NEW DELHI: The European leg of the Formula One season kicks off in Monaco on Sunday, and veteran driver Fernando Alonso sees an opportunity to disrupt Red Bull's winning streak at the renowned street circuit. With its glamour and historical significance, Monaco serves as a home race for Ferrari's Charles Leclerc.
Originally planned as part of a triple-header with Italy and Spain, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola was canceled due to devastating floods, making Monaco the second race on the European calendar.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez have dominated the season so far, winning all five races by a considerable margin, including the last two in Monaco. As favorites, they will be eyeing another victory. However, despite the perception of Monaco as a processional circuit, the tight metal-fenced streets of Monte Carlo can deliver surprises, especially in wet conditions.
In the past, there have been instances of unexpected winners in Monaco. Jarno Trulli secured his only career win there in 2004, and in a rain-soaked race in 1996, Frenchman Olivier Panis emerged victorious with just three cars reaching the finish line.
With the unpredictable nature of the Monaco Grand Prix, Alonso and other drivers will be keen to take advantage of any opportunities to challenge Red Bull's dominance and create a memorable race on the iconic street circuit.
Aston Martin's Alonso, winner in Monaco with Renault and McLaren in 2006 and 2007, will be ready for any opportunity that comes his way after securing four third places so far in 2023.
"We seem to have a car that is maybe not the fastest on the straights. We need to improve that, but we are very good on the corners," he told Sky Sports television when asked where he might win.
"I would say that the slowest speeds of the championship, let's say Monaco, Budapest, Singapore; these kind of circuits, I think we put our main hopes at the moment."
Leclerc has secured pole for the last two years but has yet to stand on the Monaco podium as a Formula One driver.
Mercedes are bringing an upgraded car and Monaco is one of seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton's favourite circuits with three previous wins there.
"We are introducing the first step in a new development direction," said team boss Toto Wolff. "It won't be a silver bullet; from my experience, they do not exist in our sport.
"We hope that it gives the drivers a more stable and predictable platform. Then we can build on that in the weeks and months ahead."
Double world champion Verstappen, the 2021 Monaco winner, needs no extra encouragement to assert himself and will want to turn the tables on Perez after losing to him last May.
The Mexican crashed in qualifying but still ended up third on the grid and ahead of Verstappen at a circuit where overtaking is extremely difficult.
Verstappen appeared to nurse a grudge for months and refused to give a place back to Perez in Brazil in November, alluding to "something that happened in the past".
Dutch media reported it as payback for Monaco, with Perez having to deny deliberately crashing to prevent Verstappen lapping faster.
The Mexican, now 14 points behind Verstappen, will be looking for a repeat win to get back in the battle.
"This is the race every driver wants to win growing up and I was lucky enough to achieve that last season. That has only made me more hungry to stand on the top step once again," he said.
(With Reuters inputs)
