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14:02 Alonso points his car across towards Raikkonen. We have a full grid and the lights are on. One, two, three, four, five... 14:01 Button radios in with a clutch issue - could hurt his start. Rosberg takes up his slot on pole position with Hamilton a long way further back 14:00 Rosberg leads the field away on the formation lap. Bianchi hasn't got away though and he's having to be wheeled off the grid. 13:59 Just the team members left on the grid as the engines fire up. This is always an exciting time in Monaco. Ricciardo is the highest starter on soft tyres. Grosjean, Gutierrez and Massa also on soft 13:58 As you might have noticed on our grid on the left, Max Chilton has dropped to the back having had to change his gearbox ahead of the race. That promotes Felipe Massa up one place, but he won't be hopeful of getting too much further today. 13:57 We've not had a safety car so far this season. Something tells me that might change today. 13:55 Five minutes until lights out and the throngs of people on the grid finally start to clear. 13:53 Marius emails in to say: "I think Merc was a logical choice for this test as they fared the worst with the compounds. There may be a window of advantage for Merc, but how will we gauge it?" It's a big question today. Mercedes might have made gains as a result or not, but this track is not tough on the tyres and it was a lot of people's favourites (including mine) before the weekend and before we knew about the test. I agree that it made sense to use a team that was heavy on its tyres, and if Pirelli was able to conceal everything as it says then I don't think Mercedes has done everything wrong as the FIA cleared it. 13:51 A touch of Monaco's excess...
13:48 As always we'd like to hear from you during the race and will try our very best to respond to any questions or comments. You can do so in one of two ways, either email us using the link above or get in touch via Twitter @ESPNF1 13:45 We are fifteen minutes from lights out and tyres will still be the talk of the race as the lead Mercedes try and one-stop. If they have to stop twice, it will open the door for Red Bull, and if RBR has to stop twice then Kimi Raikkonen is sitting pretty. With overtaking so difficult it's all about strategy. 13:41 It's a story that will run and run you sense, with Red Bull having lodged an official protest before the race in search of "clarity". The stories are up on the site for you to have a look at, and from now on we'll try and focus on the race! 13:39: But with two Mercedes on the front row of the grid and a very good chance of winning this weekend, the controversy will only escalate over the rest of the day. 13:35: The cars are heading to the track as I type, but the big news this morning is that Red Bull has protested a private Pirelli tyre test conducted with a 2013 Mercedes car. On the surface the test appears to be in breach of the testing ban, but the question is whether Pirelli's right to go testing overrules that. Mercedes said it had permission from the FIA and Pirelli has played down the significance of the test. 13:30: Welcome to ESPN's live race coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix. The cars are heading to the track, the sun is shining and there is a whiff of controversy in the air (not to be mistaken for the smelly Monaco drains). |
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Lap 1 |
Good start from Vettel but the Mercedes together hold off the Red Bulls. Contact further back as Hamilton has to hold off Vettel and the two McLarens touch! Top six as you were, then Perez and Button together |
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Lap 2 |
Maldonado pits with a broken front wing, as is van der Garde with the same damage. Van der Garde actually ran in to the back of the Williams. Hamilton defending from Vettel in to Tabac. That Red Bull looking quick. Rosberg has a bit of a gap ahead |
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Lap 3 |
Rosberg has a 1.1s lead while Hamilton has a train behind him to Alonso in sixth. Perez and Button still very close together as well and Perez sets the fastest lap. Yellow flags out for debris but no safety car this early |
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Lap 4 |
Hamilton edges back towards Rosberg. The Mercedes are carefully managing the pace at the front. Button complains that Perez cut the chicane and that he needs to stop turning in on him. Di Resta is told "Generally all cars at the same pace" |
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Lap 5 |
Button has dropped off slightly but ten seconds still cover the top 13. Alonso looking a bit slow on this lap, perhaps all trying to look after their tyres. Van der Garde has just set the fastest lap, that's how slow the Mercedes are going |
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Lap 6 |
Rosberg leads by 1.1s, and Vettel is a little bit off the back of Hamilton now. Maldonado and van der Garde might be adrift at the back but they're the fastest guys on the track and catching the rest of the field again |
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Lap 7 |
Hamilton needs to back the field up some more if he is going to help Rosberg win from here. Sounds odd but it's Mercedes only chance. Raikkonen close behind Webber but Alonso has dropped 2.2s off the back of the Lotus |
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Lap 8 |
Poor Massa is still stuck down in 18th place, but he;s only 15s off the lead such is the field spread. Maldonado sets the fastest lap down in 21st place - quite surprising we have no retirements yet. Bianchi started from the pits and is right behind his team-mate Chilton who was given the hurry up by the team |
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Lap 9 |
Webber is told that the gaps are not opening and to look after the tyres.
