Max Verstappen is back in the drivers’ championship picture after breaking Oscar Piastri’s winning streak during the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, and the Red Bull star aims to build his winning streak in the Monaco Grand Prix.
Piastri remains on top of the pecking order with 146 points after his P3 finish in Imola. McLaren teammate Lando Norris finished second on the grid and stayed second in the standings with 133 points. On the other hand, Verstappen is third with 124 points. Two weeks ago, it seemed that the drivers’ championship would be settled between the Papaya drivers, but here we are.
Williams are humming along in the past few weeks and will look to make a run in midfield. The Grove-based outfit are fifth in the constructors’ standings with 51 points, but they still have a long way to go to catch up since they are 63 points adrift from fourth-seeded Ferrari.
Verstappen relishes Monaco challenge
Max Verstappen had to wait for a month before winning another race. After winning his first event of the year in Japan, the Dutchman finished sixth in Bahrain, second in Saudi Arabia, and fourth in Miami before taking the chequered flag last week in Imola.
Verstappen had an eventful afternoon in Imola since he had a straightforward victory. Polesitter Piastri initially launched well ahead off the line, but Verstappen executed a beautiful overtake through the Tamburello chicane to take the lead, which he never relinquished. He had a +6.109s edge over second-placed Lando Norris.
Unlike the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, Verstappen knows what it takes to win in Monaco after winning it twice in 2021 and 2023. Despite his past triumphs, the Red Bull driver is hungry to win it again this weekend. The RB21 has lacked race pace against the McLarens, but Verstappen has shown strong form in the qualifying this season, taking three poles to tie Piastri.
Meanwhile, teammate Yuki Tsunoda had a rough time in Imola. The Japanese crashed his RB21 in Q1 but recovered to 10th place in the actual race.
Williams narrowing the gap
Carlos Sainz Jr. recently admitted he is surprised by how the 2025 season has unfolded thus far. When he joined Williams after losing his Ferrari seat to Lewis Hamilton, the Spaniard wasn’t expecting to be as competitive as when he was with the Scuderia.
Instead, the 30-year-old has punched above his weight with the FW47, finishing in the points at four of the seven Grands Prix this year, including three on the bounce (P8 in Saudi Arabia and Imola and P9 in Miami).
“I truly believe that Williams had this potential when I moved and I chose this team to do this part of my career, but it’s come earlier than expected. The team has surprised me in some very good ways,” Sainz said.
Teammate Alex Albon, who has been with the Grove-based outfit for four years, has performed even better, notching six points finishes in the seven Grands Prix, including back-to-back P5s in Miami and Imola.
History
The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the oldest races in the Formula 1 calendar because it was first held in 1929. In the past 81 editions, only two Monegasque drivers have won the race: Louis Chiron in 1931 and Charles Leclerc in 2024.
The late Ayrton Senna still holds the record for the most wins on this track with six, including a five-peat from 1989 to 1993. Graham Hill, Michael Schumacher, and Alain Prost are behind the Brazilian legend with five, five, and four wins. McLaren are the winningest team on this track with 15 victories.
Lewis Hamilton has the most wins among active drivers with three, but his last triumph was in 2019 with Mercedes. Max Verstappen (2021 and 2023) and Fernando Alonso (2006 and 2007) also have two wins.
What are the odds?
Oscar Piastri is poised to win his first career Monaco Grand Prix this Sunday while creating Monaco Grand Prix 2025 highlights. The SBOTOP Monaco Grand Prix 2025 odds make the young Australian the 2.70 favorite to take the chequered flag. Teammate Lando Norris is right behind him at 3.00, and Max Verstappen is at 4.30.
The Papayas are expected to dominate the constructors’ battle at 1.60, while Red Bull and Ferrari are the closest challengers at 3.40 and 5.50. Mercedes have dropped to 9.00 after a poor run of form recently. Another double points finish for Williams is plausible, as Carlos Sainz Jr. and Alex Albon are pegged at 81.00 and 101.00.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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