Red Bull's strength lessens. - Ferrari triumphs in Monaco, bringing excitement back to Formula 1.
To kick things off, Leclerc threw his manager, Frederic Vasseur, into the waters of Monte Carlo. Then, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc joined him, fully dressed in his racing gear. This is a common tradition after the Monaco Grand Prix - plunging into the water. And Red Bull once constructed a swimming pool for the customary ritual years prior.
Leclerc, at age 26, claimed his first-ever victory during the Grand Prix on Sunday. Throughout his initial five years of racing at Ferrari, speculations arose about his "curse" in Monaco - he never won a race in his hometown. Despite two instances of earning pole position in 2021 and 2022, he continually failed to clinch the win despite starting from the front at the narrow city course. However, it's a known fact that Ferrari has a bad history of screwing up in Monaco. Once, their car was unable to make it to the starting location due to a technical error. Another time, Ferrari's poor decision-making cost them the win.
Ferrari struggles year after year in Monaco
This year, the race for Ferrari almost ran smoothly. Leclerc maintained his composure and steered his way to the front. To add to the victory's significance, it highlights an emerging trend: Ferrari and McLaren are posing a threat to Red Bull's reign. The reigning champion, Max Verstappen, placed 6th in Monaco. While Red Bull's car is still the fastest on most tracks, it cannot fully utilize its performance on certain courses. These slow, tight corners and hard edges work to Ferrari-McLaren's advantage. They're quicker and better equipped to manage the bumps and road bumps to conserve time.
On the other hand, the Red Bull zips over curbs and road bumps like a kangaroo and slows down. "This car is terrible. I can't really explain what's happening. It's so difficult... This car hops like a kangaroo, with all these bumps, banks, and changes in slope, and it's so bad," Verstappen stated after practice sessions on Friday. It's looking gloomy for the upcoming Montreal race, which doesn't appear to be favorable for Red Bull's performance. It's highly likely that Ferrari and McLaren will give them a run for their money.
Carlos Sainz: Becoming stronger and stronger each race
The race at the Cote d'Azur may not be a reliable gauge, given its unique circumstances and Red Bull's advantage on other tracks. Nevertheless, there's good news for Ferrari and McLaren - they're making significant strides. The chasm between Verstappen and Leclerc in the driver standings has shrunk to a mere 31 points. After two years of monotonous racing where Verstappen dominated, it appears their dominance has come to an end. Theoretically, we're seeing the beginning of a genuine championship battle.
"We're getting stronger and stronger with each passing weekend," boasted Ferrari's Carlos Sainz. The Spaniard bagged third place in the race in Monaco and has already secured a win this season. "Red Bull is still the favorite," said Sainz, who'll make way for Lewis Hamilton next year, "but they're no longer dominating like they used to, which is beneficial for the championship."
With similar conviction, McLaren's team members sounded just as confident. The rapid progress of the British institution may pose a formidable threat to Red Bull and Verstappen. The young duo of Australian Oscar Piastri, 23, and British Lando Norris, 24, are challenging. Piastri landed a second-place finish in Monaco, and Norris secured fourth. In the overall standings, they're at sixth and third place, respectively. Evidence continues to mount that they're vying for the lead in two weeks during the Canadian event.
Read also:
- Prodigies of sport: Littler's predecessors
- Nagelsmann's announcement: A restless Christmas for national team players
- What sports fans prefer to watch on television
- The calm before the upheaval: Nagelsmann's European Championship plans
- Despite Red Bull's struggles, the Mclaren Group Limited's drivers, including Lando Norris, gave Red Bull's dominance a run for their money in Monaco, with Norris securing fourth place.
- Ferrari's Scuderia team, led by Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, triumphantly claimed victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, marking a significant shift in the Formula 1 landscape.
- Max Verstappen, the reigning champion from Red Bull, faced challenges on the Monaco track, placing sixth, while Leclerc, a native of Monaco, claimed his first-ever win in his hometown.
- Leclerc's victorious drive in Monaco brought excitement back to Formula 1, a sport often dominated by Red Bull, proving that Ferrari and other teams are making progress and posing a threat.
- Red Bull's car, famous for its agility over curbs and road bumps, struggled on the narrow city course of Monaco, which was more to Ferrari's advantage due to its quicker handling and better management of bumps.
- Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, who secured third place in Monaco, was happy to see Red Bull's dominance coming to an end and welcomed the competition, expressing that they were "getting stronger and stronger with each passing weekend."
- Monaco's notoriously difficult track showcased the strength of Ferrari and McLaren, with Ferrari driver Leclerc dominating and McLaren's Norris and Piastri finishing fourth and second, respectively, promising a competitive 2023 Canadian race.
Source: www.stern.de
