2016 F1 Monaco Grand Prix: Lady luck smiled brightly on Lewis

The Monaco Grand Prix, the crown jewel in the Formula One calendar, has always defined a driver’s career. Win here and you will forever be touted as one of the best drivers, with your name etched in the record books along with the elite in the motorsports world. The tight and twisty layout, with Armco barriers nearly within an arm’s length of the cockpit, has tested the mettle of drivers since the inaugural season of Grand Prix racing in the principality. Winning in Monaco has been and will always be one of the highlights in one’s career.

Saturday saw Daniel Ricciardo in the RB12, with its engine upgrade, grab his first ever pole. The Aussie didn’t put a foot wrong and attacked the circuit as if the RB 12 was on rails. Daniel was 0.13 seconds ahead of Nico Rosberg, who was in P2. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, who had an unfortunate start in Q3, stalled his W06 at the pit exit, prompting his mechanics to run up pit lane and push the car back and try to get it going. Hamilton eventually got to set a time but found himself 0.3 seconds back of Rosberg. On P4 stood Sebastian Vettel with Nico Hulkenberg in P5. Kimi Raikkonen had P6, but due to a gearbox change and the corresponding penalty, had to start at P11.

Daniel was all smiles after Q3. He knew, like most fans, that winning his first ever GP is within his sights. Monaco has always been a difficult track to overtake, and with 8 of the last 10 pole sitters going on to win in the principality, the odds were looking good for Ricciardo.

Sunday saw rain make its presence felt for the first time in ages. The track was wet and the race had to start behind the safety car. It took seven laps before track officials deemed that the tarmac had enough grip and allowed the cars to race. At the re-start, Daniel bunched the field well, enabling him to speed away from the rest of the pack. Nico Rosberg, who was struggling with grip, was trying his best to keep the visibly faster Lewis Hamilton behind him. The Brit was all over the back of the sister Merc, shadowing it all throughout; it was only a matter of time before Hamilton could find a way past his teammate.

First to nick the barriers was Jolyon Palmer in the Renault. The rookie completely destroyed the front end of the Renault, and after a lap, it was Kimi’s turn. The Finn went straight into the barrier at Portier, breaking off his front wing and lodging it underneath the car. This made steering difficult to say the least. Romian Grosjean in the HaasF1 was the collateral damage in Kimi’s accident. The Ferrari pinned the HassF1 into the barrier, relegating the Frenchman to go further down the order. Kimi’s incident would be investigated after the race.

Lap 14 saw Ferrari bring in Vettel for a set of intermediates. A dry line had formed and full wets were now a huge disadvantage on the drying track. A lap later, Lewis found enough space along the straight to speed past Rosberg. He then proceeded to hunt down the Red Bull, setting the fastest lap times in the process.

Lewis was on a mission to reel in the RB12 of Ricciardo, but the Aussie retaliated by setting fast lap times himself. Lap 24 saw Red Bull bring in the race leader for a set of Pirelli intermediates, but this was not the case for the defending champion. Lewis stayed out longer and on full wets, despite the dry line on the circuit. Could this be the gamble that nets him the trophy? Or will his Pirellis disintegrate in a matter of a few laps? Lewis was looking at a one-stop race, unlike Daniel who will have to dive back in for slicks. It was race on for Red Bull and Mercedes.

As the track dried out, the race swung over to Lewis’ side. All he had to do was manage his wet tires until such time that he can come in for some Pirelli slicks and make that set last to the end of the 78 lap race.

Meanwhile, championship leader Nico Rosberg has fallen off the challenge. His car, lacking in grip, is now about a full minute adrift of the leaders. Nico was on damage limitation mode from that time on.

Lewis Hamilton, even on full wets, is driving relentlessly to try keep Ricciardo at bay. Lap 32 saw Hamilton pit from the lead and take on Pirelli Ultra Softs. This offered more grip, but he would still need to look after the tires and make it last to the end of the race. In the next garage, Red Bull, brings in Daniel a lap later. Unfortunately, disaster strikes. The pit crew were not ready to receive Ricciardo and were seen scampering about as the Red Bull idled in the pit. Miscommunication on what tire to put on the RB12 was the culprit in having Daniel stay in the pit box longer than necessary. When Ricciadro finally exited the pit lane, Hamilton was seen speeding by to take the lead. The Red Bull pit crew lost Daniel the Monaco GP!

Meanwhile down the order, Fernando Alonso was running a strong 5th. The McLaren was keeping the struggling Mercedes of Rosberg at bay, Nico didn’t even mount an attack. It was just that type of race wherein nothing worked for the German. Erstwhile Wonder Boy Max Verstappen again found the barriers and just like in qualifying, destroyed his car and was out of the race immediately.

In front, Hamilton was setting fast lap times, with Ricciardo answering with fast lap times of his own. The battle for Monaco glory was at a fever pitch.

Lap 66 saw Daniel struggle for grip on his Red Bull. Running behind the dirty air from the Mercedes really destroyed his tires. He had no option for a fight back. Sergio Perez for his part was driving a quiet race and was now up to P3 ahead of Vettel in the Ferrari. This would be the season-best finish of the Force India.

As Lewis began the penultimate lap, drops of rain fell on the circuit, but at this stage, it was a non-issue.

Lewis Hamilton crossed the line 5.7 seconds ahead of Daniel Ricciardo to claim the 44th win of his career. Daniel Ricciardo came in second with Sergio Perez in third. Sebastian Vettel claimed fourth and coming in fifth, with their best finish this season, was the McLaren of Fernando Alonso. Nico Rosberg who had a brain fade of sorts, lost out to the charging Nico Hulkenberg. Hulkenberg kept on racing till the line to snatch P6 from Rosberg.

This was a sweet victory for Hamilton. After only managing P3 in qualifying due to a fuel flow problem, the win had the defending champion back in contention for the drivers’ title.

At the podium ceremony it was a jubilation for Lewis and Mercedes, and for the first time fans saw Daniel Ricciardo sans a smile, visibly dejected at his misfortune. This was his race, his win and he did everything right, but the team let him down.

Rosberg still tops the championship standings albeit with a fewer points than he would have wanted to. Nico is on 106 points with Lewis just 24 points back. Ricciardo is third with 66 points. Rouinding up the top 5 are Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel with 61 and 60 points respectivelly to their credit.

Next up is the Canadian Grand Prix, one of Hamilton’s favorite tracks. Can Lewis snatch the championship lead from his teammate in two weeks’ time? The race is on.