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The 2019 Monaco Grand Prix was by far one of the most intriguing contests that one saw in a while.
In comparison to the 2018 race (that saw Daniel Ricciardo win a great contest), the Monaco GP produced a 'silvery' result for Mercedes, courtesy a dominant win by Lewis. But there was a lot more to the salubrious contest nestled in the heart of the European principality.
On the one hand, it was a day fraught with problems for Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver failed to finish his home race in what could've been an interesting contest given that the youngster was so keen to improve on a lowly qualifying result on Saturday.
And on the other, the race did finally produce a result that may have spurred the team's confidence somewhat as experienced driver Sebastian Vettel climbed to the second spot on the podium, following Max Verstappen's 5-second time penalty, meaning the Dutchman would fall down to fourth with Bottas further up in third.
That said, let's ascertain the Sportskeeda Driver Ratings for the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix:
#10 Alfa Romeo
Kimi Raikkonen- 17th
It wasn't really a great day for Kimi at Monaco, a track that the 'Iceman' once described in this simple way, "Oh, I hate it here," referring to an incident with Perez when Raikkonen used to be with Renault
But out here in the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix, the Alfa Romeo driver, who entered his 300th Grand Prix could only manage a lowly 17th on the grid.
This was in no way the kind of outcome that a driver of Kimi's experience would've wanted. Isn't it?
While Kimi Raikkonen would've wanted to score a few points, having failed to do so in Spain, over a fortnight ago, his lackadaisical drive compounded by the lack of pace in his Alfa Romeo didn't really help the Iceman's cause one bit.
Driver Rating- 1.5/10
Antonio Giovinazzi- 19th
It is about time that Alfa Romeo considered an alternative to the Italian driver. At the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix, young Giovinazzi finished on nineteenth on the grid. And in effect, emerged as the last man on the grid following Charles Leclerc's retirement from the race, something that happened even before lap number 20 could've taken place.
For a driver who graduated from the Ferrari driver academy, it remains to be seen what lies in the future for Giovinazzi, who's yet to break into the top ten on the grid.
Raikkonen's teammate found it hard to get going in the narrow street racing track and may want to come back stronger and hopefully Canada may reveal a great result.
Driver Rating- 1/10
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#9 Williams
George Russell- 15th
When will we see a Williams driver score a point and finally signal the start of the season where mathematical outpout is concerned?
The Briton didn't really experience a happy race, once again. But then, when has a Williams driver managed something substantial in a season where nothing seems to have gone right for the Frank Williams team?
Russell, the inexperienced British driver tried his level best to break into the midfield but to no avail.
But what stood out for the English driver in the recently-concluded 78-lap contest would be his focus, something that he would use well to end up with a 15th on the grid, having begun from a lowly 19th.
Driver Rating- 2/10
Robert Kubica- 18th
For the first time in six races did we see Robert Kubica finish better than the last spot on the grid, a place that, given his recent form had become some sort of a permanent spotfor the famous Polish driver.
At the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix, Kubica, who struggled as per normal did well enough to fight with the Alfa Romeos and ended up a place higher than Antonio Giovinazzi's Alfa Romeo.
Driver Rating- 2/10
#8 Racing Point
Sergio Perez- 13th
Perez is among the finest talents on the grid. Fast, precise, and attacking, there's pretty much everything in the Mexican driver's craft to make him stand out from the rest on the grid. But the question is when is it going to happen?
Perez has often constantly battled with the likes of Raikkonen, a familiar adversary on the grid. And this time, Sergio Perez ended up with a P13, having begun from P17 on the grid.
There were a few interesting moments in the race where Perez found to his utter discomfort, the nose of the wagging Alfa Romeo right behind him. But the Mexican didn't panic and continued undeterred.
Driver Rating- 3/10
Lance Stroll- 16th
Lance Stroll wasn't Kimi Raikkonen's favourite driver at Monaco this weekend. In the battle for scraps down the order, it was almost a cat-fight scene between the inexperienced Canadian driver and the man who entered his 300th Grand Prix, something that cannot be called as any lame achievement.
But that said, Stroll, it could be said was fairly lucky to have ended up the race in the first place because his contact early on with the Alfa Romeo driver was quite a fortunate escape for the Canadian.
Driver Rating- 2/10
#7 Haas
Romain Grosjean- 10th
Grosjean, for a change, ended up ahead of the Haas of his teammate, Kevin Magnussen, someone who's really impressed one and all this year.
At the 78-lap contest, Grosjean, no stranger to qualifying goofups and miscalculated driving moves ended up tenth on the grid.
This, in all fairness, was a strong performances given the fact that the Frenchman was dying to retutrn scoring some points in this mad weather.
Grosjean was quick enough to be denid the finely-contested tenth-place spot.
Driver Rating- 5/10
Kevin Magnussen- 12th
Kevin Magnussen was, at one point in time, running in sixth at the start of the GP. This is for the simple reason that the Haas driver made the most of a track where not only he drove well on Saturday, but seemed destined to finish inside the points, which is when at the back of a safety car deployment scenario, the entire order of the contest changed and that too, in the initial stages itself.
Let's hope that this fighter of a driver returns to top ten in the next race.
Driver Rating- 4/10
#6 Renault
Daniel Ricciardo- 9th
Ricciardo really drove a fine race at a track where he last won in 2018, albeit in completely different racing overalls.
But that said, let's discount the past and focus on the present. What was important in Ricciardo's Monaco effort was the very fact that he became the only driver to collect points for his side as his teammate, race retired and failed to score a single point.
That said, Ricciardo is someone who's hungry to improve. But then, maybe, there's something about street courses and tracks that brings out something specail from the Perth-born Aussie driver.
Driver Rating- 6.5/10
Nico Hulkenberg- 14th
Hulkenberg, it is surprisingly painful to note, failed to score yet again. Well, what else did you expect of him?
Not that he was on a point scoring spree of a kind. It's just that the German driver will have to completely lift his game in the remainder of the season.
For we've already seen 6 races of which, the "Hulk" has been able to collect points in only 1 contest, i.e., the 2019 Australian Grand Prix.
Driver Rating- 3/10
#5 McLaren
Carlos Sainz Jr.- 6th
McLaren had a great day in the office courtesy the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix. Sainz was in top form and his teammate, Lando Norris too didn't seem to struggle all that bad, despite failing to break into the top-ten.
But that said, while Sainz ended up with a strongly fought P6, going as far as possible to stay clear of Grosjean, who seemed threatening in his Haas, the Spaniard seemed in total control of the proceedings from the very start.
His performance may have given the Spanish F1 fans and motor-sport lovers something to cheer about, this being a sport that's produced one of Sainz' stellar senior heroes: Fernando Alonso.
Rating- 8/10
Lando Norris- 11th
It wasn't that great a day for Norris in the office, a driver who still did well enough to stay clear of both Alfa Romeo cars this weekend.
While the teenager didn't collect any points, he didn't discourage or mistreat the idea of an Alfa Romeo passing his shiny Blue-Orange McLaren.
Driver Rating- 5/10
#4 Toro Rosso
Daniil Kvyat- 7th
It was a fantastic drive for the Toro Rosso drivers once again. In a race where its practically impossible to overtake, it was a heartening sight to see both cars finish inside points, Kvyat leading the way with a strong seventh-place finish.
But that said, as a team, Toro Rosso are yet to deliver a fantastic, drool-worthy race, something that one may see in the times to come.
Driver Rating- 6/10
Alex Albon- 8th
Albon managed a strong eighth-place finish on a track where there are hardly any opportunities to pass another driver.
While he was driving his first-ever Grand Prix race in Monaco, under no cirsumstances did it appear that the 23-year-old would lose his cool or fail to keep his head on his shoulders while contesting in such an opulent event.
Driver Rating- 6/10
#3 Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel- 2nd
It did really seem nice to spot Sebastian Vettel with a smile, a driver who's earned the wrath of so many fans and supporters this year.
For his hard-fought second in the end of the 78-lap contest, the noted German driver did salvage some pride for his side on an afternoon where it seemed that Leclerc's disastrous retirement may have sent those in red racing overalls in deep despair.
While Vettel couldn't really make any sterling on-track moves, he did well enough to earn his third podium of the year.
Driver Rating- 8/10
Charles Leclerc- DNF
Local-hero Charles Leclerc didn't really have a great home Grand Prix event. In a failing bid to pass Nico Hulkenberg around Le Rascasse, the Monegasque driver made a mess of his chance, emerging with nothing more than a floor damage in the end that would eventually end his 2019 Monaco Grand Prix.
Driver Rating- 0/10
#2 Red Bull
Max Verstappen- 4th
Red Bull were perhaps saddened to note Verstappen's 5-second penalty, an occurrence that quite frankly undermined all the great driving that this young boy brough to the sport, that too against someone like Lewis Hamilton.
But then, these things happen. Do they not? What Verstappen should take ideally from the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix is that, it was a contest where he all but gave eventual winner, Lewis Hamilton a run for his money.
A well-fought P4 is what Max managed in the end and guess what, Red Bull will take it any day.
Driver Rating- 8/10
Pierre Gasly- 5th
Gasly starred with the fastest lap of the race, a phenomenal effort on the softer compounds, in a Grand Prix where there are several more capable drivers to compete with, such as Leclerc, Vettel, Bottas, and Ricciardo.
Driver Rating- 7/10
#1 Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton- 1st
No prizes for guessing who the race winner was on this occasion. Lewis Hamilton won a sensational Grand Prix, batting Verstappen and keeping Bottas well at bay.
This 2019 win became his third-ever race win at the famous principality at Monte Carlo, an occasion that became even more special courtesy his emotional win 'dedicated to Niki Lauda.'
And, in so doing, he furthered his points tally in 2019, currently standing pretty with 137 compared to Bottas' 120.
At this time, Vettel, one of Lewis' closest-rivals over the years is way behind on third. That said, Lewis' sensational battle with 'Mad Max' particularly from the onset of lap 65 until the checkered flag made the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix a sensational race.
Driver Rating- 9.5/10
Valtteri Bottas- 2nd
Bottas may have seemed unflustered during all of Saturday and even managed a fighting third in the end.
But it was a rather lackluster performance, according to the Finnish driver himself, someone who followed Bottas with a fighting podium in the end.
Driver Rating- 8/10
