The Formula One (F1) Monaco Grand Prix was one dominated by the failed introduction of the mandatory two-pit-stop rule for each driver.
Lando Norris converted his pole position into a victory amid pressure from Charles Leclerc at the end of the Grand Prix.
It was a mixed race for the six rookies, though. A combination of great teamwork and poor strategy played their part in a tough event.
Top Rookie – Isack Hadjar – 6th
Hadjar managed to secure some crucial points for the Racing Bulls in the constructors’ championship. His team have risen to sixth place, overtaking Haas.
The Frenchman largely had his teammate to thank for that. Liam Lawson was able to hold up the pack, allowing Hadjar the opportunity to make two unchallenged pit stops.
Although the rookie started in fifth, an eight-point haul is admirable in Hadjar’s debut Monaco Grand Prix in F1.
Liam Lawson – 8th
As mentioned, Lawson drove a superb race for Racing Bulls as a team as he manipulated the new rule.
The New Zealand driver backed up the pack behind to enable his teammate to make a pit stop. He did this again to ensure that Hadjar could run to the end early on.
In the second half of the Grand Prix, Lawson was able to put Esteban Ocon under pressure but was unable to overtake the Haas driver. Nonetheless, it was a brilliant drive from the former Red Bull man.
Ollie Bearman – 12th
Despite Bearman starting from last place on the grid, the rookie had an excellent strategy that saw him rise by eight positions.
The Haas driver pitted on the first lap, capitalising on a Gabriel Bortoleto collision to make a stop under the virtual safety car.
Bearman made an early second stop as well, and from there on out, made up positions as those ahead came into the service lane. If the rookie had not received a ten-place penalty, he could have scored some crucial points.
Franco Colapinto – 13th
Similarly to Bearman, Colapinto benefited from a good strategy to climb his way up the order. The Argentine started from P18 but worked his way up into the midfield.
However, the Alpine rookie nearly had his race ended by teammate Pierre Gasly. The Frenchman collided with Yuki Tsunoda at the Nouvelle chicane, and his car almost went barrelling into Colapinto’s sidepod.
Gabriel Bortoleto – 14th
Despite a disappointing opening lap from the Brazilian driver, Bortoleto did well to recover to 14th place.
After he completed one of the two overtakes around Monte Carlo, Bortoleto refused to concede his gained position back to Kimi Antonelli. The Sauber man ended up in the barrier but was able to return to the pit lane.
Bortoleto was able to guide his car to the chequered flag in his first F1 outing in Monte Carlo.
Kimi Antonelli – 18th
It was a race to forget for both Mercedes and Antonelli. The Racing Bulls’ strategy meant that the Silver Arrows driver found himself three laps behind the leaders at the chequered flag.
A qualifying mistake meant the rookie was already unlikely to finish with the points, but the new F1 rule meant Mercedes were at a serious disadvantage.
Antonelli was held behind his teammate for the majority of the Grand Prix as his chances at points evaporated within laps of the lights going out.
Rookie Ratings
Isack Hadjar – 8
Liam Lawson – 8
Ollie Bearman – 7
Franco Colapinto – 6
Gabriel Bortoleto – 5
Kimi Antonelli – 3