Fernando Alonso arrives in Monaco looking for his 33rd victory

Two weeks without running are torture for Fernando Alonso. The Asturian, like the rest of the grid, had to see how the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix was suspended last weekend, due to the floods that claimed at least fourteen deaths and some 36,000 displaced. But this Sunday, his Aston Martin will roll again in Monaco, where Alonso will clearly aim for his 33rd victory in the premier class, the third in Monte Carlo.

The Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) wants to repeat his triumph last year and Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) will seek to get on the podium for the third time in the most iconic race on the calendar.

“Not racing at Imola was the right decision and I know it wasn't easy to take, but some things are obviously more important than the races, and this was one of them,” he said, looking ahead to the Grand Prix that takes place in the principality. of the French Riviera where he has established his residence, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), leader of the World Cup, with 119 points. Fourteen more than 'Checo' and with a 44 advantage over Alonso: in a second youth at the age of 41 and who, third in the contest -with four podiums in five races-, has become the great sensation at the start of the season .

'Mad Max', 25, comes -after the cancellation of Imola- to achieve in Miami (USA), where he started ninth, his third victory of the season, the thirty-eighth since he has run in F1. And if he wins on the streets of Monte Carlo, he would break in his favor the tie that, since he won three weekends ago in the aforementioned town in the state of Florida, has joined the German Sebastian Vettel – leader of the glorious four-year period of Red Bull (2010- 13) – as record holder of victories in the entire history of the Austrian team.

On paper, the new sports idol from the Netherlands will be the main obstacle for the three drivers who have made the Spanish language fashionable in F1 in the narrow streets of the beautiful Mediterranean principality.. On the shortest track on the calendar. Of 3,337 meters and 19 curves, mostly slow: the ones that suit Alonso's new car better. To which on Sunday it is planned to give 78 laps, to complete a route of 280.2 kilometers.

Alonso, who has been on the podium four times in the first five races of the year -his first five with Aston Martin, of which he is already the undisputed flagship-, bringing his number of 'drawers' in the premier category to 102, has achieved two of his 32 victories in F1 in the only current circuit -along with those of Monza (Italy), Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) and Silverstone (Great Britain), which unlike this one are not urban- present in the first F1 World Cup in all history, that of 1950.

The Asturian double world champion prevailed in Monte Carlo in 2006 -the year he revalidated the title- and repeated his victory a year later, with McLaren. On both occasions, starting from a 'pole' that among the luxury of the Mediterranean practically guarantees success.

During his time with Ferrari, Fernando – who, like most of the drivers, supported the decision to suspend Imola and stressed that “position on the grid will be paramount” next Sunday – added two more podium finishes in Monaco: in 2011, when he finished second; and a year later, when finishing third.

This time, ten years after his last victory in F1 so far (in the 2013 Spanish Grand Prix, also with the 'Scuderia') and after his more than impressive start to the season, it would not be crazy to think about the for not a few so longed for victory number 33 of the Asturian star. On a circuit where overtaking is practically impossible and where Saturday's session will be as important, if not more, than Sunday's.

Sainz, second last year -behind 'Checo'-, repeating the result of the previous season -when he seconded Verstappen-, will seek, at least, his third podium in the streets of Monte Carlo. The one that would mean his sixteenth in F1 and the first of a season in which the man from Madrid occupies fifth place in the contest, with 44 points, twelve less than the seven-time English world champion Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).

Sir Lewis is the only one among the assets to surpass Alonso's two wins in Monaco. The eccentric and spectacular champion from Stevenage achieved three of his 103 victories -a historic record- in the glamorous event on the Côte d'Azur. Where no one equals the half dozen of the legendary Ayrton Senna, who won three World Cups for Brazil before dying, injured, in Imola, during the San Marino Grand Prix 29 years ago.

A good result from Sainz would boost the morale of his team, the most successful in history, but which has not had the expected start to the season and which last weekend -at the Enzo e Dino Ferrari Autodrome- would have run, literally, at home. The 'Scuderia' is fourth in the Constructors' World Championship, with 78 points: very far from the 224 with which the very dominant Red Bull leads, which surpasses Aston Martin by 122, which from 2026 will have Honda engines, according to reports. announced Wednesday in Japan.

Carlos was injured on Tuesday playing the traditional drivers' charity football match, but on Wednesday he announced via his social media that he is “fine and fully ready to race in Monaco”, ruling out any injury.. His partner, the Monegasque Charles Leclerc -25 years old, three less than him-, who has five victories, 25 podiums and 19 pole positions in F1, but who is seventh in the contest -with ten points less than the man from Madrid- he is also eager to do well against his compatriots; in a test in which his best result is no more than the fourth achieved last year.

'Czech', 33 years old – who, before arriving in the Mediterranean principality, indicated that in recent days his “thoughts have always been with the victims of the floods” in northern Italy – raised to six, by winning this year in Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan, his number of wins in F1, in which he counts thirty podiums.

The champion of Guadalajara (Jalisco) had been third in 2016, with a Force India, in Monaco; where last year he won ahead of Sainz and 'Mad Max'. On a track where the brave driver from Guadalajara will once again be able to question the leadership of his Dutch colleague; and in which it will be shot with tires from the softest range of compounds: C3 (hard, recognizable by the white stripe), C4 (medium, yellow stripe) and C5 (soft, red).

That, if it doesn't rain. Something that the weather forecasts do not completely rule out in a Grand Prix in which the free practice, which starts this Friday, will be completed on Saturday, hours before the possibly decisive main timed session. What will order the starting lineup for Sunday's race?