ahead of his teammate, Leclerc secured his fourth consecutive pole position, even though a late red flag prevented him from setting an even faster time he was on course for. Leading the early phase of the race comfortably from pole, his troubles began when he pitted for intermediate tyres on lap 18, a decision that saw him lose track position to Sergio Perez. The situation escalated dramatically on lap 21 when he was called into the pits for slick tyres. However, the order was cancelled by his team far too late, resulting in a chaotic double-stack pit stop and costing him critical seconds. This disastrous sequence of events saw him drop from the lead all the way down to fourth position. Following the restart, Leclerc found himself stuck behind Max Verstappen, unable to find a way past on the tight circuit, and ultimately finished the race in a heartbreaking fourth place. Despite his individual brilliance throughout the weekend, his podium hopes were extinguished by his team’s strategic missteps.
Lando Norris – 8
Qualified: 5th (+9 places ahead of team mate)
-0.698s quicker than team mate in Q2
Finished: 6th (+7 places ahead of team mate)
Lando Norris delivered an outstanding performance at Monaco, especially considering he was reportedly at “90 percent” fitness following a bout of tonsillitis. His talent shone through as he consistently outperformed his teammate Daniel Ricciardo in all three practice sessions. Norris secured the “best of the rest” grid position of fifth in qualifying, confidently believing he had an additional 0.15 seconds left on the table. In the initial wet phase of the race, he ran comfortably in fifth place before making the switch to intermediate tyres on lap 17. He then moved to hard slicks on lap 22, but a critical moment saw him passed by George Russell on the way out of the pit lane, costing him a valuable position. After the restart, Norris held sixth place, gradually falling back from Russell ahead, but crucially maintaining a significant gap to Fernando Alonso behind him. This substantial buffer allowed McLaren the luxury of pitting him for a fresh set of medium tyres in the closing stages of the race without losing position. On these fresher tires, Norris showcased his raw pace, setting the fastest lap of the race on his way to a well-earned sixth-place finish. His ability to perform at such a high level despite his health issues and secure significant points for McLaren was truly commendable.
Daniel Ricciardo – 3
Qualified: 14th (-9 places behind team mate)
+0.698s slower than team mate in Q2
Finished: 13th (-7 places behind team mate)
Daniel Ricciardo’s Monaco Grand Prix weekend was another disheartening chapter in his recent struggles, marked by a significant crash and a lack of pace. He was consistently behind his teammate Lando Norris in all three practice sessions, signaling a difficult weekend ahead. The turning point for his Friday came with a heavy crash at the Swimming Pool section during second practice, which prematurely ended his session and potentially compromised his confidence. This carried into qualifying, where he was eliminated in Q2, securing a disappointing 14th spot on the grid. In the race, Ricciardo initially gained two places as Sebastian Vettel and Yuki Tsunoda pitted for intermediates, moving up to 12th. However, he soon fell back to 13th after being overtaken by Pierre Gasly. He made the strategic decision to switch directly onto slick tyres on lap 19, bypassing the intermediates. After the restart, he found himself caught up in the “Alonso train,” a DRS-assisted queue of cars, but was unable to make any meaningful progress or overtakes despite his best efforts. He ultimately finished the race in 13th place, further highlighting the performance gap to his teammate and raising ongoing questions about his adaptation to the McLaren car. It was a weekend he will undoubtedly want to forget quickly.
Fernando Alonso – 7
Qualified: 7th (+3 places ahead of team mate)
-0.800s quicker than team mate in Q3
Finished: 7th (+5 places ahead of team mate)
Fernando Alonso showcased his cunning and strategic brilliance at Monaco, delivering a performance that was as much about clever race management as raw speed. He consistently outpaced his teammate Esteban Ocon in all three practice sessions, reaffirming his strong form. Despite a crash at Mirabeau during his final flying lap attempt in Q3, which might have improved his position, he still managed to secure a solid seventh place on the grid for the race. In the wet conditions, Alonso ran steadily in seventh, demonstrating excellent control. He made a direct switch to slick tyres on lap 21, a strategic call that maintained his track position. The most notable moment of his race came after the restart following the red flag. Alonso deliberately backed off the pace significantly, creating a massive buffer for his teammate, Esteban Ocon, who was facing a five-second time penalty. This masterclass in tactical driving aimed to allow Ocon to maintain a gap to the cars behind, even with the penalty applied. While it drew some criticism, it was a perfectly legal and strategic move from the veteran. Alonso successfully managed his tyres and pace, comfortably finishing the race in seventh place, well ahead of Lewis Hamilton, demonstrating that his race craft remains sharper than ever.