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Lap 10 |
We continue under yellow for now despite a huge amount of smoke. Di Resta rounds the Caterham and pits, then rejoins ahead of Maldonado. He's on to softs. Rosberg leads by 1.4s and Hamilton is now 1.6s clear of Vettel. Looks like the Red Bulls now trying to look after their tyres |
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Lap 11 |
Track is clear again, good work from the marshals. Alonso is 3.5s behind Raikkonen and has Button right behind him - not sure when the McLaren's changed position but Button is ahead. Button is told to try and put Alonso under some pressure. It turns out the FIA told McLaren Perez had to give Button the place; that's because Button complained on the radio! |
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Lap 12 |
Di Resta sets the fastest lap. Rosberg now 1.7s clear of Hamilton and the same gap to Vettel. Webber is 1.3s behind his team-mate and has Raikkonen right behind him. Alonso in sixth to Massa in 16th is just nine seconds |
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Lap 13 |
Robert asks: "Hi, do you think we will see Mercedes loosing race pace again on the Monaco track and Red Bull overtaking like they have been in the last 2 races?" I think if Mercedes can make this a one stop race then they will be OK, but the final laps will be VERY interesting on old tyres... It's as you were up front, Vettel now 2s behind Hamilton. Mercedes controlling the pace well. |
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Lap 14 |
The cars are starting to spread out a bit. To be honest not a lot is happening right now as the drivers look after their tyres - all the drama will come later on. I'm sure it's more exciting in the cockpit though |
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Lap 15 |
Button is trying to make it interesting by putting pressure on Alonso. We have an overtake too as di Resta passes Bianchi for P18 using DRS towards Turn One Perez asked if the tyres are OK and just replies "Yes". I think we're looking at one-stoppers at this pace. |
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Lap 16 |
Mercedes look to be preparing tyres in the garage. Surely too early to stop though? Rosberg is told his "pace management is very good and we're happy with the gaps you are creating" Alonso now four seconds behind Raikkonen but that's by choice as he looks after his tyres, |
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Lap 17 |
Vettel is 4.1s behind Rosberg and over two behind Hamilton. Strange watching cars trying to manage gaps rather than attack each other (even though we know overtaking is so difficult). Mercedes seem happy right now, Hamilton also told he is doing a good job. Massa is told Alonso backed off to save the tyres and Alonso is putting his foot down again |
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Lap 18 |
And Alonso is as he takes almost a second out of Raikkonen over two laps. Rosberg with his personal best lap and he's 2.5s clear of Hamilton. Vettel 2.3s further back as the top five are covered by seven seconds |
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Lap 19 |
Through comes Rosberg again and the onboards show he is really taking it easy. Chilton is just 1.5s behind di Resta - he's matching pace no trouble at all in the Marussia. |
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Lap 20 |
The gaps aren't growing at the moment, but once we get pit stops and the race unfolds later it will get good. Hopefully. Alonso continues to close on the back of Raikkonen again and he's bringing everyone else with him |
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Lap 21 |
Just as I say that, Alonso loses 0.6s to Raikkonen. Rosberg is told to ramp the pace up a bit by about 0.4s per lap. Hamilton is told to ramp the pace up to "target 20.9, last lap 21.6" |
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Lap 22 |
A pair of 1m21.1s from the Mercedes and as you would expect that's matched by everyone now. In a strategic sense, Mercedes is doing very well. As a spectacle right now, not so good. |
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Lap 23 |
Bianchi is told to pit. He was struggling and 7.4s behind his team-mate Chilton. Ricciardo pits too having started on softs. Pit stops will lead to gaps and that will allow the leaders to pit and rejoin in clearer air. |
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Lap 24 |
Rosberg down in to the 1m20s. Bianchi v Maldonado in to the Nouvelle Chicane and Bianchi holds the position despite a slight bit of contact. May have caused his problem to make him pit though. The pace has definitely just ramped up all over the field as everyone tries to close back up to the Mercedes ahead of potential stops. Webber with the fastest lap in the 1m19s |
