Nico Rosberg made his fifth victory in the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix. The German led the race from start to finish, holding the pressure of Lewis Hamilton in much part of it. The british driver could finish second despite a number of difficulties keeping Daniel Ricciardo behind him. Fernando Alonso was fourth while Vettel had to retire.
The race started out with a move. Rosberg and Hamilton kept the two first places, behind Ricciardo made a bad start, leaving Vettel in third place followed by Räikkönen, who starred an excellent start. A few turns later, Button collided with Sergio Checo Pérez leaving him against the wall and causing the first safety car of the day.
Just when the Safety Car was in the first bell of the day took presence: Sebastian Vettel lost power and that left him in the last position, making him leave the race. Stewards imposed to Gutiérrez, Chilton and Bianchi a five-second stop-and-go penalty for not being placed correctly in the grid, all because Gutiérrez occupied the empty space left by Maldonado, retired from the race before start. So we had the race with Mercedes dominance followed by Räikkönen, Ricciardo, Alonso, Magnussen, Vergne, Kvyat, Hülkenberg and Button.
A few laps later we had another DNF by Daniil Kvyat, but it was not until lap 23 where the key of the race is. Adrian Sutil lost control of his Sauber in port chicane and crashed violently against the wall. Thas meant the safety car appearing for second time, causing the pit of almost every driver in the garage. The two Mercedes entered while Vergne left the pit so violently he almost crashes with Magnussen. That maneuver would cause Drive Through later.
Felipe Massa was the only one who did not stop to change tires, and because of the double entry box Räikkönen is placed fifth. The finish driver suffered a puncture that left him to the last place. Just when Safety Car got in the dancing fights appeared again. Mercedes ran away with a great rhythm while behind the change of positions was constant. Betweet these battles we could find Räikkönen coming back, going to the limit as drivers beating slower Kobayashi, which almost leaves him out of the race.
Already in the last twenty laps some errors and mechanical problems appeared. Vergne stopped his car with mechanical problems while Bottas parked his Williams in the middle of the track after suffering a white smoke. Shortly later, Gutiérrez made a serious mistake in Rascasse where his Sauber touched the wall and suffered a puncture. All these leaves Marussia’s driver Bianchi in the points, but pursued by Grosjean.
Hamilton showed a drop in his times due to problems in one of his eyes, which caused Ricciardo catching the Silver Arrow. While Ricciardo approached Hamilton, behind Hülkenberg caused by a train leaving Räikkönen and Magnussen against the wall in Loewes, what made Bianchi rise to eighth place. However both drivers could go on and did not need the intervention of the safety car.
During the final laps Ricciardo was trying to beat the Mercedes’ british but without success. So Rosberg got his second victory and came back to the lead before Hamilton, who lifted the silver trophy upset with his teammate. Ricciardo closed the podium as the only representative of Red Bull, beating Vettel again. A lone Alonso closed the race in fourth place followed distantly by Hülkenberg, Button, Massa, Bianchi, Grosjean and Magnussen. Almost in points ended Ericsson, followed by Räikkönen Chilton and Kobayashi, who remains without leaving any race.
Even a penalty to Bianchi, dropping to ninth place, that gives Marussia first points since its debut in 2010. Besides they also beat Sauber and Caterham in the Championship. Rosberg meanwhile leads the Championship with four points ahead of Hamilton and Alonso on 57, who is followed by Ricciardo, Vettel and Hülkenberg.
The Great Circus returns within two weeks with the Canadian Grand Prix to be held in Montréal at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.