Race: A Red Bull double in Monaco, Renault still present

The first twist of this Grand Prix occurred as early as Saturday, with Alonso’s mistake destroying his chassis during free practice 3, forcing him to start from the pit lane.

The first corner relegates Kubica to 3rd place, with Vettel overtaking him at the start as he had announced. At the tunnel exit, Hülkenberg makes a mistake and destroys his car, causing the safety car to appear. The Spaniard tries a gamble by putting on hard tires as early as the second lap. He will therefore no longer be obliged to change tires during this Grand Prix. Jenson Button is immobilized on the 3rd lap, apparently due to engine problems. The reigning champion is forced to retire. Carbon debris is present on the tunnel trajectory, still requiring the presence of the safety car.

The safety car withdraws shortly after, reopening the chase for Alonso against Di Grassi’s Virgin, while Webber widens the gap, setting fastest lap after fastest lap. He increases the gap over everyone, pushing hard. Vettel is lapping slower than Webber, slowing down Kubica, perhaps an intentional team strategy from Red Bull.

Meanwhile, Hamilton pits and comes back out ahead of…Alonso, in 15th place. Massa, Schumacher, Barrichello, and Liuzzi also take advantage, with the latter three rejoining behind these two drivers. Rosberg sets the fastest lap of the race, having a clear track.

On the Renault side, the soft tires are failing, and the decision is made to change the tires for both drivers. Vettel also comes into the pit, leaving the second place to Rosberg. He confirms his qualifying performances, finding himself just behind Webber after his pit stop. The German driver loses his lead, slowed down by the Australian. He will only change tires on the 29th lap, before rejoining just behind his teammate. The Spaniard thus takes back 6th place, while Vettel struggles against Kubica.

But a new twist, the safety car is deployed again following an error by Barichello, which destroys his car, immobilizing it in the middle of the track. The Brazilian driver throws his steering wheel to the ground, which is immediately destroyed by another car. A suspension problem or a slow puncture seems to be the cause.

The gap is now closing between all the drivers while 7 drivers are eliminated.

Three world champions follow each other on the track, Hamilton in 5th position, Alonso 6th with a successful strategy, and Schumacher 7th. Webber raises the pace to widen the gap between him and his teammate, but Vettel responds. Kubica takes advantage to set the fastest lap in the race, gaining an edge in the third sector. Drivers are taking more and more risks, improving their lap times. But the effort is cut short by the third appearance of the safety car. A problem was found in turn number 3, where Barichello went off. The issue is resolved fairly quickly, and Webber must build his lead again! Kubica is instructed to attack, having a bit too much fuel due to the multiple race interruptions. Hamilton, on the other hand, seems to have some brake issues at the front of his car.

Webber immediately launches back into the attack, quickly widening the gap again over Vettel and Kubica, while Alonso seems to be paying for his strategic choice, losing time to his opponents: his tires have exceeded 50 laps in the race. Webber attacks relentlessly lap after lap, setting the best times, while all the drivers are also improving.

Schumacher puts pressure on Alonso, forcing him to attack and wear out his already well-used tires, while at the front of the race, Kubica begins to harass Vettel. The Australian, meanwhile, puts himself out of reach by attacking lap after lap, almost a second faster than his rivals. But a warning from his pit requests him to conserve his car, so he is forced to slow down. His three closest pursuers, Vettel, Kubica, and Massa, are informed and begin the chase. Again, brake problems at Red Bull cause concern for the rest of the season. Vettel takes advantage by setting the fastest lap in the race, while Kubica responds by taking the best time in the first sector. Trulli and Chandhok collided, with the Lotus climbing onto the HRT, causing a fourth appearance of the safety car. Petrov retires during this time due to brake problems. The safety car pulls away 300 meters from the finish line, leaving just enough time for Schumacher to overtake Alonso, reclaiming 6th place. But uncertainty remains about the legality of this overtaking, which will be examined after the race.

A second double for Red Bull Renault, while Webber takes the lead in the World Drivers’ Championship, with one more victory than Vettel, who has the same number of points. Kubica gives Renault a second podium this year.

Red Bull therefore also takes the lead in the Constructors’ World Championship, followed by Ferrari and McLaren.

Results of the Monaco Grand Prix – Sunday, May 16, 2010: