Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg controlled an incident-packed Monaco Grand Prix from start to finish, winning the event 30 years after his father Keke triumphed in the famous street race.
However, the race was clouded by a row that erupted over a secretive tyre test that Mercedes conducted with Pirelli after the previous race in Spain. The German squad's key rivals Red Bull and Ferrari have lodged a protest because Mercedes used its 2013 car for the tyre test, which they see as a contravention of the sporting regulations.
On track, Mercedes continued its impressive one-lap pace in qualifying and Rosberg and team-mate Lewis Hamilton shut-out the front row ahead of the Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.
Come the race, Rosberg and Hamilton managed to hold first and second places into the opening right-hander, Sainte Devote, on the opening lap, with the Briton resisting fierce pressure from an eager Sebastian Vettel.
Further back McLaren twins Jenson Button and Sergio Perez almost came to blows, with the Mexican twice having to cut across corners in a bid to stay ahead of the 2009 world champion. His moves prompted Button to complain about his team-mate over the car-to-pit radio, and the team took the decision to tell Perez to cede position to Button.
The race remained static as the top runners conserved their tyres and the fact that the field remained very tightly bunched prompted most of the leading protagonists to switch from a planned two-stop to a one-stop strategy. Top ten runners Webber, Fernando Alonso, Kimi Räikkönen and Jenson Button had all made their stops when Ferrari's Felipe Massa had a massive accident at Sainte Devote, precipitating a safety car period. The Brazilian was shaken in the crash, which was very similar to one he had in practice on Saturday.
Vettel was changing tyres at the moment that the safety car was being deployed, but the two Mercedes drivers at the head of the field had to come in on the next tour. Although Rosberg was able to rejoin in the lead, Hamilton, who had to slow down on his in-lap to give the pit crew time to get ready after they'd dispatched the German, lost track position to both Vettel and Webber.
When the race resumed, Rosberg inched away from the Red Bull twins as Hamilton attacked Webber and behind them Räikkönen came under severe pressure from Alonso. But the Spaniard was caught napping by a feisty Perez, who had retaken seventh place from team-mate Button under braking for the chicane, and tried the same move on Alonso. The Ferrari man drove across the run-off area to retain sixth position, but was later told by officials to cede the position to his Mexican rival.
Then the red flag came out on lap 46 when Max Chilton and Pastor Maldonado tangled and the Venezuelan slammed into the barriers, before Chilton's team-mate Jules Bianchi got caught up in the aftermath. The cars reformed on the grid for the restart and were permitted to change tyres, alleviating concerns about tyre wear among the leaders.
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Monaco
If it hadn't have been for the accidents this race would have been the most boring of all time. It seems that the normal inability to overtake in Monaco compounded the current tyre issues. It simply wasn't worth haranging someone and ruining your tyres when it's almost impossible to overtake anyway. Vettel's flying lap at the end, which he said was for "satisfaction", was very telling. Mercedes weren't really on the pace.
As for Perez; I'd agree that he needs a slap. I quite liked a couple of his audacious moves, but I disagreed that Alonso should have had to cede him the position. Alonso was ahead and only cut the corner to avoid piling into Perez. And then for Perez to blame Raikonnen for their collision was laughable. We could all see that one of his moves was going to end in tears, and it wasn't fair to have spoilt Raikonnen's race.
I'm not sure they ever can ditch the Monaco race. It's too high profile. In the past weren't there non-championship races, which weren't included in the points for the year? Basically the teams would race for the prestige of winning.
Myk wrote:I'm not sure they
There's no chance of Monaco being dropped unless their Royal Family get fed up with the F1 circus turning up each year and closing their roads, which is doubtful. There are too many influential people involved who have too much to lose if Monaco is dropped. Lots of people turn up for the weekend just to do business, socialise and party, for them the racing is a mere sideshow.
That Monaco thing!?
As Susie Perry said,before the actual race , the place is one big Street Party,doesn't strictly need F1,no poor people stay IN Monaco,it's just entertainment for the local millionaires,they after all, could host there own Motorsport if the Prince so chooses,also, dropping this race would allow another Country to have a race, it only costs £43 million , you know!?
On Youtube
Peter. Found Raikonnen's passes on YT. Pretty good, OK it's on new tyres vs Pirelli's worst, but still shows he can do it when he's angry (I think he's pretty conservative in terms of battling since he came back).
Oh yes they were!!!
Paul Dargano@
The Beeb did show Kimi's passing on his last banzai lap,truly awesome!