A very narrow course held on the streets of Monaco, the 2022 Monaco Grand Prix will be held this weekend and should be another classic on this demanding Formula One track. In last year’s edition of the race, Charles Leclerc won the pole position, but it was his Red Bull Racing rival Max Verstappen who was able to secure the top spot on the podium. In the leadup to this race this season, Leclerc and Verstappen have traded victories, with the latter taking home the top honor in four of the last five races, including three in a row. Will that be the case again this weekend in Monte Carlo?
Here SBS will go over two different possible scenarios of either Leclerc or Verstappen winning against the field. With the two drivers winning the first six races of the season (four for Verstappen and two for Lecrlerc) they have an excellent shot of repeating again this weekend.
| 2022 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Leclerc vs. The Field | The Field | -135 | -135 | -135 |
| Max Verstappen vs. The Field | Max Verstappen | +140 | +140 | +140 |
The Monégasque racing superstar started the 2022 F1 season with a bang with victories in two of the first three races held – the Bahrain Grand Prix and the Australian Grand Prix. Since then, he has won the pole position in two other events (Miami Grand Prix and Spanish Grand Prix) but was unable to hang onto the victory both times. In each of those contests, he was knocked off by his rival Verstappen. Currently, he trails his Belgian rival by six points in the 2022 World Drivers’ Championship standings, 110-104, but could make up the difference with a victory this weekend.
Since this will be a homecoming for Leclerc, he might have the spiritual edge this time. The stars will be specially aligned for him if he is able to notch another pole position win (he has four on the year). However, this has not proven to be the case in the past with Leclerc having never won at his home racetrack. In fact, his prior best at the course came in 2018 when he came in 18th place. Nonetheless, he is a far superior driver than he was four years ago and should be in a solid position to exceed his personal best at the course.
Prediction: Though Leclerc and Verstappen have clearly distanced themselves from the field this season, it remains to be seen if the former can slay the latter consistently. For Monaco, take the field to win here.
The hottest driver in all of F1, Verstappen is the favorite to take home the gold this weekend at the famous Monaco course. Prior to his victory last season at the locale, the 24-year-old’s previous best at the track was a solid fourth-place finish in 2019. The current leader in the 2022 World Drivers’ Championship standings with 110 points, he is on a different level this season and is looking for back-to-back F1 World Championships after winning it all in 2021.
Coming off three straight Grand Prix victories (Emilia Romagna, Spanish, and Miami), the Belgian racer is certainly on one of the best winning streaks of his career. In fact, if he is able to pull off another win this weekend then it will be the longest winning streak of his short, but highly successful career. For the 24-year-old, getting first in the pole position will be critical to notching the gold this weekend. Though it is not required for victory, in the one race this season where Verstappen won the pole position (the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix), he was able to notch a complete win and also post the fastest lap of the day. If this is the case prior to Monaco, then look out for the Belgian dynamo.
Prediction: As mentioned above, if Verstappen locks down the pole position, then expect the 24-year old superstar also to take home the victory in Monte Carlo.
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About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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