L-R: Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin, Red Bull Racing technical director Pierre Wache, Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing and Esteban Ocon of Alpine on the podium during the F1 Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, Monaco, May 28, 2023. /CFP
Max Verstappen tip-toed through the rainswept conditions in the latter stages of his victory in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix and then declared he had been lucky to survive several brushes with the barriers.
In the aftermath of a challenging race in increasingly difficult conditions, Red Bull Racing's defending world champion and the current series leader admitted he was fortunate in the way his car smacked the railings.
"I clipped the walls a few times," he said after his second win in the Mediterranean principality and fourth this season.
"It was super difficult out there today, but that's it. That's Monaco."
He explained that he was struggling while racing on a set of worn medium tires, having started the race on them, as the rain began.
A picture of Max Verstappen is displayed on screen after he wins the race at Circuit de Monaco in Monte Carlo, Monaco, May 28, 2023. /CFP
Two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso became the oldest driver to claim a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix in more than 50 years when he came home second.
The 41-year-old Spaniard hoped to challenge for a rare victory for Aston Martin, but was thwarted by Verstappen's pace.
Alonso recovered to finish a convincing second – his fifth podium finish in six races – and become the oldest top-three finisher since Australian Jack Brabham, who was 44 when he finished second in 1970.
"That was difficult," said Alonso after a race that ran for an hour and 48 minutes.
"We opted to start on the hard tire and hoped to play a bit of the long game in strategy, but Max drove so well, super-well, on those medium tires to extend his first stint that we didn't have a chance. And then, in the end, the rain came and made it complicated," he said.
"Our forecast said it was only going to be light rain, so I felt it was best to stay on the slick tires and not go to the intermediates. It was not easy to drive out there. I could not use full power around the lap, braking was extremely fragile, and it wasn't easy," he added.
"I was surprised that there were no safety cars and no incidents, so I think everyone did an amazing job."
Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo drives in the rain during the F1 Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, Monaco, May 28, 2023. /CFP
Alfa Romeo's Chinese racer Zhou Guanyu finished 13th.
"We had a good race in very difficult conditions, and considering where we started, we can be pleased with the progress we were able to make," Zhou said.
"Most importantly, our race pace was good and a good indication going forward to different tracks and other conditions," he added.
(With input from agencies)