The Mercedes team will seek to regain control of the Formula One championship at the Monaco Grand Prix, after seeing how an accident between the British Lewis Hamilton and the World Championship leader, the German Nico Rosberg, left both out of action in Montmeló, allowing the victory of the Dutch Max Verstappen (Red Bull), the youngest to achieve it.
At 18 years, 7 months and 15 days, Verstappen made history at the Spanish Grand Prix by becoming the earliest winner in his first race with Red Bull, following the decision of the Austrian squad to exchange the wheel with the Russian Daniil Kvyat, demoted to Toro Rosso.
On the Monte Carlo street circuit, the Mercedes intend to regain their automotive hegemony, since until the race at the Circuit de Catalunya, Rosberg had not failed in his appointment with the victory in the first four tests of the year, seven if we count the three triumphs of the final stage of the previous season that the German took.
A streak of eleven consecutive Grands Prix for Mercedes truncated by the accident of its pilots in the first corners of Montmeló and used by Verstappen. The German team had not seen a celebration of a driver who was not theirs since Singapore 2015, when the German Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) won.
«Barcelona was the worst feeling. It was a difficult moment for all of us after the race, but now it is a closed chapter and looking forward to Monaco, “said Hamilton, three times world champion, during this week.
In the Principality, the ‘silver arrows’ hope to regain their particular duel for victory and hegemony in the World Cup, on a path conducive to the leader Rosberg, who has won in Monaco in the last three editions of this Grand Prix, two of them leaving from the first square of the exit.
Of those three victories, at least two occurred with some controversy, since the son of ‘Keke’ Rosberg achieved his victory last year thanks to the error of the Mercedes team, who called to change the wheels to his teammate Hamilton, who was leader , during a safety car caused by a Verstappen accident. The neutralized period lasted longer than expected and Hamilton could not come back in time, so he had to settle for third place, behind Rosberg and Hamilton.
Even in the previous season, in 2014, Nico also took advantage in Monte Carlo thanks to a rogue maneuver in the qualifying session on Saturday. The Teuton finished the final timed run off the track just as Hamilton made his fastest lap, which could jeopardize the German’s pole position. The turn was invalidated, Rosberg started from the top of the grid, and took the victory.
Outside of the particular fight between the Mercedes, among the cars of the German team, the Ferraris of the Finn Kimi Raikkonen, world champion in 2007 and second in the World Cup with 61 points (39 from the leader Rosberg) and the four-time German champion Sebastian Vettel, threaten. which is fourth just nine goals behind Hamilton.
Another of the intrigues of this race will be to see if the Dutch Verstappen, who with his victory in Montmeló has climbed to sixth place in the Drivers’ World Championship, can maintain the good role he had two weeks ago.
For two-time Spanish champion Fernando Alonso (McLaren-Honda), reliability remains the unfinished business. The brakes knocked him out of action at the Spanish Grand Prix, in which for the first time he had reached the third qualifying round (Q3), one of the keys that he will try to repeat in Monaco. Being a circuit more driving than power, the Asturian should see benefit.
His compatriot Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso) hopes to continue his ascending line, after achieving a sixth place in Montmeló, which is the best result of his career in Formula One.
In the same positive dynamic is the Mexican Sergio Pérez (Force India), who has scored in the last two races and hopes to continue that process. Esteban Gutiérrez (Haas) stayed on the verge of points in Spain and will continue to try to make his debut after finishing the last three races.
On the asphalt of Monte Carlo, the cars will debut a new ultra-soft tire compound that has been prepared by the Italian manufacturer Pirelli to tackle the curves of the extremely complicated route of the Côte d’Azur.
To the curves, counter curves, the tunnel and the ‘glamor’ of one of the most spectacular events of the season in Formula One, an unexpected guest is expected on Sunday: the rain. According to the weather service, the probability of precipitation for the race is 50%, which can make this Monaco Grand Prix even more unpredictable. EFE
Mercedes seek to regain control in Monaco
