With Lewis Hamilton’s victory in Monaco, the World Cup really begins. Photo: Valdrin Xhemaj
(Photo: dpa)
Because teammate and defending champion Lewis Hamilton has made it clear: He’s back! But the Monaco Grand Prix had other lessons to learn.
THE WORLD CHAMPION IS BACK
Seven months without a win are in the past. Now-time experience driver Lewis Hamilton simply shook off the frustration of the past few weeks and Saturday, which was again affected by problems. No mistakes, this time also with the luck of the bad luck of the others – bad tire change for pole man Daniel Ricciardo, problems at Rosberg. You couldn’t shake the feeling: Only now is the World Cup really beginning.
MERCEDES REMAINS VULNERABLE
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Again not a clean weekend for the Silver Arrows. The victory cannot hide that. Fuel pressure problems in qualifying on both cars. In China and Russia, the Hamilton hybrid system had stopped. In the Monaco race, Rosberg neither got the brakes nor the tires up to operating temperature – reasons unknown. There is a lot to analyze before the next Grand Prix in Canada in just under two weeks.
NICO ROSBERG KEEPS AGREEMENTS
The duel between Hamilton and Rosberg has largely determined Formula 1 for over two years. Mercedes actually gives its two adversaries free rein. Even after the collision of Catalonia two weeks ago. The fact that Rosberg was asked in Monaco to let Hamilton pass had nothing to do with this. There is an agreement, Hamilton explained. The one who, for certain reasons, simply cannot push and drive for victory lets the other pass. Just like Rosberg let it happen in Monte Carlo.
FERRARIS’ WORDS WILL NOT BE FOLLOWED BY ACTION
It’s not the car, stressed Sebastian Vettel. He’s fast. Even after six races, the Scuderia still haven’t managed to win, let alone a pole. Not enough to attack Mercedes and now possibly Red Bull. In addition, there is a lack of consistency, for whatever reason. In Monaco it was Kimi Raikkonen. After all, he had started as second in the World Championship, with the zero after being eliminated due to a driving error, he fell back to fourth place in the classification. Vettel is fifth after fourth in Monaco.
A GOOD MOOD HAS ITS LIMITS
He can smile so beautifully. But even a Daniel Ricciardo will lose his mood at some point. In Spain, he had to watch Max Verstappen in the Red Bull become the youngest Grand Prix winner because of a different strategy. In Monaco, a messed-up tire change cost the poleman victory. “We owe Daniel a huge apology,” said team boss Christian Horner. One thing is clear: the Australian will start his next attempt at victory in Montréal.
