Oscar Piastri has scored his first podium of the 2024 FIA Formula 1 World Championship season, picking up a well-deserved second place at the iconic Monaco Grand Prix overnight.
 
Starting from the front row after a stellar run in the ever-important Qualifying, Piastri produced a measured drive on the streets of Monte Carlo to claim a runner-up finish behind hometown hero, Charles Leclerc.
 
Outside of the chaotic start, which saw Carlos Sainz make contact with the Australian before the famous Grand Prix was red-flagged due to an incident involving Sergio Perez and the two Haas drivers, the race was fairly straightforward.
 
With the red flag allowing teams to make the mandatory tyre change early on, all strategies went out the window, with Piastri’s only way forward to win being an overtake on the Monegasque race leader.


Unfortunately, while the McLaren driver stuck within a second of Leclerc for much of the race, he was unable to find a gap big enough to make the move and had to settle for second place, as well as defending Sainz behind him.
 
Despite eventually finishing seven seconds off Leclerc in second place, Piastri was still pleased with the weekend overall and to get his first podium for 2024.
 
“[It was] a tricky race,” Piastri said post-race.
 
“The pace at the beginning was incredibly slow. I had one little half look before the tunnel, but didn’t have… I didn’t have a small enough car to fit into the gap.
 
“Thanks to the whole team, it’s been a great weekend all round, and nice to finally put a result on the board. I feel like we’ve been very strong for the last few weekends but didn’t really have the result to show for it, so it’s nice to have a podium, and what better place?”  
 
Fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo didn’t have a weekend to remember in Monaco as he Qualified in 13th before being elevated to 12th post-session due to the Haas drivers being disqualified from the session for an illegal part.


Although he started a place higher than first anticipated and gained an early place due to Esteban Ocon’s retirement on the opening lap, Ricciardo eventually finished where he started in 12th having initially lost his new position off the line during the second standing-start.
 
The FIA Formula 1 World Championship continues next month with the Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve on 8-10 June.
 
Earlier in the weekend, Christian Mansell secured his second podium for the FIA Formula 3 Championship season, picking up a second place in Sunday’s Feature Race.
 
The runner-up finish was the perfect response to a disappointing Sprint Race on Saturday where the New South Welshman was involved in a frustrating crash early on that ended his race prematurely.


With multiple safety car periods occurring throughout Sunday’s Feature Race, Mansell had multiple attempts to take the lead, but couldn’t make any of them stick as he stayed within DRS range of Gabriele Mini for much of the outing.
 
Eventually breaking out to a lead greater than one second, Mini held off a late challenge from Mansell to take out the win over the Australian, who picked up his first set of points since the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix.
 
Further down the order, Tommy Smith enjoyed his best results for the season with two finishes just outside the top 10.
 
Finishing 13th in Saturday’s Sprint Race, Smith improved by one place in the Feature Race to reach the chequered flag in 12th.
 
Rounding out the Aussies in Monaco was Sam Shahin, who had a weekend to forget in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup – retiring on the penultimate lap of the 17-lap race.
 
All weekend proved difficult for Shahin, who qualified in 23rd outright before being unable to make up any ground in the race and eventually coming to a halt on lap 16.