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Lap 25 |
Rosberg is told to bring it up again, as is Hamilton. It's another half a second per lap that Mercedes wants from its drivers. Vettel with the fastest middle sector - the hammer is down. Will he pit? No, it's Webber in the pits. |
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Lap 26 |
Soft tyres for Webber, where will he rejoin? Vettel had just set the fastest lap. Webber rejoins in clear air behind Hulkenberg in 11th place. If he can really pump one in now he could jump his team-mate. Di Resta uses DRS and passes Massa round the outside of Ste Devote. Lovely move. Raikkonen pits, so does Button. |
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Lap 27 |
Raikkonen rejoins behind Webber and Button behind him. Webber has already caught Hulkenberg and is going to be held up. Rosberg and Hamilton told to really pick up the pace. Ricciardo sets the fastest lap in clear air down in 17th |
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Lap 28 |
Mercedes are in to the 1m19s now as Rosberg leads by 2.6s. Vettel is 1.2s back but now the Merc's are trying to pull away. Hulkenberg pits - that will help Webber. |
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Lap 29 |
Good lap from Rosberg - it's the fastest lap of the race. They do have the pace when they need it. Alonso pits and puts on softs. Webber with the fastest lap and he's ahead of Alonso. Raikkonen only just stays ahead of Alonso too.
Webber still has 2.6s ahead of him of clear air. |
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Lap 30 |
It's another big one for Massa. Surely a safety car? Double waved yellows for now. It's the exact same crash he had in FP3. So strange. Vettel pits for soft tyres just as the safety car is deployed! |
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Lap 31 |
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Lap 32 |
Update on Massa: He is out of the car but has a neck brace on and the doctor is with him. He's sat up but being attended to. He went in at high speed but I think it's precautionary. The safety car has picked up Rosberg at the swimming pool chicane. |
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Lap 33 |
Galling for Hamilton. The safety car picked up Vettel initially but then released him very early as he was not the leader. As the two Mercedes' pit, the Red Bulls could go quicker and managed to get around in time to jump Hamilton. Ironically, Vettel could have been picked up again as the leader had he jumped Rosberg too |
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Lap 34 |
The Ferrari has long since been cleared from Ste Devote, but we're still behind the safety car as the medical car is down with Massa. Replays show di Resta with another good move around the outside of Ste Devote earlier, this time on Gutierrez |
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Lap 35 |
Van der Garde is told he can overtake as he is the only man who is a lap down. Off goes van der Garde. Bianchi pits for a fresh set of soft tyres - basically a free stop for him. |
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Lap 36 |
Looks like Massa has left Ste Devote now with the doctors to go to the medical centre. Looks like at least one more lap behind the safety car, so van der Garde takes a free stop too. |
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Lap 37 |
Hamilton told to keep the car cool. He must be seething behind the wheel at his poor luck. The medical car has just left Ste Devote, so we'll do one more lap behind the safety car. |
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Lap 38 |
SAFETY CAR IN THIS LAP. Now Rosberg has Vettel right behind him and will need to try and go to the end of the race on these tyres while defending. The lights have gone off and Rosberg starts to back up the field and then goes |
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Lap 39 |
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Lap 40 |
Rosberg leads by 1.9s at the end of that first lap. Vettel is told not to expect Rosberg's tyres to just fall off and to maintain the gap as he needs it. Webber having to defend from Hamilton - the Merc's looking very quick right now. Hamilton dives down the inside of Rascasse but Webber just holds on! Great driving from both. DRS is enabled. |
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Lap 41 |
No contact, but so close together. really impressive stuff from both drivers. Vettel is backing everyone up now and Webber has DRS too so manages to defend from Hamilton. |