Esteban Ocon – 5
Qualified: 10th (-3 places behind team mate)
+0.800s slower than team mate in Q3
Finished: 12th (-5 places behind team mate)
Esteban Ocon’s Monaco Grand Prix weekend was a tumultuous one, marked by aggressive driving and costly penalties. Throughout practice, he consistently trailed his teammate Fernando Alonso, struggling to match the veteran’s pace. He did, however, manage to reach Q3, but a track blockage prevented him from improving on his final effort, leaving him in tenth place on the grid. In the initial stages of the race, Ocon ran in tenth, gaining a position when Sebastian Vettel pitted for intermediates, and then another to eighth when Lewis Hamilton did the same. His race then became defined by an intense and controversial battle with Hamilton. Ocon made contact with Hamilton while defending into Sainte Devote, an incident that earned him a five-second time penalty. He appeared to squeeze Hamilton into the barrier under braking for Sainte Devote on another occasion, although this specific incident was not investigated by the stewards. After pitting for slicks, he fell behind Hamilton, remaining in ninth for the rest of the race. However, the five-second time penalty, applied post-race, demoted him out of the points entirely, dropping him to a disappointing 12th place. It was a weekend where his fighting spirit was evident, but ultimately undermined by aggressive tactics that crossed the line.
Pierre Gasly – 7
Qualified: 17th (-6 places behind team mate)
+0.550s slower than team mate in Q1
Finished: 11th (+6 places ahead of team mate)
Pierre Gasly’s Monaco Grand Prix was a remarkable recovery drive from a frustrating qualifying session. Despite showing good pace in practice, where he was consistently ahead of his teammate, Gasly was “extremely frustrated” to be knocked out of Q1 after crossing the line just one second after the chequered flag, leaving him starting from a lowly 17th position. From there, he showed exceptional strategic acumen and race craft. He made a brave and early call to gamble on intermediate tyres at the end of the opening lap, a decision that proved to be a stroke of genius. This astute strategic move immediately earned him three places as rivals ahead pitted. He then further demonstrated his overtaking prowess by passing both Zhou Guanyu and Daniel Ricciardo on track, climbing to 12th place. He pitted for hard slicks on lap 22, maintaining 12th when the race was red-flagged. In the second half of the race, Gasly spent a significant period closely following Sebastian Vettel, pushing hard but unable to find a way past the experienced German. He initially finished 12th on the road, but was later promoted to 11th due to Esteban Ocon’s post-race time penalty, a testament to his resilient and well-executed race strategy.
Yuki Tsunoda – 3
Qualified: 11th (+6 places ahead of team mate)
-0.550s quicker than team mate in Q1
Finished: 17th (-6 places behind team mate)
Yuki Tsunoda’s Monaco Grand Prix was a chaotic and penalty-laden affair, a weekend filled with incidents and frustrating moments. He was reprimanded by the stewards for impeding Kevin Magnussen at the chicane during practice and fined a total of €2,000 for breaking the pit lane speed limit twice. While he managed to reach Q2, he apologized to his team for causing a Q1 red flag by clipping the Nouvelle barrier, an error that inadvertently cost his teammate a chance to improve. Starting 11th, he ran in that position during the early laps before being one of the first to pit for intermediate tyres on lap six. He then pitted for hard slicks on lap 21, rejoining in 15th. After the red flag, he switched to mediums but struggled significantly with tyre graining, impacting his pace. His eventful race continued with a run-off at Sainte Devote on lap 57, which dropped him to last place before he made another pit stop for soft tyres. Ultimately, Tsunoda finished last on the road in 17th place, capping a challenging and error-prone weekend that was a steep learning curve on the unforgiving streets of Monaco.
Sebastian Vettel – 7
Qualified: 9th (+9 places ahead of team mate)
-0.365s quicker than team mate in Q1
Finished: 10th (+4 places ahead of team mate)
Sebastian Vettel delivered a composed and experienced performance at the Monaco Grand Prix, securing a well-deserved point for Aston Martin. His weekend was not entirely penalty-free, as he broke the pit lane speed limit three separate times during practice and qualifying, though these were minor infractions. Crucially, Vettel consistently outperformed his teammate Lance Stroll in every practice and qualifying session, demonstrating his mastery of the challenging circuit. He showed strong pace by consistently placing inside the top ten in all three qualifying phases, lining up an impressive ninth on the grid. He held ninth place at the start of the race before making an early strategic switch to intermediate tyres on lap six, a decision that initially dropped him to 16th. However, his racecraft soon came to the fore as he executed a neat overtake on Zhou Guanyu for 14th into Anthony Noghes. He then pitted for slick tyres on lap 23, rejoining the race in 11th. In the second half of the race, Vettel displayed excellent defensive driving, skillfully keeping a faster Pierre Gasly behind him for an extended period. He finished 11th on the road, but was later promoted to tenth place due to Esteban Ocon’s post-race time penalty, securing a valuable point for his team and underscoring his enduring ability to perform in difficult conditions.
