Sergio Perez wins incident-filled Monaco GP ahead of Carlos Sainz; Max Verstappen third ahead of Charles Leclerc, who had pole and led but was furious with Ferrari strategy; race was delayed by over an hour due to rain, huge Mick Schumacher crash led to another red flag
By Matt Morlidge in Monaco
Last Updated: 29/05/22 5:26pm
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Mick Schumacher’s car split in two in a high-speed crash at the swimming pool chicane, leading to a red flag at the Monaco Grand Prix
Sergio Perez claimed an unlikely victory in an incredible Monaco Grand Prix, with home favourite Charles Leclerc only fourth as Red Bull outsmarted Ferrari after heavy rain led to chaos in the Principality.
The race was delayed by over an hour after the heavens opened shortly before the expected start time of 2pm but F1’s blue-riband event was well worth the wait after that, with drama from the wet rolling start to a spectacular dry finish as Perez, on wearing tyres, held off Carlos Sainz.
Perez assumed control for his first Monaco win after Red Bull’s Monte Carlo street smarts wrongfooted the bewildered Ferrari, with the Mexican undercutting the pole-sitting Leclerc when changing from wets to intermediates early on.
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Red Bull respond to Ferarri with their own double pit stop and get Sergio Perez ahead of Carlos Sainz and Max Verstappen ahead of Charles Leclerc at the Monaco Grand Prix.
There was then more agony for Leclerc when Ferrari double stacked Sainz, who hadn’t stopped at all, and the Monegasque onto slicks. Ferrari initially told Leclerc to pit before telling him, too late, to “stay out”.
After Red Bull responded, Sainz was second behind Perez, and Leclerc a furious fourth behind Max Verstappen.
That was where the top four, who were all evenly matched, would finish despite a bumper finish after a red flag following a scary Mick Schumacher crash – which the German thankfully emerged unharmed from as his Haas car split in two.
There was another rolling start, confusing given the drying conditions, but Perez held on from Sainz until the end of the final 65th lap, with the race concluding 12 laps earlier than scheduled due to the lengthy delay.
Sainz, desperate for his first win and eager to take advantage of a bold wet-slick tyre strategy, eyed a few lunges on Perez, but the Red Bull driver has his first victory of the season.
Verstappen, meanwhile, has extended his lead in the championship to nine points over Leclerc.
“No words, no words. We cannot do that,” said Leclerc on team radio after more heartbreak in Monaco.
George Russell was a well-earned fifth for Mercedes with Lewis Hamilton eighth, the seven-time world champion first frustrated behind the Alpine of Esteban Ocon – who earned a penalty for contact with Hamilton in the wet weather – and then of Fernando Alonso in the closing stages.
Monaco GP: Race Result
1) Sergio Perez, Red Bull
2) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
3) Max Verstappen, Red Bull
4) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
5) George Russell, Mercedes
6) Lando Norris, McLaren (fastest lap)
7) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
8) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
9) Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo
10) Sebastian Vettel, Aston Martin
When’s the next F1 race?
An epic Formula 1 2022 season continues with the Azerbaijan GP from the high-speed Baku street circuit on June 10-12. All the action will be live on Sky Sports F1 and the race – which often delivers chaos – is at 12pm on the Sunday.
More to follow.