Although native-Monegasque Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc tried to temper expectations for the weekend, the Ferraris were in a good place in Monaco. With no fast corners, the team could run the car low to the ground without risking a penalty, and this year's car is very good at low-speed corners, of which Monaco has plenty.

Formula 1's two-stop experiment at the Monaco Grand Prix underlined what the sport already knew about its most famous race: the confines of the 94-year-old circuit are too tight to allow genuine racing.

Then, Williams followed suit – with Carlos Sainz and then Alex Albon lapping nearly six seconds a lap slower than the frontrunners. For both teams, double points-finishes. A tactic reeking of gamesmanship worked to perfection.