Lance Stroll – 4
Qualified: 18th (-9 places behind team mate)
+0.365s slower than team mate in Q1
Finished: 14th (-4 places behind team mate)
Lance Stroll endured a difficult and frustrating Monaco Grand Prix weekend, struggling to find pace and making a series of errors. He was consistently behind his teammate Sebastian Vettel in every practice and qualifying session, highlighting a clear performance deficit. In Q1, Stroll was audibly angry with himself after a mistake at the Swimming Pool section led to his elimination, leaving him starting from a lowly 18th on the grid. His race started with an unfortunate incident under the Safety Car, where he hit the barriers at Casino Square, forcing him to pit for repairs and further compromising his position. After switching to intermediates, he ran in 19th in the early laps. Stroll did show some aggression, executing an almost out-of-control but successful overtake on Yuki Tsunoda into Rascasse on lap 20. He was the last car to switch to slick tyres on lap 24, rejoining the race in 14th. After the restart, he found himself stuck behind Daniel Ricciardo, unable to make any progress despite the car potentially having more pace. He eventually finished behind his teammate in 14th place, capping a weekend that he would likely prefer to forget and one that underlined the continued challenges he faces in consistency and avoiding costly errors.
Nicholas Latifi – 3
Qualified: 19th (-3 places behind team mate)
+0.792s slower than team mate in Q1
Finished: 15th
Nicholas Latifi’s Monaco Grand Prix was plagued by incidents and compromised by difficult conditions, making for a challenging weekend. He qualified on the back row of the grid, a position further impacted by the red flag in Q1. His race began with an unfortunate incident under the Safety Car on the opening lap, where he crashed at the hairpin, necessitating a new front wing and a switch to intermediate tyres. This early setback immediately put him on the back foot. His struggles continued on lap 10 when he ran off at Sainte Devote, pushing him even further behind the main pack and into last place. He pitted for slick tyres on lap 19 and subsequently moved ahead of his teammate, Alexander Albon, after Albon suffered a puncture. Running at the back, only ahead of Albon, Latifi managed to execute an opportunistic pass on Zhou Guanyu to move into 15th place, where he would ultimately finish the race. While his final position was a modest improvement, the weekend was characterized by several errors and an overall lack of pace, reinforcing the difficulties he faced in adapting to the unique demands of Monaco in variable conditions.
Alexander Albon – 3
Qualified: 16th (+3 places ahead of team mate)
-0.792s quicker than team mate in Q1
Finished: Retired (Unspecified, L48)
Alexander Albon’s Monaco Grand Prix weekend, despite some flashes of promise, ultimately ended in disappointment with a retirement. He consistently outperformed his teammate Nicholas Latifi in every practice and qualifying session, demonstrating good raw pace. However, he expressed frustration at being the first car eliminated from Q1, starting 16th on the grid. In the early stages of the race, Albon moved up to 13th as rivals pitted, but then fell back to 16th after running off at Sainte Devote. His race was further complicated by a five-second time penalty for missing the chicane while defending from Mick Schumacher on lap 16 and gaining an advantage. He then made a direct switch to slick tyres but controversially refused to allow Charles Leclerc, on intermediate tyres, to pass despite blue flags, leading to frustration from the Ferrari camp. On lap 21, he ran off at Sainte Devote a second time, distracted by a radio message, flat-spotting his tyres. He capitalized on a Zhou error at Rascasse to take 16th but then clipped the barrier, causing a right-rear puncture. This dropped him to last after pitting, where he remained until retiring on lap 48, bringing a frustrating end to a chaotic and mistake-riddled race.
