GP2

Once the track cleared, Palmer put his head down and set a string of fastest laps to build a gap of nine seconds to Evans who still ran on a slower pace than the rivals behind him who were all on soft tyres. But once again the safety car was deployed: the fight between Julian Leal and Raffaele Marciello for eighth place ended in tears for the Colombian driver after he tried to pass the Italian before the new chicane and lost control of his car crashing into the wall. That’s when all the leaders decided to come in for their mandatory pitstop leaving Stoffel Vandoorne into the lead. Palmer re-joined the track behind the Belgian whilst Evans re-joined in fourth place behind Simon Trummer. Both Vandoorne and Trummer still had to change tyres.

With fifteen laps to go, the action resumed. Stefano Coletti wasted no time to put pressure on Sergio Canamasas and passed him at La Rascasse for sixth place. A lap later, the Monegasque driver was all over Felipe Nasr (who had pitted early on lap 7) and also overtook him at the same spot. He then quickly discarded of Evans before setting his sights on Palmer, but he had one more car in front of him before he could challenge the Briton for the win. Unfortunately for the local hero, as he tried to pass Trummer at La Rascasse, both cars collided ending their race.

Vandoorne pitted and Palmer was back in control ahead of Evans and Nasr. In the dying minutes, the Brazilian closed in on the Kiwi but couldn’t pass him. At the chequered flag, it was all smiles and hugs for Palmer who pocketed a well-deserved win in the streets of Monte Carlo. Close behind him, Evans and Nasr (the latter from P18 on the grid) also enjoyed some champagne. Behind the trio, Cecotto had to settle for fourth ahead of teammate Canamasas, Arthur Pic (who had started from P14), Rio Haryanto, Richelmi (who will start from pole position on tomorrow’s reverse grid), Adrian Quaife-Hobbs and Tio Ellinas.