2023 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix highlights

Oracle Red Bull Racing’s defending world champion Max Verstappen extended his lead at the top of the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship with a dominant pole-to-flag victory at the 2023 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, becoming the Red Bull Racing driver with the most Grand Prix wins ever in the process.

Not even a late heavy downpour could dampen the Dutchman’s drive as he cruised to victory number 39 of his career around the Monte Carlo street circuit by 27.9s over Fernando Alonso, while Esteban Ocon claimed the final podium spot some 36s behind Verstappen.

Victory in Moncao made it four wins from six Grands Prix for Verstappen and maintains Oracle Red Bull Racing’s unbeaten start to the 2023 season.

Team-mate Sergio Pérez endured the toughest day of his 2023 campaign date after starting from the back of the grid following a Q1 crash on Saturday. The Mexican driver fought hard all race but was limited to 16th place on the calendar’s most difficult track for overtaking.

With Pérez’s misfortune, Verstappen significantly extended his lead at the top of the Drivers’ Standings and now leads Pérez by 144 points to 105 ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen, Driver, Red Bull Racing

It’s super nice to win here again in Monaco! It was actually quite a difficult race. We were on the medium and Fernando on the hard compound, so we didn’t want the first stint to be that long, but we had to stay out. The rain also complicated it; we called for inters, and the first few laps on them were incredibly slippery. I clipped the walls a few times again, but that’s Monaco. When you are that far in the lead, you don’t want to push that hard, but you don’t want to lose too much time. We managed to stay calm and bring it home, scoring many points for the team. I, of course, will celebrate this evening with my friends and family, but tomorrow we focus on Spain.

Sergio Pérez, Driver, Red Bull Racing:

It was the worst weekend I could remember in a while; everything went wrong, and today we paid the price for a poor mistake from myself in qualifying. I’m despondent about the performance, not just today but the whole weekend. I knew yesterday would be extremely costly; ultimately, it was 25 points. The conditions were tricky out there, and there was some hope that when it started raining, we could get things right, but we didn’t. It was a shame. I don’t think we could have done much differently; all the damage was done yesterday. I want to move on from this race because it was a terrible weekend. I still have hope in the Championship, but I know I cannot afford another zero in a race, so I really hope to return to my normal level in Barcelona. I need to be perfect in the next few races. I need to get victories and get them soon. I’m happy we are racing again in a few days.

CHRISTIAN HORNER – CEO and Team Principal, Red Bull Racing

Winning here is special; it always means just that little bit more. Every driver wants this one on their CV, and for us, it’s our third in a row for the team and our seventh in total here in Monaco. Coming into this weekend, we knew this would be our biggest challenge of the season so far, and Monaco threw everything at Max today. He managed the medium tyre and then the changing conditions well, switched to the intermediate tyre and saw it home. Another fantastic drive. Unfortunately, it was a difficult weekend for Checo. Despite his best efforts, there was very little he could do after yesterday’s qualifying. Knowing Checo, though, he will learn from his mistakes and respond quickly in Spain. What we’re seeing here at Track is just the shop window to everything happening daily back at the factory. The win here today is representative of the performance and dedication of the team on a wider scale. A brilliant win with many lessons but one we will certainly savour.

Red Bull Racing Honda best pictures:

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – MAY 26: Sergio Perez of Mexico driving the (11) Oracle Red Bull Racing RB19 on track during practice ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 26, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – MAY 27: Pole position qualifier Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Second placed qualifier Fernando Alonso of Spain and Aston Martin F1 Team talk in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the 2023 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 27, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – MAY 28: Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrates on the podium during the 2023 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 28, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – MAY 28: <> during the 2023 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 28, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – MAY 28: <> during the 2023 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 28, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – MAY 28: Tom Holland and Neymar pose for a photo with the Red Bull Racing team prior to the 2023 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix at Circuit de Monaco on May 28, 2023 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

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