Monaco Grand Prix: Prediction

Monaco. The venue, the atmosphere, the track. Nothing beats it.

The most notoriously difficult circuit to overtake on, the principality hosts THE Formula One weekend. It’s everyone’s favourite.

Normally, if you get yourself on pole, the win is yours – unless of course you have a Ricciardo 2016 moment. But this year feels different. Coronavirus robbed us of a 2020 edition of the famous street race and every driver wants to make up for lost time because, whether you’re running at the front of the grid or the back of it, you can’t help but love it.

And we now have two constructors going head to head for the World Championship for the first time in the best part of a decade. What’s more, the team that are slightly behind in the race predominantly boast the best car around Monaco.

In Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing now have a true rival to Max Verstappen and the Mexican crossed the line with a 1:12.487 to top the timing charts in FP1 on Thursday. It’s mad to think that the Mexican is already so far behind in the drivers’ title standings but if his career has taught us one thing, it’s that you should never count him out. Hamilton and Verstappen are the two to beat, of course they are, but the season is still in its adolescence so if Checo can stick it on pole on Sunday, why can’t he begin a comeback?

Another man who needs a good weekend is Monegasque youngster Charles Leclerc. Now in his fifth year in Formula 1, he is yet to finish at his home Grand Prix – something that can weigh heavy on a racing driver’s mind. But when he stuck the famous red car on top spot ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz with a 1:11.684 in FP2, more than a few eyebrows were raised. Can the Ferraris cause one hell of an upset?

Before I let my imagination run wild, there's one more name I want to throw into the podium mix - Lando Norris.

The young Brit was awarded a new two-year deal by McLaren after making his best-ever start to an F1 season and is evidently in Zak Brown's plans for the future. With Lando stating that he wants to "win races and Championships" with the historic team, it's a match made in heaven. Don't even get me started on their Gulf livery. Phwoar.

Sensibly speaking, though, it would be very surprising to not see Red Bull and Mercedes lock out the podium yet again. The Black Arrows seem to have their rivals beaten when it comes to strategy - well beaten in fact - but that's not going to stop the Bulls from fighting every inch of the way. Oh how I dream of a repeat of 2019.

What I don't want to see, mind you, is Christian Horner's team instantly favour Max if he out-qualifies Perez. IF. I want to see both drivers given an equal, fair crack at the race win and, if they both put a clean race together, I can definitely see them eating into Mercedes' lead massively this weekend.

Or, we could see five safety cars, a thunderstorm and a Tsunoda win.