2018 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix – Race – Sunday

27 May 2018

Weather: cloudy and dry, 25-28°C air, 33-37°C track

This weekend’s hard work by the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team in Monaco was seen during today’s race with both drivers delivering a consistent and strong performance. On the demanding city track of Monte Carlo, the Alfa Romeo Sauber F1 Team drivers were fighting in the midfield, with Charles Leclerc in P12 followed closely behind Marcus Ericsson in P13. They were managing the race well with a solid pace when, just a few laps before the chequered flag was waved, Charles Leclerc had to retire following a collision with the car ahead (Brendon Hartley) caused by a brake disc issue on his car. Marcus Ericsson made his way forward step-by-step, ultimately finishing the Monaco Grand Prix in P11.

Marcus Ericsson (car number 9):
C37 (Chassis 03/Ferrari)
Result: 11th. Start on ultrasoft tyres, after 17 laps change to supersoft tyres
“As expected, it was a tricky race for us. It was good though, and I am happy with my result. The focus of the race was on tyre management. It was challenging to keep them working in the right window, and make sure to not use them too quickly. It was tough to advance, as we were both stuck behind Brendon (Hartley) for the majority of the race. We lost a lot of time there. It was a good team effort overall, and there are a lot of positives. Next up is Montreal, which is a track that suits us much better. I look forward to that.”

Charles Leclerc (car number 16):
C37 (Chassis 04/Ferrari) Result: DNF.
Start on ultrasoft tyres, after 14 laps change to supersoft tyres
“It was a tough race, and it is disappointing that I could not finish it. Everything was going quite well, we had a good pace, and were competitive in the midfield. We lost a bit of time getting stuck behind Brendon (Hartley) for much of the race and, being on a track where it is difficult to overtake, there was not much we could do. Unfortunately, there was an issue with my brakes just a few laps before finishing. I tried to avoid the car ahead, but there was nothing I could do. A shame, but I look forward to the next race in Canada now.”

Frédéric Vasseur, Team Principal:
“We had a strong pace in today’s race with both of our drivers. They lost quite a bit of time behind Brendon Hartley, but still advanced and defended their positions well. The face of the race changed after Charles collided with Brendon ahead. He had an issue with his brake discs and could not avoid it. Marcus had a strong pace, especially towards the end of the race, when he was able to catch up with Sainz. Overall, a good job done by both of them, and we will make sure to continue to fight in the midfield in Montreal.”