Analysis of the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix – By Joe Murphy
As Wheel2Wheel Reports closes in on 200,000 subscribers, we head into the always busy month of June with multiple events on the horizon. The Grand Prix Ball will be covered live and we will have all our usual pieces from all the upcoming races, including Baku in just under two weeks time.
Before we can do that, we need to recap on a controversial and dramatic Monaco Grand Prix that left us with as many questions as we have answers. As Red Bull took another stride towards a first Constructor’s title since 2013, let’s discuss where it went so right for Checo and his team, yet so wrong for the hometown boy in the red car. Before we start, honourable mentions to George Russell, Lando Norris, Fernando Alonso and Pierre Gasly who all race wonderfully in the Principality but do not get a mention below with so much to get through.
Perez a Title Protagonist after all?
Sergio Perez claimed his third win in Formula 1 with a victory that will he will surely remember for the rest of his life. Always a prestigious event to win, the Mexican turned third into first to not only score 25 points but also become the most successful Mexican driver, of all time.
The rain delayed start, we will address later in this entry but I want to focus on Checo Perez himself. When discussing the top four drivers chances this weekend, most people had the Mexican man fourth on their list. And for good reason. If Spain had anything to show for it, it would be that Max Verstappen is Red Bull’s first choice driver, with the veteran racer having to let his teammate by without having much of a say. In Monaco, however, he was the best driver all weekend. Yes, he may have missed out on pole and suffered a crash in Q3, but aside from this, he out-paced and out-raced his World Champion counterpart. This win moves him up to third in the Driver’s Standings, only 15 points off the championship lead. When you consider he could have had the win in Barcelona, you would be justified in thinking that Perez is unfortunate not to be closer to the top. He won last year’s installment in Baku, if he does the same again this year, he has to be considered a championship contender. On the other hand, if Max suddenly wins three in a row, you’d understand Red Bull brining back team orders.
Unlucky Leclerc
With regards to his race and qualifying, there isn’t much more Charles Leclerc could have done in his return race. It was, effectively butchered by his team as he saw the race win slip out of his grasp. As the Monaco man said himself over team radio, these are the kind of slips he can ill-afford if he is to keep tabs with Max Verstappen over the coming months. He may have achieved his first ever finish at his hometown venue, but that will be little consolation. He has a chance to win in Azerbaijan at the end of next week, in fact its a year since he achieved pole at the circuit eventually claiming fourth. If Monaco was a must-win, surely the importance of the next race for Charlie and his team cannot be emphasised enough. It could be a make or break season for the Ferrari drivers championship dreams.
The FIA has questions to answer…
Whilst the race may have been eventful to say the least, the FIA most definitely has questions to answer regarding its decision making this weekend. Firstly, there is the start procedure. The rolling start was NOT down to the weather like everyone expected. Instead, it was a technical fault with the lights. Whilst you cannot help a malfunction, this isn’t good enough for the ‘jewel in the F1 crown’ that is this race. Furthermore, the race start was aborted, then suspended, then suspended again. The weather may have turned very wet, very quickly but that should add to the drama of the race. Let’s be honest, Monaco needs that. To say the circuit doesn’t lend itself to overtaking would be to put it lightly, so I for one was buzzing at the prospect of a race in the super wet. For those who say it was a question of safety, the cars were never going to get to a pace in those conditions for a major incident, not more than what happened in the relative ‘dry’ later in the race with Mick Schumacher. A race where someone unexpected wins from right of the back of the grid is surely favourable over the ultimate procession that occurred once everybody was on the hard tyres. At times this season (and especially last season), the governing body and race directors have come under intense scrutiny. Not enabling DRS in Imola for example and then you have the Lewis Hamilton Jewellery debate, the Red Bull pair crossing the lines on pit exit in Monte Carlo and Sebastian Vettel getting a severe warning and fine for simply riding a scooter. The stewardship of F1 should be the best in class. At the moment, it’s hard to say it is. In truth, it probably hasn’t been for a while now.
Not so sweet for the Honey Badger
Daniel Ricciardo is on the brink of losing his seat at the end of this season. It isn’t inaccurate to say that the Australian is struggling in his McLaren and has done for some time now. His ‘lows’ have far outweighed his ‘highs’ during his time in and orange car. What isn’t helping is the superb talents of his teammates. At Renault, he wad the number one driver, but now its starting to be reminiscent of the end of his Red Bull days. The worry for all fans of the ‘last of the late brakers’ is where will be go? The only option I can see Ricciardo remaining in the sport is to take a retiring Fernando Alonso’s seat at Alpine. Or he could replace Pierre Gasly should the Frenchman replace the veteran Spaniard at his national constructor. Or perhaps, he could take the place of another struggling man who had a poor weekend in Monaco…
Taking the Mick?
Daniel Ricciardo could definitely take the place of an exiting Mick Schumacher. That is if the young German does lose his seat at the American outfit. He suffered another incident, effectively breaking the car in half in a crash not seen since Romain Grosjean did the same a couple of years back. The cost of these repairs is surely hurting the team, who endured a miserable race that resulted in a double DNF after Kevin Magnussen was forced to retire in the sister car due to a water pressure malfunction. It has undoubtedly become a better car since last year and, as a result, points have actually been achieved be the returning Dane. For Mick, the more he consistently costs the team without producing results, only aids to the idea his time on the grid is limited. Team Principal Guenther Steiner also hinted at such, indicating that there may need to be a change should progress nor occur in the near future. The contenders? It could be a returning Nico Hulkenberg or Antonio Giovinazzi that could take his place, but if Danny Ricc is set to be forced out of McLaren at the end of the season, the team would be wise to opt for the most experienced Australian racer in the sport’s history.
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