Crazy Weekend in Monaco: Barnard and O’Sullivan Triumph Amidst Countless Surprises
- Chiara Portello
- Jun 8, 2024
- 5 min read
After Imola, Formula 2 moved to the Principality of Monaco, delivering an explosive weekend. Monaco once again proved that even if the result might seem predictable, it always offers something unexpected. In an increasingly competitive championship, talent is not enough; the key is to be consistent and always maximize results.
Monaco Makes No Concessions
The circuit in the Principality is perhaps one of the most challenging on the calendar, characterized by tight corners and close walls. It’s easy to make mistakes and ruin the weekend. Therefore, it's crucial for all drivers to complete many laps to get familiar with the track and push their cars to the limit without exceeding it. Here, more than on other tracks, a driver’s talent shines through as they push further with each lap, kissing and grazing the barriers, becoming one with the car. Due to its narrow configuration, the Monaco circuit makes overtaking opponents difficult, making qualifying essential.
Many drivers made mistakes, especially on Saturday: Victor Martins, after a poor start, hit the wall following a collision at Saint Devote; Pepe Martì, despite his car performing well, made a huge mistake and crashed at the chicane exit; Oliver Bearman hit the wall too hard, damaging a suspension. Finally, Zane Maloney collided with the car ahead and suffered the same fate, ending up in the barriers. On Sunday, Joshua Durksen’s significant error handed an unexpected victory to Zak O’Sullivan.
Joys and Disappointments
From disappointment to the greatest joy: that of a first victory. Taylor Barnard seized a great opportunity by starting first in the sprint race. The British driver delivered a flawless performance, leading from start to finish. He masterfully managed a race that was anything but straightforward, especially after the red flag caused by Maloney's collision with O’Sullivan, which also blocked Maini. Barnard handled the second start well, managing to win with a five-second lead over Bortoleto. It was a great victory for the British driver, earning his first points in the category and finally having the chance to raise his finger in triumph after crossing the finish line.
Drivers know how special qualifying in Monaco is, and Richard Verschoor is no exception. When he realized he had secured pole position, he screamed with joy and hugged all his engineers. Despite a less-than-stellar sprint race, he was aware of the opportunity to achieve a great result for himself and the Trident team. Everything seemed perfect, from the start up until the middle of the race. On lap 19, he began to feel that something was wrong with his car. He fought to stay in the lead, but engine problems caused him to lose several positions. To make matters worse, he was penalized for cutting the track and gaining an advantage while desperately trying to defend his position. Despite all efforts, the Italian team was forced to retire his car. It was a huge disappointment for Verschoor, who, upon arriving at the pits, threw his steering wheel, which got stuck on the wing. He then got out of the car, and the cameras captured all his despair.
ART Grand Prix: Masterstroke or Just Good Luck?
Sometimes, great successes don't come from an outstanding performance or a pole position but from patience and excellent race strategy. For the ART team, which hasn't had a particularly brilliant season, the only chance to try and win on Sunday was to wait patiently, and that's exactly what they did. Starting from so far back, they had nothing to lose and could afford a risky strategy. While everyone else pitted to change tires, the team radioed Zak O'Sullivan, telling him that if a safety car came out in the final laps, they could win the race.
As the race neared its end, three drivers still needed to pit. The first to give in was Martins, followed by Durksen, who, upon rejoining the track after his pit stop, collided with Maloney, causing a safety car. This was exactly what O’Sullivan and the ART Grand Prix team had hoped for: O'Sullivan pitted under the safety car, and as long as they made no mistakes, the victory was theirs.
O'Sullivan emerged from the pits ahead of Hadjar, who, up until the penultimate lap, was confident he would secure Campos Racing's third win of the season. Instead, he had to settle for the 18 points awarded to the runner-up. The French driver was furious: expressing his anger over the radio, then, after exiting his car, he was fuming with his team, refusing to speak to anyone, incredulous that victory had slipped through his fingers in just one lap. Hadjar's disappointment was only matched by O'Sullivan's immense and uncontrollable joy as he claimed his first F2 victory, moving up to seventh in the overall standings. It was a moment of immense joy for someone who knows how to wait and seize fortune, for it only favors those who call upon it.
Title Contenders Emerge
We left Imola with Zane Maloney leading the standings, but he now finds himself in third place. Another tough weekend for him, with a retirement on Saturday and only one point on Sunday, perhaps showing how much he still needs to grow. Isack Hadjar shines particularly bright, once again demonstrating his strong passion for the sport that drives him to win at any cost. The Red Bull Junior Team driver had a perfect race, only to be thwarted by bad luck. Now just two points behind the top of the standings, we'll see if this second place in Monaco will be significant at the end of the season. Certainly, those three retirements weigh heavily; without them, he would almost certainly be in first place.
On the other hand, Paul Aron is surprising everyone with his consistency. The new championship leader has gradually taken the lead, collecting podiums and points in every race after scoring zero in the sprint of Melbourne. He stated in an interview that his goal this year wasn't to win a race but to aim for the championship by always maximizing his results. He is keeping his promise: now he is in first place and only needs to step onto the top podium.
A Championship to Experience Fully
With Monaco concluded, the first third of the championship is over, and it's becoming more thrilling and engaging. These young drivers are making us enjoy and cherish this sport. We cheer for every first victory and feel for those who can't hold back their tears of disappointment. We applaud the talent of drivers like Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who, after dozens of laps behind Colapinto, made a hard-fought overtake at the exit of Rascasse—simply wonderful. We laugh when a Prema team mechanic jumps over the suspension of Ollie Bearman’s car, an unconventional but certainly imaginative way of fixing the problem.
We breathe a sigh of relief, along with Bearman, when Isack Hadjar narrowly avoids a very slow Miyata in the tunnel, thanks only to his quick reflexes. Such a fiercely contested and unpredictable championship is the result of excellent work by the teams and, above all, the young drivers, who demonstrate an extremely high level of physical and mental preparation. We eagerly await Barcelona, where we hope to see many overtakes and a heated battle, and who knows, we might see the standings shaken up and a new driver at the top.
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