2018 Monaco Grand Prix Explained

Type:F1
Country:Monaco
Grand Prix:Monaco
Previous Round:2018 Spanish Grand Prix
Next Round:2018 Canadian Grand Prix
Image Link:Monte Carlo Formula 1 track map.svg
Image-Size:200px
Date:27 May
Year:2018
Official Name:Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2018
Race No:6
Season No:21
Location:Circuit de Monaco
La Condamine and Monte Carlo, Monaco
Course:Street circuit
Course Mi:2.074
Course Km:3.337
Distance Laps:78
Distance Mi:161.734
Distance Km:260.286
Weather:Sunny
Pole Time:1:10.810
Fast Driver:Max Verstappen
Fast Team:Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer
Fast Time:1:14.260
Fast Lap:60
Fast Country:NED
First Driver: Daniel Ricciardo
First Team:Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer
Second Driver:Sebastian Vettel
Second Team:Ferrari
Second Country:GER
Third Driver: Lewis Hamilton
Third Team:Mercedes

The 2018 Monaco Grand Prix (formally known as the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2018) was a Formula One motor race that was held on 27 May 2018 at the Circuit de Monaco, a street circuit that runs through the Principality of Monaco. It was the 6th round of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship, the 76th time the Monaco Grand Prix had been held, and the 65th time it had been a round of the Formula One World Championship since the inception of the series in . It was the last victory for Daniel Ricciardo until the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.

The race was won by Daniel Ricciardo in Red Bull, with Sebastian Vettel in Ferrari coming second. Lewis Hamilton in Mercedes finished third, maintaining the championship lead over Vettel. Mercedes also led in the Constructors' Championship ahead of Ferrari.[1]

Report

Background

Tyres

The race marked the competitive début of Pirelli's new hypersoft tyre compound.[2]

Chassis updates

Following controversy over the use of winglets above halo-mounted rear view mirrors at the previous round in Spain, the FIA banned the winglets ahead of the race weekend.[3]

Penalties

Romain Grosjean was handed a three-place grid penalty for causing a collision on the opening lap of the Spanish Grand Prix.[4] Max Verstappen received a 5 place grid penalty for an unscheduled gearbox change, and a 10 place grid penalty for use of a third MGU-K, although this made no difference to his starting position, as he already was at the back of the grid.[5] [6]

Practice

Daniel Ricciardo was fastest across all three practice sessions, improving his time in each successive session.[7] In FP3, Max Verstappen crashed heavily at the Turn 16, meaning his car was damaged beyond repair for qualifying.

Qualifying

Max Verstappen was unable to compete in qualifying as his mechanics were unable to repair the car in time after a crash in the final practice session.[8] Daniel Ricciardo set a new qualifying lap record to take pole position for the race.[9] Red Bull capped both ends of the grid, Ricciardo starting first and Verstappen starting last. Pierre Gasly made Q3 for the second time, however his teammate, Brendon Hartley, after showing promise with P7 in FP3, qualified in P16 after being held up in traffic as well as being unhappy with the balance in his car.[10]

Race

Ricciardo led going into the first corner with the top 6 staying in the same order. On lap 28, Ricciardo, still leading the race, complained of a loss of power to the team.[11] Ricciardo was left to manage a wounded car for the remaining 50 laps of the race, with what was later revealed to be an MGU-K failure (giving him 25% less horsepower than usual), and with only six out of eight gears functioning.[12] [13] For the rest of the race he came under pressure from Sebastian Vettel, however due to dirty air and the track being difficult to pass, Vettel was unable to attack Ricciardo. Vettel lost a lot of time after Stoffel Vandoorne, around a lap behind Vettel and Ricciardo, came in between them both after pitting for a second time.

Sergey Sirotkin was given a 10-second stop-go penalty after his tyres were not fitted to the car at the 3 minute signal.[14] On lap 53 Fernando Alonso retired at Sainte-Dévote due to gearbox problems, his first retirement of the 2018 season.[15] A virtual safety car came out on lap 73 when Charles Leclerc's left front brake disc failed just before the Nouvelle Chicane, causing him to crash into the back of Brendon Hartley. Both drivers were forced to retire due to damage.[16] [17] This was the first Monaco Grand Prix since 2009 where a (full) safety car did not make an appearance, although there was a brief virtual safety car period.[18] It was Ricciardo's most recent victory in Formula One until the 2021 Italian Grand Prix.[19]

Post race

After the race Hamilton and Alonso both complained that this was "one of the most boring races ever"; drivers were lapping several seconds a lap slower than they could have been to conserve tires and avoid making a second pit-stop.[20] Alonso also pointed to the spread out field, "as there were barely any yellow flags or safety cars."

