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Formula 1
Monaco GP
F1 Monaco GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2023 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix.
The 2023 Monaco Grand Prix is the sixth round of the season, though was set to be the seventh had it not been for the Emilia Romagna GP's cancellation due to a weather emergency.
Max Verstappen starts on pole for the 78-lap grand prix around the streets of Monte Carlo, having edged Fernando Alonso in a thrilling Q3.
The sister Red Bull of Sergio Perez will start from the back of the grid after a Q1 crash, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc goes from sixth after being hit with a grid penalty.
The 2023 Monaco GP begins at 2pm BST.
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Four laps completed already, and Verstappen has a 2.2s advantage over Alonso, Ocon having dropped 5.1s back.
DRS is enabled, but only Leclerc of the top six was close enough to the car ahead to activate it last time around as they started lap six.
Russell's start infringement has been investigated and no further action has been taken. No penalty for him.
The tyre discrepancy between the two leaders means we won't get much of an on-track battle now, but it will become a question of how close can Alonso stay to Verstappen on harder tyres - a bit like the roles played by Verstappen and Perez respectively in Miami.
Stopwatch
Fastest lap of the race belongs to Perez in 18th at the moment on a 1m16.269s.
Alonso was one tenth faster than Verstappen last time around, keeping the gap at 2.3s for the time being.
On lap eight there were just 0.006s between the leaders, Alonso marginally quicker. How much more pace has Verstappen got in his pocket that he's electing not to use to keep his tyres in shape?
Ocon has fallen 10s off the lead in third, but isn't truly under threat for the position from Sainz. No point in burning up his tyres to stay close to Alonso for the Alpine driver, who is running at a pace he knows can keep the pursuing Ferrari behind.
There's been little movement outside of the top six, with Gasly still chasing Leclerc in seventh from Russell, Tsunoda and Norris.
Perez is right onto the rear of Stroll now as he looks to grab 17th, but making a move won't be easy.
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"It's all about the left-rear, we're happy to use the fronts to protect the rears," Alonso is told by his team. Verstappen inches the gap out to above 3s for the first time with 10 laps complete.
Sainz now looks like he's having a bit more of a go at Ocon, and makes a misjudgement at the Nouvelle Chicane! He almost plunged into the back of the Alpine and has to go over the run-off area.
In fact, he did clip the right-rear of the Alpine and breaks the left-hand endplate on his front wing. Ferrari mechanics ready in the pits for a new one to be fitted, but Sainz continues on for now.
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"I think he moved a bit late in the braking to be honest," bemoans Sainz, who is asking his team how long he'll have to live with the damage.
Red Bull will be frustrated at Ferrari's decision to keep Sainz out, as Perez would have gained a position in his charge up the field. He's still down in 18th.
Making a stop at this early phase of the race would plunge Sainz into traffic and make for a long afternoon.
"Maybe a puncture," worries Alonso. "All okay," is the response from his team, who confirm that he's not touched the wall. Verstappen now 5.3s ahead on lap 14.
Ocon is now 16.5s down on the leader in third and a traffic jam is beginning to form, with Sainz not going away in fourth and Hamilton closing too.
We have a fun battle here headed by Sargeant in 15th, with Magnussen, Stroll, Perez and Zhou in tow. Hulkenberg is just a bit further behind.
Ocon's lack of pace holding up the cars behind is a gift for Verstappen, who may soon have a big enough gap to slot into after making his pitstop.
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Russell is told "some medium runners are complaining of graining", presumably to reassure the the Mercedes driver that the hard tyres he's on at the moment is the right compound to be on.
Ocon sets his best lap of the race but it's over a second slower than Verstappen's personal best. The Red Bull man has inched his lead out to 6.4s over Alonso, and up to 19s on Ocon starting lap 17.
This gaggle of cars behind Sargeant will be frustrating for Perez, as his car and his front tyres will be getting quite hot. Also, if someone ahead goes into the wall, he's in a real danger zone.
Magnussen makes a nice move on Sargeant into Turn 5 to move into 15th.
Big move for Magnussen given he's on hard tyres and Sargeant is on mediums, which are clearly fading as Stroll and Perez have mugged him at the end of this lap 18.
Magnussen did lock up both fronts briefly on his way through on Sargeant, almost making contact with the Williams driver.
Pit stop
Bottas has taken 13th from Albon at the hairpin, with the latter in the pits now for hard tyres.
Verstappen now has enough of a margin on Ocon to pit and rejoin ahead of the Alpine. A 1m16.712s on his lap 18 is his best of the race, and second only to Perez's earlier gambit on much newer rubber.
Hulkenberg has managed to get past Zhou somewhere and is now all over Sargeant coming through the tunnel.
Hulkenberg executes a clean overtake into the chicane out of the tunnel to move ahead of Sargeant.
Alonso responds on lap 20 with his fastest effort so far with a 1m17.130s but it's still four tenths off Verstappen's best. The gap between them is 8.4s.
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"Box to overtake Ocon," Ferrari inform Sainz.
Pit stop
Sargeant has now pitted for fresh hard tyres and re-joins last behind team-mate Albon.
Despite Sainz's aero deficit Hamilton hasn't looked particularly close to the Ferrari. His mediums are clearly graining. Sainz has a predicament though - if he pits too soon, ditching his hards, it will be a big ask to take mediums to the end.
Another personal best from Verstappen on lap 22, a 1m16.659s, inches his lead out to 10.6s over Alonso who was 1.3s slower on that lap.
Stroll is scrambling over the back of Magnussen, with Perez close behind.
A 1m16.604s from Verstappen on lap 23 is another personal best and much quicker than anybody else on mediums is able to muster right now. Ocon and Hamilton are 1.2s and 1.4s per lap right now.
Stroll has a look up the inside of Magnussen into Tabac, but the Haas just moved over to keep him at bay before retaking the racing line.
Sainz reports that degradation is higher than expected and he's struggling with the left-rear, like Alonso. After that call to box, he's stayed out and now just it seems patiently waiting for Ocon's tyres to fall off.
Pit stop
Sargeant has come in again and is now on soft tyres. Long afternoon already for the Williams driver.
By: Autosport Staff
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