Max Verstappen secures 4th win of the season at Monaco Grand Prix

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen fended off stiff competition rom Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso on a wet day at the Monaco Grand Prix.

The reigning  F1 world champion looked comfortable initially in the race, having secured Pole position in qualifying on Saturday.

However, Verstappen, 25, grew frustrated as his Red Bull team delayed his pit stop in an attempt to coincide it with the rain.

Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso missed a huge chance to overtake Verstappen who was in the lead for large spells of the race after he was asked to pit by his team for a set of dry tyres as the downpour at the Monaco circuit.

Alonso was forced to subsequently pit again for intermediate tyres on the following lap, as Red Bull did the same for Verstappen did the same, ultimately ending any chances of victory for the Spaniard.

In the end, Verstappen cruised home for his fourth win in six races this year, leading by by 24 seconds with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso second, 15 clear of third-placed Ocon who finished ahead of Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.

The win for Max Verstappen also takes him 39 points clear of Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez in the Formula 1 championship and has seen him match Sebastian Vettel for the most F1 race wins as a Red Bull driver.

Perez had a race to forget having started from the back following his crash in qualifying, with the Mexican eventually finishing in 17th place.

Defending world champion Max Verstappen extended his lead in this year’s title race when he drove his Red Bull to victory in challenging conditions in Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.

Following his win on Sunday, Verstappen admitted that his victory was nowhere near a stroll in the park.

“That wasn’t easy,” Verstappen said via AFP.

“It was quite a difficult one! I didn’t want to go long on my first stint, but I had to stay out when the rain came down and then it was very tricky to drive. 

“It was incredibly slippery and quite difficult,” he said. 

“I clipped the walls a few times, but that’s Monaco. It’s nice to win and super-nice to win in this weather!”

Second-placed Fernando Alonso also opened up on securing his fifth podium finish in the sixth race of the year. 

“It was difficult,” the Spaniard said. 

“Max drove super-well on the medium tyres in his first stint and it was complicated out there in the rain. I think everyone did an amazing job to stay on the track.”

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull, 78 laps

2. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin, +27.9 seconds

3. Esteban Ocon, Alpine, +36.9

4. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, +39.0

5. George Russell, Mercedes, 56.2

6. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, +1:01.8

7. Pierre Gasly, Alpine, +1:02.3

8. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari, +1:03.3

9. Lando Norris, McLaren, +1 lap

10. Oscar Piastri, McLaren, +1 lap

11. Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo, +1 lap

12. Nyck DeVries, AlphaTauri, +1 lap

13. Zhou Guanyu, Alfa Romeo, + 1 lap

14. Alexander Albon, Williams, + 1 lap

15. Yuki Tsunoda, AlphaTauri, +2 laps

16. Sergio Perez, Red Bull, +2 laps

17. Nico Hulkenberg, Haas, +2 laps

18. Logan Sargeant, Williams, +2 laps

19. Kevin Magnussen, Haas, +8 laps

20. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin, +25 laps

The next round of Formula 1 action comes up on June 4, 2023 where the Spanish Grand Prix will take place.

The 2023 Spanish Grand Prix, which takes place over 66 laps of the 4.657-kilometre Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on Sunday, June 4.

You can find the full weekend schedule, including details of practice and qualifying sessions, support races, press conferences and special events here.