F1 News
'Verstappen deserves to leave here leading the championship'
- GPblog.com
It's not often in recent years that Mercedes have been absent from the podium ceremony, but the German team had a tough time in Monaco. Lewis Hamilton failed to move beyond seventh place and Valtteri Bottas stopped in second position with a wheel nut problem. Red Bull Racing seized the opportunity.
Rare off-day
Things went wrong for Bottas during the pitstop. His right front wheel did not come off and that meant the end of the race for the Finn who was second behind Max Verstappen at that moment. Hamilton was completely out of the game on Sunday.
"Mercedes had a rare off-day today," Christian Horner told Motorsport.com. "It was important to take advantage of that and get points. And we did," the satisfied Red Bull Racing team boss looks back on the race.
Leaders in the championship
The fact that Verstappen won was of course already great, but he also took over the lead in the championship from Hamilton and is now four points ahead of the reigning world champion. "Max has scored a great victory, his second of the year, he deserves to leave here as the leader in the championship." Sergio Perez's fourth place also saw Red Bull Racing take the lead in the constructors' championship.
It was also a great day for Honda. "This is their first win at Monaco since 1992 and I think it's the first time since 1991 that they've led the championship. I was still at school then. They have done a fantastic job and deserve all the credit for this win as well. There were three Honda-powered cars finishing in the top-six today. So it was a strong piece of teamwork."