Monaco Grand Prix tips: Leclerc and Alonso looking to challenge Red Bull dominance
- Planet Sport writer
- 26 May 2023
F1 presents its most famous race on the calendar this weekend as the teams and drivers do battle at the Monaco Grand Prix. Red Bull might not be quite so dominant - check out our suggested bets.
F1 returns this weekend and it's off to France we go for the Monaco Grand Prix, where the dominant Red Bulls of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez might find life tough this weekend.
Verstappen, Perez and Fernando Alonso have been the standout performers of the 2023 season so far, with Lewis Hamilton managing to break their grip on the podium finishes with a second place in Australia - and Charles Leclerc grabbing third place in Azerbaijan.
Planet F1's Mark Scott thinks things might be a bit more interesting on the Circuit de Monaco, though, and has given us these suggested bets for Sunday's race.
Charles Leclerc - pole position
The unique challenge of Monaco will represent one of the best opportunities for Red Bull's mighty winning streak to come to an end.
Both Ferrari and Aston Martin have the edge on Red Bull in slow speed corners, so Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez may not have it all their own way this weekend in Monte Carlo where there are plenty of slow turns.
Charles Leclerc has a terrible record at his home race, but don't let that put you off backing him to take pole position on Saturday.
The Monegasque is arguably the best driver on the grid over one lap and showed that when F1 last visited a street circuit this season in Baku.
Fernando Alonso - race win
It has been 10 long years since Fernando Alonso last won an F1 race, but he will not have many better opportunities to end that drought than in Monaco.
If Alonso can qualify within the top four on Saturday, he can give himself an incredibly strong foundation to build on for a 33rd career win.
Overtaking will be very difficult in Monte Carlo, so a flawless strategy is key - and there is nobody with a sharper analytical mind than Alonso.
Yuki Tsunoda - points finish
Tsunoda was one of the wildest and most erratic drivers on the grid in his first two seasons in F1. It's a completely different story in season three, though, with the Japanese driver showing a consistent streak that many thought he wasn't able to produce.
Tsunoda has two points finishes in five races so far this season and finished just outside the top 10 in the other three.
If he can stay out of trouble, he will be there or thereabouts again come the chequered flag.
