Monaco Grand Prix preview: Leclerc looks to reclaim lead over Verstappen

With Max Verstappen now in pole position for the Formula One World Championship, can Ferrari and Charles Leclerc fix their engine problems from last time out and get back on top at the Monaco Grand Prix?

We preview the action below.

DRS issues failing to halt surging Verstappen

Plagued with DRS problems in qualifying, Max Verstappen will have gone into last week’s Spanish Grand Prix hoping Red Bull could solve the issue and get him on track for another Drivers’ Championship title.

As is with F1, things aren’t always so simple. In Spain on Sunday, the Dutchman’s DRS struggled with consistency, making overtaking a difficulty, and some robust defending from Mercedes’ George Russell made life complicated. Ultimately though, neither were enough to impede the reigning world champion as he cruised to a fourth win of the season, 13.07 seconds ahead of his Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez in second place.

This weekend, the tight corners and numerous elevation changes of Monaco’s famed streets might hamper Verstappen if his issues continue, so he goes in as second favourite at 6/5.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, the other front runner for the title, who started the season with two wins out of three, was on top for much of the race in Spain and appeared to be extending his lead at the top of the table. Midway through, problems with his power supply suddenly stopped all progress and he was forced to retire and take zero points.

It is expected the issues will be quickly solved so he still goes into Monaco as the favourite at Evens, and he will hope to stop Verstappen’s increasing momentum.

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Are Mercedes back in the game?

A difficult start to the season for Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton seemingly put a successful year out of reach. However, a return to form in Spain and a consistent George Russell, who is the only racer to have finished every race this term in the top five, has offered a glimmer of hope for last year’s Constructors’ Championship winners.

Third favourites to win this time round at 15/2, Mercedes have struggled with pace and porpoising issues, which have seen Hamilton in sixth place and 64 points adrift of the leader Verstappen after six races. Hamilton is 22/1 to make it back to the top by the end of the season with teammate Russell slightly better off at 16/1. The duo are both 9/4 for a podium finish this weekend.

They bagged a good result last week, finishing third and fifth respectively and will be looking to build on Mercedes’ improvements as the engineers iron out the problems. Monaco will be tough for the British pair, though, with only three of Hamilton’s 82 wins with the team coming from its narrow streets.

Elsewhere on the track, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz, who is having a great season, is joint third favourite to win in Monaco at 14/1 alongside Russell and Hamilton, while Sergio Perez in sixth favourite at 18/1. Next in line after him is Valtteri Bottas, who seems unlikely to cause an upset at 90/1.

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