The new Formula 1 season may only be a few races old, but the excitement levels are already rising after what has unfolded on the track. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc currently sits atop the driver’s standings, with two wins from three and seventy-one points in the bag. However, there is still plenty of time for others to stake their claim, with the Monaco Grand Prix set to be a big one.
Before the new season got underway, many felt the 2022/23 campaign would again see Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen battle it out for honours, especially after what happened on the final day of last season. However, at the time of writing, Verstappen, who was victorious in Saudi Arabia, sits in sixth on twenty-five points, with Hamilton one place and three points ahead of him on twenty-eight.
So, as we look ahead to the Monaco Grand Prix, which will take place on Sunday, 29 May, the likes of Hamilton and Verstappen have ground to make up if they’re to be in the mix come the backend of the campaign. Others within the top ten, such as Lando Norris, who races for McLaren, a team backed by PartyCasino, will also see this as an opportunity to pick up valuable points and close the gap on those above them in the current standings.
What’s worth noting ahead of Formula One’s visit to the infamous street track is what unfolded in last year’s race. Charles Leclerc, who currently leads the way in the driver’s standings, secured pole. Hamilton recorded the fastest lap. But, it was Verstappen who came out on top in the ace, with Hamilton finishing in seventh and Leclerc having driveshaft hub issues, which prevented him from racing. Hamilton, however, will surely fancy his chances after winning on the track in 2019, 2016 and in 2008.
In terms of 2022’s Monaco Grand Prix, it’s fair to say that it’s what happens between then and now that will really count. The work put in, and the performances in Italy, Miami and Spain are going to be crucial. As we mentioned above, there are plenty in the chasing pack who will not only want to improve their standing but their current set-up too. Or, they could find themselves being left behind rather quickly.
The task for current leader Leclerc, however, looks a lot different. He has a considerable lead as things stand, and now the onus is on him and Ferrari to keep driving the standards to ensure he doesn’t give those around him the chance to make up ground. Ferrari appears to have their car and gameplans on point this season, with Carlos Sainz Jnr also high up the rankings in third. But, they can’t afford to rest on their laurels. Hamilton, Verstappen and even Sergio Perez are serious challengers capable of overturning deficits in the blink of an eye, and it could happen before Formula One arrives in Leclerc’s home country.
