World champion Lewis Hamilton yesterday ended his six-month wait for a victory when he secured an unexpected and skillful victory for Mercedes in an incident-filled Monaco Grand Prix.
Taking full advantage of a bungled pit stop for his nearest rival, Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull, Hamilton drove supremely in mixed conditions to seize his first triumph in nine races since clinching his third title at the US Grand Prix in October last year.
Ricciardo, who started from his maiden pole position, led until he pitted for slick tires — that were not ready for him — after 32 laps and finally came home second, 7.2 seconds behind the three-time world champion.
Photo: AP
The Australian was close to overtaking Hamilton on lap 37, but Hamilton held his line at the Mirabeau turn, prompting an angry reaction from Ricciardo, who waved his hand furiously as he was forced to back off.
It was Hamilton’s second win on the famous Mediterranean street circuit, his first this season and the 44th of his career. It also repeated his 2008 triumph when he started third and won in wet conditions.
Mexican Sergio Perez finished third, 6.5 seconds behind a disconsolate Ricciardo, but ahead of four-time German champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari and two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Spain, who finished a superb fifth for McLaren on the 50th anniversary of their Formula One debut race in 1966.
Photo: AP
German Nico Hulkenberg resisted pressure from championship leader and compatriot Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes to take sixth place, with Spaniard Carlos Sainz taking eighth for Toro Rosso.
Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 champion, finished ninth in the second Honda-powered McLaren ahead of Brazilian Felipe Massa in the No. 19 Williams.
Hamilton’s win kept alive his title defense and, with Rosberg off the podium, cut the leader’s advantage in the title race.
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