A bizarre decision to put Fernando Alonso on a fresh set of dry weather slick tyres as rain fell in the principality ruined any chances the Spaniard had of winning the Monaco Grand Prix
Sky Sports F1’s pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz said Alonso made the decision himself, and the team did not overrule him despite every other car that had pitted to that point having done so for rain tyres.
Kravitz said the team believed the rain was only a passing shower, and Alonso would be on the right rubber as the track dried.
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But the rain got heavier, and forced Alonso back into the pits on the very next lap for intermediate rain tyres.
When posing on the podium with winner Max Verstappen and third place-getter Esteban Ocon with the Monogasque royal family, Alonso called the Red Bull team representative onto the second rung, and put a foot onto Verstappen’s top step – perhaps suggesting that’s where he should have finished.
As light rain began falling two thirds into the race, some teams elected to gamble on intermediates well before the track was wet enough to require them.
But instead of waiting a few more laps to be sure one way or the other, Alonso – who was running second and closing the gap to leader Max Verstappen – pitted his Aston Martin and his crew then bolted on a new set of dry-weather slick tyres.
Sure enough, the light rain became significantly heavier barely a minute later, forcing the 42-year-old back into the pits for intermediates.
While the extra stop didn’t cost Alonso second place, it ended his chance of a surprise victory in the race that ran for an hour and 48 minutes at a track that requires the highest level of concentration on the calendar.
Verstappen wins Monaco Grand Prix
“That was difficult. We opted to start on the hard tyre and hoped to play a bit of the long game in strategy, but Max drove so well, super-well, on those medium tyres to extend his first stint that we didn’t have a chance,” Alonso said.
“And then, in the end, the rain came and made it complicated.
“Our forecast said it was only going to be light rain so I felt it was best to stay on the slick tyres and not go to the intermediates. It was not easy to drive out there. I could not use full power around the lap, braking was extremely fragile and it wasn’t easy.
“I was surprised that there were no safety cars and no incidents so I think everyone did an amazing job.”
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