Formula 1: podium for Ocon in Monaco, Verstappen wins

The order of the starting grid was respected, and this is excellent news for the French Alpine team and its driver Esteban Ocon, who offered themselves a superb podium on the mythical course of Monaco. In a grand prix marked at the end of the race by heavy rainfall, the French driver held his place behind Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin).

YESSSSSSSS P3 ON THE STREETS OF MONACO! #Alpine #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/wBiXnV3EoE

— BWT Alpine F1 Team (@AlpineF1Team) May 28, 2023

On the weather screens, the technical teams and staff of the teams watched with apprehension the big rain clouds that lurked around Monaco. And to see the turn that these few drops have given to a race that took place, until now, in absolute calm, we understand better the concern that accompanied the arrival of this impromptu actor.

A tyre story between Verstappen and Alonso

Slips, shocks, clumsy tyre changes animated the last 20 laps of this Monaco GP, but did not prevent Max Verstappen from driving at full speed towards a victory that was promised to him. Starting from pole position ahead of Alonso, Leclerc and Ocon, the Dutchman never left the lead of the race, always maintaining a relatively comfortable lead over his first Spaniard pursuer. The Aston Martin driver finished second, with Ocon completing the podium despite the great pressure put at the very end of the race by Lewis Hamilton (4th).

Let's slip in the rain at the #MonacoGP! pic.twitter.com/ZEi2OR6eXV

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) May 28, 2023

However, the race was not easy for Verstappen, who quickly complained about the condition of his tyres and especially the front left. He finally held on to this uncertain rubber and only went to the pits when the rain started to fall, just like Alonso... who had to change tyres twice in two laps (55/56), the fault of a first missed change to medium tyres despite the rain. A blunder that allowed Verstappen to take off, and about twenty seconds ahead, in the lead.

In the drivers' standings, Verstappen also got ahead of teammate Sergio Pérez (Red Bull), who finished 16th and therefore did not record any points in this race.