Race: Hamilton finally wins No44 in Monaco

Rain, safety Cars, virtual and otherwise, crashes and tyre strategy set the backdrop for the Monaco Grand Prix, a race won by Lewis Hamilton, his first of 2016.

With heavy rain falling in the hours ahead of Sunday’s 78-lap Monaco Grand Prix, Race Control declared a Safety Car start.

That meant pole-sitter Daniel Ricciardo was unchallenged through the opening seven laps and even unchallenged after the SC pitted as behind him the two Mercedes fought wing-to-wing.

But with Mercedes ordering Rosberg to move aside from Hamilton, that all changed.

Hamilton immediately ate into Ricciardo’s lead before opting to stay out until such a time as the track was ready for slick tyres before making his first pit stop for ultras.

With Red Bull botching Ricciardo’s second stop – he had a stint on the inters before doing onto slicks – as they were not ready with the super-softs, it was Hamilton who emerged in the lead on a fast-drying Monaco circuit.

That yield a tense battle between the two, with one incident even referred to the stewards as Hamilton closed the door on Ricciardo after cutting the chicane with half of his W07.

The duo raced toward the chequered flag in formation with Ricciardo unable to find a way through with even a few drops of rain late in the race not enough to help the Red Bull racer.

Hamilton claimed his second Monaco GP win by X seconds off the Aussie and …

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