4. Good day for Mercedes, a bad one for Ferrari
At the start of the weekend, Lewis Hamilton had been the subject of speculation over a potential future in Ferrari red – a prospect he quickly batted away. There was also scrutiny over the introduction of Mercedes’ big aerodynamic upgrade package – the W14 now has proper sidepods! – although it was always unlikely to make a massive difference around the Monaco streets. Still, Hamilton lined up fifth after Leclerc’s penalty, having outqualified his team-mate George Russell who was back in seventh.
Hamilton started on the mediums and stopped on lap 31, then was forced to pit again for inters at the same time as Alonso (lap 55), but gained a place as Carlos Sainz Jr’s race unravelled. The Mercedes finished fourth, right on the gearbox of Ocon. Russell rose to finish behind him in fifth, despite a five-second penalty for rejoining from a moment at Mirabeau straight into the path of Sergio Perez, who collided with the Black Arrow. Russell still finished five seconds ahead of Leclerc, who once again endured a deflating home race.
Sainz too was in the doldrums. Both Ferraris had started on the hard tyre, but the Spaniard stopped as early as lap 33 to cover off the team’s paranoia over the threat posed by Hamilton, having already damaged his front wing with an ill-judged move on Ocon at the chicane. Sainz was vocal on the radio about the early pit call and then when the rain came he slithered off at Mirabeau. Eighth from fourth on the grid, behind Pierre Gasly’s Alpine, was a disastrous return and only adds to the air of gloom hanging over Maranello right now.