The Monaco Grand Prix’s Great Mess

As race control noticed that the track beside the feral turn seemed to be breaking up, the Monaco Grand Prix was red-flagged. It took quite a while for it to restart, and once the cars were ready to fight on track once more, a standing start was ordered. Despite the unexpected obstacle, Kimi Antonelli retained the lead and won for the fifth time in a row.

Those Who Finished But Fell

There were many drivers who finished the race happy. Antonelli added yet another win to his collection, and both Lewis Hamilton and Isack Hadjar scored podiums that meant a lot to them, albeit for vastly different reasons. For the former, it was the confirmation that Hamilton had found his footing in Ferrari. For the latter, it was only the second time in Hadjar’s career that he finished in the top three.

While those who stood on the podium basked in the glory of winning in Monaco, a few other drivers saw their dream crumble right in front of their eyes. Pierre Gasly crossed the finish line third, but due to the penalties he had accumulated, he dropped down to P7; still in the points but far away from the coveted top-three finish. After the race, Alpine appealed the decision, and the penalty is currently set to be reviewed.

Sergio Perez faced a similar heartbreak. After a tough start to the season, he was on the way to score Cadillac’s first ever point, and thought he had done so as he finished the Monaco Grand Prix in P10. Just like Gasly before him, he also lost the hard-fought position due to the speed-limit-related penalty, falling all the way to P15.

Next was George Russell, who needed the win more than anyone, but, once again, could not catch up to his teammate. He was never truly in contention for the podium, but was on track to score some good points in the first half of the race. Things changed when he received a five-second penalty of his own. He was supposed to serve it during his pit stop under the safety car, but, due to a misunderstanding, it was not served correctly. He was thus penalized again, this time with a drive-through penalty, which put him far from the point-scoring positions. Not for the first time this year, his race ended in disappointment.

Those Who Did Not Finish At All

Still, the situation of those who soared down the order was better than that of those who didn’t get to cross the finish line at all. After the tense race, many drivers belonged to the group. Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, Valtteri Bottas, Oliver Bearman, and Lance Stroll all had to admit defeat long before the checkered flag waved. Their races were a disappointment, but not to such an extent as those of Max Verstappen and the home hero, Leclerc.

For Verstappen, the pain stemmed from the fact that he did not get to do much at all on the streets of Monaco. As soon as the race began, his engine failed, leaving him far behind the rest of the field. Although he was able to get going, his team was quick to tell him to just get the car to the garage.

Leclerc managed to last much longer, but it only made the ultimate retirement more painful. No one cared about performing well in the Monaco Grand Prix as much as he did. Pushed forward by the support of both his fans and compatriots, he did everything he could to make the race his and was on track for a podium finish when the unthinkable happened. The unexpected crush was as devastating for him as it was for all those sitting on his grandstands.

End Of My Monaco Grand Prix Rant

No one could have predicted the results of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix. Heartbreak, joy, and rage all mixed under the Mediterranean sun, creating a spectacle worth watching. How will the drivers deal with the setbacks before the upcoming race in Barcelona?