F1: Fernando Alonso arrives in Monaco looking for his 33rd victory

Two weeks without running is torture for Fernando Alonso. The Asturian, like the rest of the grid, had to see how the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was suspended last weekend, due to the floods that claimed at least fourteen deaths and some 36,000 displaced. But this Sunday, his Aston Martin filming again in Monaco, where Alonso will clearly aim for his 33rd victory in the premier class, the third in Monte Carlo.

The Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) want to repeat their triumph last year and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) seek to get on the podium for the third time in the most iconic race on the calendar.

“Not racing at Imola was the right decision and I know it wasn’t easy to make, but some things are obviously more important than the races, and this was one of them,” he said, looking ahead to the Grand Prix that takes place in the principality of the Blue Coast in which he has established his residence, the Dutch max verstappen (Red Bull), leader of the World Cup, with 119 points. Fourteen more than ‘Checo’ and with a 44 advantage over Alonso: in a second youth at the age of 41 and who, third in the contest -with four podiums in five races-, has become the great sensation at the start of the season. .

‘Mad Max’, 25, comes -after the cancellation of Imola- to achieve in Miami (USA), where he started ninth, his third victory of the season, the thirty-eighth since he started in F1. And if he wins in the streets of Monte Carlo, he will break in his favor the tie that, since he won three weekends ago in the aforementioned town in the state of Floridaunites him to the German Sebastian Vettel -leader of Red Bull’s glorious four-year period (2010-13)- as record holder of triumphs in the entire history of the Austrian team.

On paper, the new sporting idol of the netherlands It will be the main obstacle for the three drivers who have made the Spanish language fashionable in F1 in the narrow streets of the beautiful Mediterranean principality. On the shortest track on the calendar. Of 3,337 meters and 19 curves, mostly slow: those that suit Alonso’s new car better. To which on Sunday it is planned to give 78 laps, to complete a route of 280.2 kilometers.

Alonso, who has been on the podium four times in the first five races of the year -his first five with Aston Martin, of which he is already the undisputed flagship-, raising his number of ‘drawers’ in the premier category to 102, has achieved two of his 32 victories in F1 in the only circuit of the current ones -along with those of Monza (Italy), Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) and Silverstone (Great Britain)), which unlike this one are not urban- present in the first F1 World Cup in all history, that of 1950.

The Asturian double world champion prevailed in Monte Carlo in 2006 -the year he revalidated the title- and repeated his triumph a year later, with McLaren. On both occasions, starting from a ‘pole’ between the luxury of the Mediterranean practically guarantees success.

During his time with Ferrari, Fernando – who, like most of the drivers, supported the decision to suspend Imola and who stressed that “position on the grid will be essential” next Sunday – added two other podium finishes in Monaco: in 2011, when I finished second; and a year later, when finishing third.

This time, ten years after his so far last victory in F1 (in the Spanish Grand Prix 2013, also with the ‘Scuderia’) and after his more than impressive start to the season, it would not be crazy to think of the much-awaited victory number 33 of the Asturian star. In a circuit in which overtaking is practically impossible and in which Saturday’s day will be as important or even more important than Sunday’s.

Sainz, second last year -behind ‘Checo’-, repeating the result of the previous season -when he seconded Verstappen-, will seek, at least, his third podium in the streets of Monte Carlo. The one that will mean his sixteenth in F1 and the first of a season in which Madrid occupies fifth place in the contest, with 44 points, twelve less than the English seven-time world champion. lewis hamilton (Mercedes).

Sir Lewis is the only one among the assets that surpasses Alonso’s two wins in Monaco. The eccentric and spectacular champion of Stevenage he achieved three of his 103 victories -historic record- in the glamorous event on the French Riviera. Where no one equals the legendary half dozen Ayrton sennawho won three World Cups for Brazil before dying, injured, in Imola, during the San Marino Grand Prix from 29 years ago.

A good result from Sainz would raise the morale of his team, the most successful in history, but which has not had the expected start to the season and which last weekend -at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari Autodrome- would have run, literally, at home. The ‘Scuderia’ is fourth in the Constructors’ World Championship, with 78 points: very far from the 224 with which the very dominant Red Bull leads, which surpasses Aston Martin by 122, which from 2026 will carry Honda engines, according to reports. announced Wednesday in Japan.

Carlos was injured on Tuesday playing the traditional drivers’ charity football match, but on Wednesday he announced through his social networks that he is “well and completely ready to race in Monaco”, ruling out any injury. His companion, the Monegasque charles leclerc -of 25 years, three less than him-, who has five victories, 25 podiums and 19 ‘poles’ in F1, but who is seventh in the contest -with ten points less than the man from Madrid- is also eager to do well against his compatriots; in a test in which his best result does not exceed the fourth achieved last year.

‘Checo’, 33 years old – who, before arriving in the Mediterranean principality, indicated that in recent days his “thoughts have always been with the victims of the floods” in northern Italy – raised to six, by winning this year in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, his number of victories in F1, in which he counts thirty podiums.

the champion of Guadalajara Jalisco) had been third in 2016, with a Force India, in Monaco; where last year he won ahead of Sainz and ‘Mad Max’. On a track where the brave driver from Tapato will again be able to question the leadership of his Dutch colleague; and in which you will ride with tires from the softest range of compounds: C3 (hard, recognizable by the white stripe), C4 (medium, yellow stripe) and C5 (soft, red).

That, if it doesn’t rain. Something that the weather forecasts do not completely rule out in a Grand Prix in which the free practice, which starts this Friday, will be completed on Saturday, hours before the possibly decisive main timed session. What to order the starting formation for Sunday’s race. In which the winner is clear that he can have Spanish as his mother tongue.