Why the 2021 Monaco GrandPrix was excellent from the neutral perspective.

Okay let’s get this issue out the way! Monaco not fit for purpose, oh it boring and yes I’ll admit the modern day Monaco GrandPrix may no longer be as good as what it use to be back in the early 1990s, 80s or 70s but that Monaco 🇲🇨. 

Monaco never been a circuit known for overtaking it is a spectacle for glamorous streets and famous corners as the track weaves alongside the costal roads and up the hill through the casino square. That is what Monaco is and the is no debating it. If you where expecting 100 overtakes by all the drivers then forget it because that’s never going to happen regardless of how wide or skinny these cars will be. 

But I’m  not here to shout about necessarily Monaco’s purpose but more to say why I found Monaco 2021 a really good and cool race weekend.

Firstly qualifying! Now look we all know, we’ve all seen Ferrari’s slop in recent years! Since 2019 Ferrari only managed to grab the odd podium here and there. And whilst that still rings true at Monaco this weekend but not been able to pick up anything greater than P2 in the race but qualifying was whether we like it or not really good for the Scuderia. It’s difficult obviously to say whether or not that crash for Leclerc was the difference between P1 and maybe P2 or worse P3 but regardless Ferrari all weekend showed strong pace around the streets of Monaco. They deserved nothing less than at minimum then a podium this weekend and a podium they got. So well done to Ferrari who rightly on merit achieved a decent credible race result. 

Secondly McLaren and Norris. I think this race for Norris really has shown what true talent the young British McLaren driver is. He did a phenomenal job in-comparison to his teammate Daniel Ricciardo, he qualified 5th his highest ever qualifying on a street circuit and then raced comfortably up on the podium for the entire race and then when the pressure came late on in the last segment he didn’t crack despite so easily and so many would have. 

And also it’s such a brilliant story as well... on the weekend he signed a new contract with McLaren for the next two seasons to go and score a podium at the principality shows I think what a true class act Lando Norris is and to also lap his teammate let’s not forget. 

Thirdly, SebVettel. Now I’m not going to lie he is 

my favourite racing driver of all and always will be and have a special place in my heart. And with some I’m not going to feed the haters but with critics being harsh on him in last few weeks to come to again probably the toughest track on the racing calendar and score a impressive P5 just shows he’s hasn’t lost it. 

He’s silenced the haters once more and proven his worth and pay load. 

That move up the hill coming out the pit lane against Pierre was I will say a nail biting moment. 

And fourthly the championship! The championship this weekend has been blown wide open. RedBull can they take this momentum going forward after strongly capitalizing on huge errors from Mercedes. And that’s all I want to see is a good fight between hopefully two titans Max Verstappen and Lewis. And that’s what this result allows because it pegs maybe Mercedes back a little after building a strong 💪 substantial lead now Mercedes have to go back to the drawing board and come up with solutions so a weekend like this doesn’t happen again. 

Whereas RedBull have quite the bit of momentum now in their favour and can now from the view go to Baku and improve on this result. So now ultimately two teams are scratching their heads with two different problems. Fantastic!