Monaco GP takeaways: Checo's redemption, Charles' catastrophe

Following each race weekend this season, theScore's editors will offer their takeaways. We continue with the Monaco Grand Prix.

Checo's redemption

As Mexico's national anthem played, Sergio Perez stood atop the Monaco podium, overcome with emotion.

The win was a significant milestone for the Red Bull pilot's season and career. Wearing a special tribute helmet for the late Pedro Rodriguez, Perez not only became the first Mexican to conquer Monaco but also passed Rodriguez as the most successful Mexican-born driver in F1 history.

"I'm sure, up there, (Rodriguez) is super proud of what we have achieved together in the sport," Perez said Sunday.

For Perez, the Monaco celebrations have been a long time coming. After struggling to match teammate Max Verstappen in 2021, he's closed the gap in seriously impressive fashion this season. Only circumstances beyond his control have cost him: A safety car in Saudi Arabia may have negated a win, reliability issues hurt him in Bahrain and Miami, and differing strategies forced him to surrender the lead to his teammate in Spain.

Now, he's third - just six points short of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and 15 behind Verstappen. If the cards had fallen in his favor sooner, the standings could look quite different.

"He's in this championship just as much as Max is," team principal Christian Horner said. "The difference between the two of them is 15 points. It's nothing."

No one needed a statement win more than Perez. Amid all the talk of Verstappen and Leclerc ushering in the new era of F1, Perez is offering a clear reminder: Don't count out the seasoned bull. - Daniel Valente

Ferrari's decision costs Leclerc

Leclerc, in addition to being a rapid racer, is a diplomat. Living out his dream and quickly becoming the face of Ferrari's resurgence, he recognizes the importance of being tactful when publicly discussing matters involving the Scuderia. The 24-year-old is often quick to chastise himself before turning the blame on anyone else when things go sideways.

Not this time.

A strategic blunder - not uncommon at Ferrari - torpedoed his chance of claiming the victory he so desperately craves after so much misfortune in his home race. Sunday was actually the first time Leclerc, who roared to pole position Saturday and looked in total control throughout the weekend, actually finished the Monaco Grand Prix in front of his adoring supporters. Against that backdrop, P4 was, technically, an improvement. It didn't feel that way, of course.

Finishing off the podium after starting at the front of the grid is an obvious failure. Leclerc himself made the decisive mistake last year when he smashed into the wall in qualifying and damaged his gearbox. This time, though, the team was at fault.

Called into the pits erroneously, Leclerc lost roughly four seconds as Ferrari double-stacked its drivers on Lap 21 when switching them from wet to slick tires. By the time his engineer realized the mistake, it was too late - Leclerc was already in the pit lane. A potential win disappeared amid the confusion, and Leclerc emerged from the debacle in fourth. Enraged, the Monegasque blew a gasket.

"No words, no words. ... We cannot do that," he said on the team radio, totally deflated, after crossing the line.

As it turns out, he had plenty of words for his team after the race, none of them complimentary.

"It was a freaking disaster today," he fumed. Were he a cartoon, steam would've been blowing out of his ears.

"The win was clearly in our hands," he added. "We had the performance, we had everything. I just don't really understand the call. ... That was clearly the wrong choice. We need to get better."

Ferrari, despite arguably having the superior machinery through seven races of the season, is behind in both the drivers' and constructors' championships. This was another missed opportunity. For Leclerc, it was the most painful one yet. - Gianluca Nesci

Time to cut Monaco?

After Leclerc's nightmarish pit stop, the final 40 laps of the grand prix were, predictably, a procession. The four top drivers got tight at times, but with little space for any real attempt at overtaking, it felt like Carlos Sainz, Verstappen, and Leclerc were simply ushering Checo toward his third race win.

Rumors are circulating that F1's crown jewel could be pushed off the calendar. McLaren's CEO Zak Brown said F1 is looking for "a commercial agreement in place that's more consistent with the other venues," which loosely translates to more money. Monaco reportedly pays around $15 million for the right to host its race, while other cities pay closer to $60 million.

The race isn't especially entertaining - even when drama arrives in the form of rain, it just gets delayed - and F1 isn't making as much money from it. But is F1 really F1 without Monaco on the calendar?

The two sides will likely work out a deal, but there's no doubt Sunday was an interminable slog. With no clear way to fix the circuit to allow more overtaking, will Monaco's appeal rest solely on its stunning vistas and shots of the glitterati in attendance? - Michael Bradburn

Ricciardo's time with McLaren could be cut short

Daniel Ricciardo's future with McLaren looks more in doubt after each race, and a 13th-place finish in Monaco - nearly 57 seconds off the lead - did little to secure his seat.

Though the Australian is under contract through next season, Brown said Friday there are "mechanisms" in place that could alter that deal.

Ricciardo has one top-10 finish (6th in Australia) through seven races and is tied for 11th with Yuki Tsunoda in the drivers' championship. Meanwhile, fellow McLaren driver Lando Norris has five top-10 finishes, one podium, and 37 more points than his teammate.

Ricciardo admitted in an interview with Maxim published this week that some doubt crept in when he finished eighth in the drivers' standings last season. This season must be even worse.

"It's also difficult to accept because, for most of my career, I was used to being one of the best guys on the grid or the top guy on the teams," he said. "So to not be that for a good month or something, it definitely makes you question, 'Man, what's going on? Do I still have it?' … Some of those doubts creep in a little bit."

The sixth-highest-paid driver on the grid is clearly not giving McLaren enough in his second season with the team, and his crash during practice Friday probably only added to the tension.

There's no more time for excuses. Ricciardo's a fantastic personality for the sport and seems to be beloved by most in the paddock, but McLaren IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward looks like a viable replacement in the future, and his deal with the race team includes some F1 testing. - Brandon Wile