Classification

Qualifying

DriverConstructor
Q1Q2Q3
13data-sort-value="RIC" Daniel Ricciardo1:12.0131:11.2781:10.8101
25data-sort-value="VET" Sebastian VettelFerrari1:12.4151:11.5181:11.0392
344data-sort-value="HAM" Lewis HamiltonMercedes1:12.4601:11.5841:11.2323
47data-sort-value="RAI" Kimi RäikkönenFerrari1:12.6391:11.3911:11.2664
577data-sort-value="BOT" Valtteri BottasMercedes1:12.4341:12.0021:11.4415
631data-sort-value="OCO" Esteban OconForce India-Mercedes1:13.0281:12.1881:12.0616
714data-sort-value="ALO" Fernando AlonsoMcLaren-Renault1:12.6571:12.2691:12.1107
855data-sort-value="SAI" Carlos Sainz Jr.Renault1:12.9501:12.2861:12.1308
911data-sort-value="PER" Sergio PérezForce India-Mercedes1:12.8481:12.1941:12.1549
1010data-sort-value="GAS" Pierre GaslyScuderia Toro Rosso-Honda1:12.9411:12.3131:12.22110
1127data-sort-value="HUL" Nico HülkenbergRenault1:13.0651:12.41111
122data-sort-value="VAN"McLaren-Renault1:12.4631:12.44012
1335data-sort-value="SIR" Sergey SirotkinWilliams-Mercedes1:12.7061:12.52113
1416data-sort-value="LEC" Charles LeclercSauber-Ferrari1:12.8291:12.71414
158data-sort-value="GRO" Romain GrosjeanHaas-Ferrari1:12.9301:12.72818
1628data-sort-value="HAR" Brendon HartleyScuderia Toro Rosso-Honda1:13.17915
179data-sort-value="ERI" Marcus EricssonSauber-Ferrari1:13.26516
1818data-sort-value="STR" Lance StrollWilliams-Mercedes1:13.32317
1920data-sort-value="MAG" Kevin MagnussenHaas-Ferrari1:13.39319
107% time

1:17.053

33data-sort-value="VER" Max VerstappenRed Bull Racing-TAG HeuerNo time20
Source:[21]
Notes

Race

DriverConstructorLapsTime/RetiredGridPoints
13data-sort-value="RIC" Daniel RicciardoRed Bull Racing-TAG Heuer781:42:54.807125
25data-sort-value="VET" Sebastian VettelFerrari78+7.336218
344data-sort-value="HAM" Lewis HamiltonMercedes78+17.013|align="center"|3|align="center"|15|-!4|align="center"|7|data-sort-value="RAI"| Kimi Räikkönen|Ferrari|align="center"|78|+18.127412
577data-sort-value="BOT" Valtteri Bottas Mercedes78+18.822|align="center"|5|align="center"|10|-!6|align="center"|31|data-sort-value="OCO"| Esteban Ocon|Force India-Mercedes|align="center"|78|+23.667|align="center"|6|align="center"|8|-!7|align="center"|10|data-sort-value="GAS"| Pierre Gasly||align="center"|78|+24.331|align="center"|10|align="center"|6|-!8|align="center"|27|data-sort-value="HUL"| Nico Hülkenberg |Renault|align="center"|78|+24.839|align="center"|11|align="center"|4|-!9|align="center"|33|data-sort-value="VER"| Max Verstappen |Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer|align="center"|78|+25.317|align="center"|20|align="center"|2|-!10|align="center"|55|data-sort-value="SAI"| Carlos Sainz Jr. |Renault|align="center"|78|+1:09.013|align="center"|8|align="center"|1|-!11|align="center"|9|data-sort-value="ERI"| Marcus Ericsson |Sauber-Ferrari|align="center"|78|+1:09.864|align="center"|16|align="center"||-!12|align="center"|11|data-sort-value="PER"| Sergio Pérez |Force India-Mercedes|align="center"|78|+1:10.4619
1320data-sort-value="MAG"Haas-Ferrari78+1:14.823|align="center"|19|align="center"||-!14|align="center"|2|data-sort-value="VAN"||McLaren-Renault|align="center"|77|+1 lap|align="center"|12|align="center"||-!15|align="center"|8|data-sort-value="GRO"| Romain Grosjean |Haas-Ferrari|align="center"|77|+1 lap|align="center"|18|align="center"||-!16|align="center"|35|data-sort-value="SIR"| Sergey Sirotkin |Williams-Mercedes|align="center"|77|+1 lap|align="center"|13|align="center"||-!17|align="center"|18|data-sort-value="STR"| Lance Stroll |Williams-Mercedes|align="center"|76|+2 laps|align="center"|17|align="center"||-!18|align="center"|16|data-sort-value="LEC"| Charles Leclerc |Sauber-Ferrari|align="center"|70|Collision|align="center"|14|align="center"||-!19|align="center"|28|data-sort-value="HAR"| Brendon Hartley |Scuderia Toro Rosso-Honda|align="center"|70|Collision damage|align="center"|15|align="center"||-!data-sort-value="20"|Ret|align="center"|14|data-sort-value="ALO"| Fernando Alonso |McLaren-Renault|align="center"|52|Gearbox|align="center"|7|align="center"||-class="sortbottom"|style="background:#eaecf0; text-align:center;" colspan="8"|Source:[22] [23] |-|}
Notes
  •  – Charles Leclerc and Brendon Hartley did not finish the Grand Prix, but were classified as they completed more than 90% of the race distance. Although Hartley completed his 70th lap before Leclerc, Hartley is classified behind Leclerc due to a 5-second time penalty for speeding in the pit lane.

