Verstappen - Monaco win "special" as title lead secured for first time in F1 career
Verstappen - Monaco win "special" as title lead secured for first time in F1 career
Max Verstappen has revealed he is "already thinking ahead" despite realising a boyhood ambition in winning the Monaco Grand Prix.
Verstappen led all but one lap around the streets of the Principality after being promoted to pole position when Charles Leclerc failed to make the grid after damage to his Ferrari was discovered from his Saturday qualifying crash.
"It's of course so special around here to win," said the Red Bull driver. "It's also for me the first time on the podium here so an amazing race.
"It's a lot of laps around here and you really have to keep your focus but it's really cool."
He added: "You never know what is going to happen but it was all about just looking after your tyres and finding a good stop gap.
"Of course, the others went early on so that made it a bit easier for me but it was pretty much in control."
Verstappen capitalised on a tough day for Mercedes and reigning champion Lewis Hamilton to leave Monaco with a four-point lead in the drivers' standings after his title rival trailed home seventh.
Although leading the drivers' standings for the first time in his six-year F1 career, the Dutchman is solely focused on the bigger picture.
"Of course, you always want to win this grand prix," added Verstappen. "I remember when I was very little already watching this grand prix.
"When I'm standing here, of course, I am very proud but I'm mostly thinking ahead.
"It's still a very long season and, of course, this is again a great way to continue."
Williams "fantastic honour" to wave chequered flag
Verstappen was waved across the line by 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams, the tennis superstar taking a brief pause from her preparations for the French Open.
"It's such an amazing grand prix and such a fantastic honour to be here as a fan and see such incredible athletes," she said.
"We're all training really, really hard and it's always good to see amazing athletes and congratulations so it's always good to see and just be inspired really.
Asked if she had any advice for the new championship leader, Williams commented: "I don't think I'm in the position to give advice right now in this arena but good job to all the racers."
Related
Change your timezone:
Latest News
Haas announce Hulkenberg EXIT as F1 star's new team confirmed
- 3 hours ago
F1 champion claims Drive to Survive success was 'very lucky'
- 1 hour ago
F1 franchise welcomes return of INCREDIBLE feature
- 2 hours ago
F1 News Today: Red Bull star set to QUIT team as F1 driver role CONFIRMED for 2025
- 2 hours ago
F1 team set to axe BOTH star drivers
- 2 hours ago
Red Bull to lose F1 MVP as true cost of Horner saga hits
- Today 09:57
Related news
Newey exit DATE revealed as Red Bull F1 chief set to leave
Incredible statistic puts Verstappen AHEAD of Hamilton record
Horner reveals 'unhuman' Verstappen secret
Red Bull already sending parts to F1 race MONTHS away
F1 Standings
Drivers
- Oliver Bearman
- Charles Leclerc
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- Oscar Piastri
- Pierre Gasly
- Esteban Ocon
- Sergio Pérez
- Max Verstappen
- Alexander Albon
- Logan Sargeant
- Lewis Hamilton
- George Russell
- Nico Hülkenberg
- Kevin Magnussen
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Zhou Guanyu
- Daniel Ricciardo
- Yuki Tsunoda
Races
- Gulf Air Grand Prix of Bahrain 2024
- Saudi Arabian Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Australia 2024
- MSC Cruises Grand Prix of Japan 2024
- Grand Prix of China 2024
- Miami Grand Prix 2024
- Gran Premio dell'Emilia Romagna 2024
- Grand Prix of Monaco 2024
- Grand Prix du Canada 2024
- Gran Premio de España 2024
- Grand Prix of Austria 2024
- Grand Prix of Great Britain 2024
- Grand Prix of Hungary 2024
- Grand Prix of Belgium 2024
- Heineken Dutch Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Italy 2024
- Grand Prix of Azerbaijan 2024
- Grand Prix of Singapore 2024
- Grand Prix of the United States 2024
- Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Mexico 2024
- Grande Prêmio de São Paulo 2024
- Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024
- Qatar Grand Prix 2024
- Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi 2024
About GPFans
GPFans is a multi-platform, multi-language brand dedicated to Formula One coverage. We bring you all the ins and outs of the sport, 24/7, everything from up-to-the-minute news and features to the latest viral stories and clips.We believe that a new generation of exciting, outspoken drivers will make F1 more popular than ever before, and we want to give our users access to as much of their heroes as possible, on and off the track. From Lewis Hamilton to Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo to Sebastian Vettel, we provide in-depth analysis of every every Grand Prix in the season, from Australia to Abu Dhabi.
With Formula One under the new ownership of Liberty Media, how the sport is being covered is evolving, and GPFans will look to be at the heart of this progression into new media, as one of the fastest-growing sites covering the king of motorsports.
Follow us on your favorite social media channel
Corporate & Media
Innovatieweg 20C7007 CD, Doetinchem, Netherlands
+31645516860