Monaco Grand Prix: Nico Rosberg held on amid the chaos!

As is often the case, the Monaco Grand Prix proved to be very lively. On a circuit where mistakes are not allowed, several drivers were trapped, which required two interventions from the safety car and a 25-minute interruption. In these chaotic conditions, Nico Rosberg managed to win. Imperial throughout the weekend and started from pole position, the pilot Mercedes was able to maintain the advantage of this primordial place in the streets of the principality to sign the second victory of his career. The premiere of the Silver Arrows this season. A success which comes thirty years exactly after that of his father Kéké Rosberg, on a Williams-Ford at the time!

An average start for Rosberg

When the lights went out, the German made an average takeoff but still managed to maintain his advantage against his teammate Lewis Hamilton, started second. On the other hand, he widens the gap from the following hectometers, while the 2008 world champion suffers intense pressure from Sebastian Vettel, third. Beyond that, the start, always very critical in Monte-Carlo, turned out to be rather wise. Only the Caterham of Giedo Van der Garde and the Force India of Adrian Sutil will damage their mustaches at the Loews corner on the first lap, just like Pastor Maldonado.

Curiously, the drivers who started with the soft tires suffered more problems than those on super soft tires during the first stint. This is particularly the case of Felipe Massa, who is one of the first to change his tires. But barely out of the stands, the Brazilian comes out violently in Sainte-Dévote. Just like during free practice on Saturday morning: the driver Ferrari loses control of his car while braking on the bump, and violently hits the rail before ending up in the protections opposite. For safety, a neck brace is placed on the neck of the visibly shaken driver, and the safety car enters the running. All drivers who have not yet pitted, such as the two leading Mercedes, enter the pits. Bad operation for the Silver Arrows, Hamilton finding himself fourth behind the two Red Bull. He is the big loser of this race, while Nico Rosberg was able to keep his property.

Red flag

At the restart, everyone keeps their place. Hamilton tries to regain a position from Webber at Rascasse, but fails. As Jenson Button shows himself in the rearview mirrors of Fernando Alonso, his teammate Sergio Pérez launches into a kamikaze attack at the port chicane, and passes in front of the 2009 world champion. One lap later, he will attempt the same maneuver on Fernando Alonso, who will be forced to cut the chicane. The Spaniard will be forced to give up his place in favor of the Mexican under penalty of penalty. The race experienced another dramatic twist on the 46th lap. Pastor Maldonado (Williams) collides with Max Chilton (Marussia), who was just in front of him. The mistake goes to the Briton, who closed his trajectory too much. At the Tabac bend, the Venezuelan crashes violently into the TecPro (the safety barriers, editor's note), which come off the rail with the violence of the impact. Just behind the two men, Jules Bianchi cannot avoid the protections and destroys his front wing. More fear than harm for the drivers involved, but Max Chilton will receive a lenient drive-through for his fault.

The track being obstructed, the red flag is raised. The race stops, the drivers stop on the starting grid. Tires are changed for those who wish. 25 minutes pass before the race resumes. When the debates are relaunched, two drivers particularly liven things up: Sergio Pérez and Adrian Sutil. The first fights like a ragpicker to get the best of Kimi Räikkönen not decided to let himself pass, while the second gets rid of Jenson Button at the Loews hairpin, after a very daring maneuver. Which he repeated a few laps later on Fernando Alonso to gain 7th place.

Another accident for Grosjean

While Jules Bianchi had to retire after one of his brake discs broke on the long straight of the pits, his compatriot Romain Grosjean (Lotus) crashed a few minutes later. Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) on the 63rd lap. Lots of debris littering the track, requiring further intervention by the safety car? After his fourth accident of the weekend, the Frenchman ends a nightmarish Monegasque adventure. The Australian also gave up in the incident. There were 11 laps left to go when the safety car disappeared. Nico Rosberg is still in the lead and sees his lead reduced to 0 again in front of Sebastian Vettel. On the 69th lap, Kimi Räikkönen blocks Sergio Pérez a little too much while the latter tries to overtake him? The Mexican's front wing hits the rail and the Finn, who will suffer a puncture. Forced to return to the pits, the 2007 world champion lost a large number of places and precious points in the Drivers' standings: he managed to keep just one by dropping to tenth during the very last lap of the race. 

With a damaged car, the Mexican from home McLaren tries to stay on the trail and slows down the entire pack behind him. He finally gave up at the Anthony Nogués corner. This will be the last twist of a completely crazy Monaco Grand Prix. Nico Rosberg crosses the finish line as winner “at home” after a perfect weekend. Only the best time in the race escaped him. Second, Sebastian Vettel achieves the best operation of the weekend by taking off direct opponents in the Drivers ranking. Also note the good performance of Jean-Eric Vergne, who finished 8th and finally put an end to a black streak that began several races ago, where all the other French drivers gave up.