Championship standings after the race

Drivers' Championship standings
DriverPoints
1data-sort-value="HAM"110
2data-sort-value="VET"96
23data-sort-value="RIC"72
14data-sort-value="BOT"68
15data-sort-value="RAI" Kimi Räikkönen60
Source:[24]
Constructors' Championship standings
ConstructorPoints
1 Mercedes178
2156
3 Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer107
446
5 McLaren-Renault40
Source:
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Monaco 2018 – Championship . StatsF1. 3 June 2018.
  2. Web site: Sainz: F1 Monaco GP qualifying will be 'madness' on hypersoft tyres. Adam. Cooper. autosport.com. 23 May 2018.
  3. News: FIA tells Ferrari it can't run halo mirror winglets after Spanish GP. Adam. Cooper. autosport.com. Motorsport Network. 12 May 2018. 12 May 2018.
  4. News: Grosjean penalised for Spanish GP shunt. Mat. Coch. speedcafe.com. 14 May 2018. 14 May 2018.
  5. Web site: F1 2018 Monaco Grand Prix Starting Grid – Penalties Included. www.thisisf1.com. 4 June 2018. 4 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190104230948/https://www.thisisf1.com/2018/05/27/2018-monaco-grand-prix-starting-grid-penalties-included/. dead.
  6. News: Verstappen first driver to exceed power unit limit after Monaco change. 27 May 2018. Crash. 4 June 2018.
  7. Web site: Results. Formula1.com. 26 May 2018.
  8. News: Verstappen fails to qualify after Monaco practice shunt. Formula1.com. 26 May 2018.
  9. News: Qualifying: Ricciardo crushes opposition to take Monaco pole. Formula1.com. 26 May 2018.
  10. Web site: Brendon Hartley disappointed after qualifying 16th for Monaco Grand Prix. Stuff. 26 May 2018 . 6 February 2019.
  11. News: F1: Daniel Ricciardo wins Monaco Grand Prix – as it happened TheGuardian : TheGuardian. The Guardian. 27 May 2018 . 14 February 2019. Davies . Tom .
  12. Web site: Conclusions from the Monaco Grand Prix PlanetF1 : PlanetF1. www.planetf1.com. 28 May 2018. 28 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180528125159/https://www.planetf1.com/news/conclusions-from-the-monaco-grand-prix/. dead.
  13. Web site: Ricciardo: Monaco Grand Prix win is 'redemption' PlanetF1 : PlanetF1. www.planetf1.com. 28 May 2018. 27 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180527213446/https://www.planetf1.com/news/ricciardo-monaco-grand-prix-win-is-redemption/. dead.
  14. News: Sirotkin convinced Monaco proves Williams has cleared F1 2018 nadir. Mitchell. Scott. Autosport.com. 4 June 2018.
  15. News: What the teams said – race day in Monaco. Formula1.com. 28 May 2018.
  16. News: Brake disc failure to blame for Leclerc-Hartley collision. Formula1.com. 29 May 2018.
  17. Web site: F1: Daniel Ricciardo wins Monaco Grand Prix – as it happened. 27 May 2018. Guardian. 7 June 2018.
  18. News: RACE: Ricciardo overcomes engine issues to beat Vettel in Monaco. Formula1.com. 27 May 2018.
  19. News: 'Deep down I never lost faith or belief' says Ricciardo after taking first win since 2018. Formula1.com. 14 November 2021.
  20. News: Monaco GP: Lewis Hamilton & Fernando Alonso critical of 'most boring race'. 27 May 2018. BBC Sport. 28 May 2018.
  21. Web site: Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2018 – Qualifying. 26 May 2018. Formula1.com. 26 May 2018.
  22. Web site: Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2018 – Race Result. 27 May 2018. Formula1.com. 27 May 2018.
  23. Web site: Monaco 2018 - Result. www.statsf1.com. 26 April 2020.
  24. Web site: Monaco 2018 – Championship . StatsF1. 6 February 2019.