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Lap 42 |
Alonso goes wide at Loews to give Button a chance and Button taps the Ferrari. Then Perez dives up the inside of his team-mate in to the Nouvelle Chicane! Great move. |
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Lap 43 |
Rosberg leads by 1.4s and now we're getting back to a train again. 13s cover all 20 runners. Rosberg is in the high 1m23s. Hamilton is told to look after his tyres to attack Webber at the end. |
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Lap 44 |
Perez is on it! He dives up the inside of Alonso in to the Nouvelle Chicane but the Ferrari cuts part of it to hold on to the place. Surely he'll have to give that back... |
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Lap 45 |
Rosberg's lead up to two seconds. I think Alonso is going to have to let Perez through - he'd have lost the place but for cutting the corner.
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Lap 46 |
The Tecpro barrier has been pulled right across the track and needs repairing. Everyone back on to the grid to line up again. Replays show Chilton had cut the Nouvelle Chicane defending from Gutierrez. He then went to the inside to defend from Maldonado and as he returned to the racing line it launched the Williams in to the air. He hit the ground again before the barrier, but went in hard. We'll get a ten minute warning before the race restarts, so many drivers are out of their cars. Unfortunately tyre changes are allowed so we'll see everyone putting on a fresh set of softs if they have them. That certainly helps Webber who pit quite early. Siddhesh asks: "How will the restart go? Under the safety car?" Yes, when we are given the ten minute warning we will have a restart behind the safety car. Hamilton apologises to Mercedes over the radio for losing out to the Red Bulls. It appears he backed off too much on his way in to the pits. Yitzchok emails in to ask: "Why hasn't Alonso given the place to Perez?" Well we had the red flag soon after, but Martin Whitmarsh seems to believe he has been told to give the place up. He might do that on the restart. Work still ongoing on the barriers and a track sweeper is out. Most drivers are out of their cars and off the grid for now. Ten minute warning: The race will restart at 15:35. Brilliant scenes from Alonso. Replays show that when the drivers pulled on to the grid, he jumped out and walked over to Perez indicating they should swap places. There's a word and a handshake between the two. Engines are being fired up on the grid. The incident between Chilton and Maldonado is under investigation and I think Chilton will get a penalty for that one. We'll see how hefty it is - he's kept his nose clean so far this season as a rookie to be fair. 32 laps to go in this race and nobody will want to stop again. Thomas asks: "Does the time of the red flag count in the 2 hour max?" No it doesn't, the clock stopped so we'll get the full laps in. Slightly surprisingly it's super-soft tyres on everyone at the front. Raikkonen is on softs but the top ten all on super-soft |
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Lap 47 |
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Lap 48 |
Chilton gets a drive through for causing a collision. |
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Lap 49 |
Rosberg leads by 0.7s. Hamilton attacks Webber but nothing doing. Alonso alongside Perez but Perez defends well. Vettel is backing the pack up already - he may struggle slightly later in the race on super-soft tyres. |
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Lap 50 |
DRS is enabled. Rosberg leads by 1,2s while Vettel has a train behind him. Can Hamilton find the way past that he so nearly found before the red flag? |
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Lap 51 |
I would love to see Webber have a go at Vettel... Rosberg now leads by 1.4s. This is much more like it - quicker pace but not electric yet. |
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Lap 52 |
Rosberg continues to pull away. Sutil with a good move on Button at Loews and he's up to P8. We've got drivers racing now, there will be no more stops to try and make positions so it's all out on track. |
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Lap 53 |
Rosberg's lead is 1.8s. From Vettel backwards everyone is very close. Perez attacks Raikkonen in to the Nouvelle Chicane but they both have to miss the chicane so Raikkonen holds on. |
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Lap 54 |
Vettel pegs Rosberg back for the first time. Perez is told his tyre management is very good - that despite trying to dive up the inside of Raikkonen! Sutil looking quick behind Alonso too. Everyone's in a row but you can see who looks bullish. |
