the Monaco Grand Prix kept unraveling long after Sergio Pérez crossed the line, with the FIA citing an electrical fault that delayed the start and debates about Ferrari’s pit exit line, plus Red Bulls and Mercedes adding fuel to the chatter as Fernando Alonso drew attention for his tire strategy.
Hamilton and Toto Wolff annoyed by Alonso
Mercedes had a tough race, and Lewis Hamilton was far from his best. George Russell, meanwhile, showed consistency in every race with the W13, becoming the only driver to score in every event and staying in the top five.
In Monaco, Hamilton finished outside the podium in eighth place, trailing Alonso’s A522. The Alpine driver opted to manage the tires to avoid another pit stop that could drop him further back. The season has highlighted the A522 as a car prone to tire wear, although Monaco is not the harshest track on rubber.
Alonso’s approach left rivals stuck behind, with most cars chasing more than a 45-second gap to the leader. Lando Norris even earned a late pit stop to set the fastest lap, edging ahead of Alonso in the closing stages. Two notable interruptions affected the order: Ocon incurred a five-second penalty after contact with Hamilton, and Hamilton himself was left with limited tire life and reduced pace.
The team principal Toto Wolff stepped forward to defend Alonso’s plan, noting that the circuit’s rhythm can confine faster cars behind slower ones. He commented that spectators see a grand show, but the race can feel out of balance when a procession slows the pace. Hamilton admitted the Monaco problem is notorious; once positioned behind another car, it can be hard to gain back ground, even when qualifying behind them.
Alonso defended himself
The Asturian driver spoke after the finish, initially hinting at a car issue before quickly revealing a tire-management strategy that allowed him to push later in the race. He acknowledged that covering 33 laps on equal tires was ambitious, and he highlighted the moment when Ocon received a five-second penalty as a turning point. Hamilton, by contrast, had fewer fresh tires and less motivation to surge forward, leading Alonso to sense some frustration from the rival.
A social post from Alonso’s official channel later captured the moment: his tire work was intense, and he sent a pointed remark toward Hamilton as the race wore on. The message underscored the tension that often accompanies Monaco’s tight battlefield.
one more fight
After years on the grid, Hamilton and Alonso are more than mere rivals; they stand among a group of current and recent champions, alongside Verstappen and, in earlier seasons, Vettel and Raikkonen. Monaco has a way of reigniting old feuds, recalling the McLaren-Mercedes days in 2007 when Alonso, Hamilton, and Ron Dennis were at the center of a storm.
The 2007 Monaco clash is still remembered as a flashpoint for the relationship between teams and drivers. A former McLaren insider described the tensions as a prelude to bigger conflicts, noting how the team’s internal dynamics can influence performance. The story of Alonso’s speed versus the team’s data underlined why the two drivers remained at odds despite shared goals.
In later years, the dynamic continued to evolve. The two champions have traded moments of brilliance and disagreement across the grid, illustrating that when two high-caliber rivals push hard, sparks tend to fly on the track rather than in quiet, orderly competition.
Hungary 2021 offered a memorable confrontation when Alonso constrained Hamilton for several laps with a less competitive car, keeping him from reclaiming first place and allowing Esteban Ocon to take the win. The race radio captured the tension, with Hamilton voicing concern about the risk of such moves at high speed. The episode remains a landmark in the Hamilton-Alonso narrative and a reminder of how tactical patience and pace shape outcomes.
A fresh reaction from Alonso after the duel emphasized his calculated approach: every late lap mattered, and delaying the final push could still yield victory when the opportunity appeared as gold.