The second restart of the race in dry conditions offered us a monotonous second part marked by an extreme strategy of Fernando Alonso in relation to their tires. The Spanish retained Lewis Hamilton to the point of making him lose half a minute. This did not sit well with the German team, who purposely hurt the race of Stephen Ocon.
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth
Hamilton, who was riding in eighth position, might not overtake Alonso in more than half an hour, despite the very slow pace of the Spaniard in the first few minutes. The reason was that Fernando was aware that if he increased his speed in the Principality, his wheels would not make it to the end of the race alive.
This was the reason why the pilot of Alpine he dropped one, two, or even more than three seconds a lap, creating a half-minute gap on the sixth-place finisher. Alonso also acknowledged that it was “extremely simple” hold Lewis behind, which made Toto Wolff and company very angry.
The reaction was immediate and Mercedes had an ace up her sleeve. The German formation took revenge and deprived the team led by Otmar Szafnauer of adding two extra points with Ocon. The French driver, who was just behind Hamilton in ninth position, was dragging a five second penalty for causing a previous contact, precisely, with the seven-time world champion.
This penalty was vital for Mercedes give Alpine the coin back following the damage Alonso caused with his semi-intentional jam. With just a few minutes left to finish the Monegasque test, Lewis received this instruction over the radio: “Alonso is going to increase his pace to try to help Ocon with his penalty. He has Valtteri and Vettel behind him and he will lose places if you keep him”.
It was a full-fledged declaration of intent. Fernando improved his lap times to help his teammate, but Hamilton spoiled the Frenchman’s party. Esteban crossed the finish line blocked and less than three tenths behind the Briton, who complied with the recommendation of the wall of strategists. Due, The Frenchman dropped three places and was left out of the points: 12th.
Alpine played with Mercedes and the Germans fought back. Hamilton fans cried out for justice and got it. These are the little details that happen in Monaco, a circuit where it is impossible to overtakeso ingenuity always becomes the best tool to defeat rivals.
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