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Lap 55 |
Hamilton warned he is punishing his tyres trying to find a way past Webber. Alonso defends from Sutil through Loews. Rosberg leads by two seconds and is looking comfortable out front at present. |
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Lap 56 |
Make that 2.7s. 1st to van der Garde in 17th is just 13.8s - basically all in one line. Perez almost taps the back of Raikkonen in to the Nouvelle Chicane, he looks great under braking there. |
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Lap 57 |
Gutierrez is concerned he won't make the end on these tyres. If everyone has that problem then Raikkonen is sitting pretty on the softs. Sutil with another fantastic move at Loews - this time on Alonso. Brilliant stuff! Sutil was so quick through the corner too, fantastic. |
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Lap 58 |
Rosberg leads by 2.8s. Every gap from there back to Gutierrez in 12th is less than a second. Next up on Sutil's list is Perez in sixth: both of them have looked quick today. |
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Lap 59 |
Hamilton now told to look after his tyres a bit - he just isn't that close behind Webber any more. Perez is warned how Sutil has made it past the last two cars and to be wary at Loews. |
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Lap 60 |
18 laps to go and the tyres should really spice it up late on. |
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Lap 61 |
Still under yellows so nobody can overtake in to the first corner. Rosberg has now pulled away by 4.1s from Vettel. Vettel is just looking after his own tyres for now as all of his championship contenders are behind him. |
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Lap 62 |
Still only 10s between Vettel in second and Gutierrez in 16th. DRS is re-enabled after Bianchi's car is cleared.
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Lap 63 |
Probably not what Rosberg wanted having built up a comfortable lead and left the Red Bulls behind. |
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Lap 64 |
Ricciardo radios in "You can probably guess the driver". Looks like he misjudged the braking point. Marshalls are out clearing up all the debris and hopefully we won't be under the safety car for too long. Grosjean retires, his suspension could have been damaged. |
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Lap 65 |
Incident under investigation between Grosjean and Ricciardo. One more lap behind the safety car as the debris is still being cleared. Raikkonen seems to have engine trouble, being told he's losing water from the engine because it's too hot. |
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Lap 66 |
SAFETY CAR IN THIS LAP. Rosberg following closely through the swimming pool though. Good restart in the end and he leads by 0.8s. |
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Lap 67 |
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Lap 68 |
Hamilton hasn't stayed that close behind Webber this time. Rosberg leads by 1.4s. Just a thought - if we get another collision or two late on then van der Garde in 14th might start coming in to points contention... |
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Lap 69 |
Rosberg's broken the DRS gap and leads by 1.8s. Hamilton seems to have sorted his tyres now as DRS is enabled and closes up to 0.4s behind Webber. Looks like contact between Raikkonen and Perez... Both continue and hold position |
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Lap 70 |
Replays show Perez was trying to go up the inside and Raikkonen moved across to squeeze him. Raikkonen then pinched Perez between his own car and the wall, so damage for Perez's front wing. Raikkonen has a puncture! |
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Lap 71 |
Raikkonen has to pit and that's his afternoon ruined. Button takes advantage too and passes Alonso out of Rascasse as the field was backed up behind Raikkonen. Perez holding up Sutil now, but his car seems OK. Can't help but think Raikkonen should have left more space. |
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Lap 72 |
The top four are away now, Rosberg leads by 2.1s, Webber 1.4s further back and Hamilton right behind the second Red Bull. Gutierrez has pit and is quick on fresh tyres. He's 13th but set the fastest lap. |
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Lap 73 |
Perez is two seconds off the pace but he's pulled away through the tunnel. Perez then cuts the chicane after outbraking himself.
