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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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Verstappen has pulled the gap back out to 12.3s through traffic. It's getting heavier in the middle sector.
Pit stop
Stroll is in the pits, as is Bottas. They have gone onto intermediate tyres.
Sainz is right on Ocon now, the conditions seemingly getting worse. His medium tyres are now preferable to the harder rubber on the Alpine.
"Yeah, it's raining more and more," says Russell. By prolonging his first stint he could reap dividends from worsening rain. The Mercedes driver is third at the moment, but yet to stop.
Norris comes back out in 11th, which may well be ill-timed if this rain gets any heavier.
Pit stop
Norris boxes from 10th for hard tyres.
Verstappen's mediums are 51 laps old but he was still a tenth quicker than Alonso last time around.
Rain
"Spitting in Turn 3," reports Russell.
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"Maybe drops of rain around Turn 6 to Turn 8," is Verstappen's advice over the radio.
Sainz, presumably still miffed about being brought in to cover Hamilton when he had eyes on overcutting Ocon, is 2.5s behind the Alpine and the same margin ahead of the Mercedes following.
Apparently Sargeant's afternoon has been turned into a school lesson as Williams is teaching him how to manage graining on those soft tyres.
"There are some pockets of rain on the track we're monitoring," Verstappen is told. Is he staying out in the hope of rain?
Pit stop
Gasly makes his stop and he's eighth on his return to the track on fresh medium tyres, still behind Leclerc.
In now comes Gasly. Can he overcut Leclerc?
Piastri got very close to disaster as he kissed the barrier on the way out of the Swimming Pool section. He's circulating in 11th at the moment.
This cat and mouse fight between Verstappen and Alonso continues to rage, the two 9.2s apart split by tenths each lap. Remarkable fight, and we have no clue yet how this will play out.
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"Rain in about 15 laps potentially," is the response when Alonso checks in.
Now in clear air Gasly sets his best lap of the race last time around as he seeks to overcut Leclerc.
Pit stop
Leclerc drops out of the top six into eighth as he makes his stop for fresh mediums.
Gasly has suddenly closed to within a second of Leclerc, who then pits from third.
Verstappen tells his team "I'm not sure how long I can keep this up". He's beginning to lose time again to Alonso behind, the gap chipped back to 9.0s on lap 44.
"Gasly's backing me up I reckon, not sure why," quips Russell. The Alpine man though remains 1.2s behind Leclerc in third.
Alonso though is responding to Verstappen and sets a personal best of 1m16.719s last time though. It's still 9.3s between the leaders.
Stroll is still looking for a way through on Magnussen for 14th despite having really banged up his Aston this race already and receiving a black and white flag for touching the Haas a few laps ago.
Gasly has moved a little closer to Leclerc in third, but is still out of DRS range for the time being.
Everything's fairly stable at the moment. Hamilton is 2.2s behind Sainz in eighth, who is 3.1s behind Ocon ahead in sixth.
By the end of lap 40 that gap has grown to 9.2s. Verstappen is really on it here trying to keep Alonso at arms length.
Graining or not, Verstappen is still able to lap faster than Alonso and has extended his lead to 8.8s by going eight tenths quicker last time around.
The Stroll/Magnussen touch has been noted by the stewards.
The gaps between Leclerc, Gasly and Russell remain fairly stable. Ocon behind is biding his time knowing he's in a net third once they pit (assuming rain doesn't bring everyone back to the pits again).
Stopwatch
Through all of the drama over the last few laps, Hamilton in eighth has posted the fastest lap of the race with a 1m15.650s.
Stroll touched Magnussen at the last corner as he tried an overtake and reports he's got damage. He's still in 15th.
Now clear of traffic at last, Verstappen's gap to Alonso is 8.0s starting lap 38. Rain continues to be a concern on the pitwall.
Albon in 18th told there's a risk of rain with 20 laps to go.
Sainz asked what Leclerc's pace was and says he was faster. Not a happy camper in that Ferrari right now.
Perez has gotten back into 19th ahead of Sargeant.
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Sainz shouts "I don't care about Hamilton" behind him as he feels his strategy has ruined his race. He's seventh still.
Leclerc has moved up to third on his hard tyres, and is 28.1s down on leader Verstappen. Gasly is 1.9s behind him and 2.5s in turn ahead of Russell, then Ocon.
Pit stop
Perez is in for a new front wing and fresh mediums. He will come out in last.
Perez has been told to box.
By: Autosport Staff
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