Valtteri Bottas – 6
Qualified: 12th (+8 places ahead of team mate)
-2.065s quicker than team mate in Q1
Finished: 9th (+7 places ahead of team mate)
Valtteri Bottas navigated a tricky Monaco Grand Prix weekend with his characteristic composure, ultimately securing valuable points for Alfa Romeo. His weekend began with a minor infraction, a €1,000 fine for breaking the pit lane speed limit by almost 22km/h in practice, and also missed an hour of first practice due to an MGU-K failure, hindering his preparation. Despite these setbacks, he consistently outpaced his teammate Zhou Guanyu in every session where both set competitive times. Bottas expressed disappointment at being eliminated in Q1, lining up 12th on the grid, feeling there was more pace in the car. In the race, he made steady progress, gaining two places early on when Sebastian Vettel and Yuki Tsunoda pitted for intermediates. He chose to remain on wet tyres for a longer period, demonstrating good tire management, before finally switching to slick tyres on lap 20. He was running in tenth place before the red flag and successfully maintained that position after the race resumed until the chequered flag. Crucially, Bottas inherited ninth place due to Esteban Ocon’s post-race time penalty, a result that further solidified his consistent point-scoring form and showcased his ability to capitalize on opportunities in chaotic races.
Zhou Guanyu – 4
Qualified: 20th (-8 places behind team mate)
-2.065s slower than team mate in Q1
Finished: 16th (-7 places behind team mate)
Zhou Guanyu’s Monaco Grand Prix debut was a challenging and largely unrewarding experience, marked by a lack of pace and unfortunate circumstances. He received a warning from the stewards for impeding Max Verstappen in practice, indicating some early struggles with track awareness on the congested circuit. Throughout the weekend, he consistently found himself behind his more experienced teammate Valtteri Bottas in every practice and qualifying session where both set times. His qualifying was particularly unfortunate; he was caught out by the red flag in Q1 and found himself last in the queue when the session resumed, effectively missing his chance to improve his time and consigning him to 20th on the grid. In the race, he gained two places early on when Nicholas Latifi and Lance Stroll hit the wall under the Safety Car. He briefly gained more positions as drivers ahead pitted for intermediates but was subsequently passed by Pierre Gasly and Sebastian Vettel. Zhou made a direct switch from wets to slicks on lap 19, running 16th behind Yuki Tsunoda. He almost collided with Tsunoda at the chicane and skillfully avoided spinning, but this maneuver cost him a place to Latifi. Unable to pass the Williams in the closing stages, Zhou eventually finished the race in 16th place, a tough initiation to the unique demands of Monaco in variable conditions.
Mick Schumacher – 2
Qualified: 15th (-2 places behind team mate)
+0.160s slower than team mate in Q2
Finished: Retired (Crash, L24)
Mick Schumacher’s Monaco Grand Prix ended in a dramatic and costly crash, marking his second significant incident in two Monaco weekends. His weekend started on a difficult note, losing valuable running time in first practice due to an MGU-K issue. He consistently trailed his teammate Kevin Magnussen in every practice and qualifying session, struggling to extract the ultimate pace from his Haas. He was the slowest driver eliminated in Q2, openly admitting that he did not “nail” the middle sector of his lap. In the race, he pitted for intermediates at the end of the second racing lap but then found himself stuck behind the wet-shod Alexander Albon, hindering his progress. He switched to slick tyres on lap 17, a move that initially dropped him to last place. Using the dry tyres, he managed to jump ahead of Albon to run 17th. However, his race came to a sudden and spectacular end with a heavy crash at the Swimming Pool section. Schumacher later admitted to taking the wrong line and losing grip on the damp surface, resulting in his car splitting in two. This major incident triggered a red flag and underscored the young driver’s ongoing struggles with consistency and avoiding high-speed accidents, particularly on unforgiving street circuits. It was a weekend that served as a stark reminder of the fine margins in Formula 1.
Kevin Magnussen – 5
Qualified: 13th (+2 places ahead of team mate)
-0.160s quicker than team mate in Q2
Finished: Retired (ERS water leak, L19)
Kevin Magnussen’s Monaco Grand Prix showed flashes of potential before an unfortunate mechanical issue brought his race to a premature end. He consistently demonstrated better pace than his teammate Mick Schumacher throughout all practice and qualifying sessions, highlighting his strong understanding of the circuit. Magnussen successfully progressed into Q1 and was then eliminated in 13th place during Q2, a respectable result given the Haas car’s performance level. In the initial stages of the race, he held his 13th position and then gained two places as Sebastian Vettel and Yuki Tsunoda pitted for intermediate tyres. Magnussen opted to remain on wet tyres for a longer period, pursuing Valtteri Bottas who was running in 11th. He displayed solid defensive driving, managing to keep Pierre Gasly, who was on intermediate tyres, behind him for a significant duration. However, his promising race was cut short on lap 19 due to an ERS water leak, forcing him to retire. It was a frustrating end to a weekend where he had demonstrated good pace and racecraft, and was performing solidly before the reliability issue struck, preventing him from potentially securing a points finish for Haas.
Over to you
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