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Lap 74 |
Perez slid wide at Rascasse and then couldn't duck in to the pits as everyone streamed past so parked it at the final corner. Sutil is up to fifth place ahead of Button and on for good points. |
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Lap 75 |
Rosberg leads by four seconds and Vettel now has Webber closing up on him... This could get tasty. Hamilton's dropped off the back of Webber slightly. |
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Lap 76 |
Raikkonen sets the fastest lap down in 13th place. He's caught up to the likes of Gutierrez now and the train from Sutil back so no more progress for him. Rosberg extends his lead to 4.4s. Perez was told his brakes had broken and that's why he had to retire. |
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Lap 77 |
Two laps remaining and Rosberg is heading for his second victory. Vettel is told to "bring it home", while Hamilton tries to apply pressure to Webber again. Vettel is told where Alonso and Raikkonen are - championship definitely in his thoughts. |
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Lap 78 |
Vettel does't heed that warning though as he does the fastest lap. All about the stats isn't he? Rosberg still leads by 3s as he starts the final lap. Rocky warns Vettel "You won't get another point for that" Vettel replies "But satisfaction" Webber and Hamilton both well spaced.
30 years after his father, Nico takes his second win. Vettel is second, Webber third and Hamilton fourth. Raikkonen has stolen a point! Where did that come from?! He's made up so many places in the last two laps and jumps Hulkenberg to take the final point. |
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Rosberg says "this is so special for me" on the radio as he returns to the grid. Parc Ferme here is on the start finish line, and Rosberg takes his helmet off before standing on his car and celebrating. Rosberg picks out his girlfriend and celebrates with them before climbing up on to the steps of the Monaco podium. Prince Albert hands him the trophy and he lifts it to the team. Vettel points to his team after finishing second, with Webber looking happy enough with third. Brawn lifts the constructors' trophy, but unfortunately there is still a cloud over all of this as Mercedes was racing under protest from Red Bull and Ferrari regarding its test with Pirelli. A few of you seem to think that my comment about Vettel's fastest lap stat was biased against him - not at all, I love it that the history means that much to him to the extend he will ignore the team. The radio exchange was very amusing with Rocky saying it "gives us no satisfaction up here". That said, Rosberg was just the quickest man all weekend and he's only lacking the fastest lap after quickest times in FP1, FP2, FP3, qualifying and leading every lap. As Rosberg is lifted on to the shoulders of some of his mechanics in celebration it's time for us to sign off. Thank you so much for joining us for the race, it's been a hectic race but a deserved winner. How will the appeal affect things? We'll have all the fallout for you on the website so make sure you stay on ESPNF1.com. |
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Fire in Pic's car as he's parked at the pit lane entrance. Safety car?
Vettel has kept ahead of Webber as a result. Mercedes need to pit both cars now. Both pit at the same time on to soft tyres. The safety car has released the Red Bulls though and they are AHEAD of Hamilton
Good restart from Rosberg, he got 0.9s over Vettel with that. No DRS for a few laps. Vettel is nowhere near Rosberg at this stage but Alonso is right behind Raikkonen... Kimi defends in to the Nouvelle Chicane
Big shunt for Maldonado. Big one. He's out of the car and OK, which is good to see. He hit the back of Chilton approaching Tabac and was launched in to the barriers.
NICO ROSBERG WINS THE MONACO GRAND PRIX!
