2008 Monaco Grand Prix

{{short description|Formula One motor race}} {{pp-move-indef}} {{Infobox Grand Prix race report |Details ref = <ref name="official">{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/monaco_792/circuit_diagram.html |title=Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2008 |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Management |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513123021/http://www.formula1.com/races/in_detail/monaco_792/circuit_diagram.html |archive-date=13 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fiafacts">{{cite web |url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/monaco/Pages/circuit.aspx |title=Grand Prix of Monaco |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521152946/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/monaco/Pages/circuit.aspx |archive-date=21 May 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |Previous_round = 2008 Turkish Grand Prix |Next_round = 2008 Canadian Grand Prix |Type = F1 |Grand Prix = Monaco |Country = Monaco |Image = Monte Carlo Formula 1 track map.svg |Date = 25 May |Year = 2008 |Race_No = 6 |Season_No = 18 |Official name = Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2008<ref name="official"/> |Course = Street circuit |Location = [[Circuit de Monaco]] |Course_mi = 2.08 |Course_km = 3.34 |Distance_laps = 76 |Distance_mi = 158.08 |Distance_km = 253.84 |Scheduled_laps= 78 |Scheduled_mi = 162.24 |Scheduled_km = 260.52 |Weather = Wet, drying later. |Pole_Driver = [[Felipe Massa]] |Pole_Team = [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |Pole_Time = 1:15.787 |Pole_Country = Brazil |Fast_Driver = [[Kimi Räikkönen]] |Fast_Team = [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |Fast_Time = 1:16.689 |Fast_Lap = 74 |Fast_Country = Finland |First_Driver = [[Lewis Hamilton]] |First_Team = [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]] |First_Country = United Kingdom |Second_Driver = [[Robert Kubica]] |Second_Team = [[BMW Sauber]] |Second_Country= Poland |Third_Driver = [[Felipe Massa]] |Third_Team = [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |Third_Country = Brazil |Lapchart = {{F1Laps2008|MON}} }} The '''2008 Monaco Grand Prix''' (formally the '''Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2008''') was a [[Formula One]] motor race held on 25 May 2008 at the [[Circuit de Monaco]]; contested over 76 laps, it was the sixth race of the [[2008 Formula One World Championship]]. The race was won by the season's eventual [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|World Drivers' Champion]], [[Lewis Hamilton]], for the [[McLaren]] team. [[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]] driver [[Robert Kubica]] finished second, and [[Felipe Massa]], who started from [[pole position]], was third in a [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]].

Conditions were wet at the start of the race. Massa maintained his lead into the first corner, but his teammate [[Kimi Räikkönen]] was passed for second by Hamilton, who had started in third position on the [[List of motorsport terminology#G|grid]]. Hamilton suffered a punctured [[Formula One tyres|tyre]] on lap six, forcing him to make a [[pit stop]] from which he re-entered the race in fifth place. As the track dried and his rivals made their own pit stops Hamilton became the race leader, a position he held until the end of the race. Kubica's strategy allowed him to pass Massa during their second pit stops, after the latter's Ferrari was forced to change from wet to dry tyres. Räikkönen dropped back from fifth position to ninth after colliding with [[Adrian Sutil]]'s [[Force India]] late in the race. Sutil had started from 18th on the grid and was in fourth position before the incident, which allowed [[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]] driver [[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]] to finish fourth, ahead of [[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]] driver [[Sebastian Vettel]] in fifth.

The race was Hamilton's second win of the season, his first in Monaco, and the result meant that he led the Drivers' Championship, three [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|points]] ahead of Räikkönen and four ahead of Massa. Ferrari maintained their lead in the [[List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions|World Constructors' Championship]], 16 points ahead of McLaren and 17 ahead of BMW Sauber, with 12 races of the season remaining. It was McLaren's last win in Monaco until 2025.

==Background== The Grand Prix was contested by 20 drivers, in ten teams of two.<ref name="classification">{{cite web |url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/monaco/Pages/race_classification.aspx |title=Race Classification |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-04-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604010356/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/monaco/Pages/race_classification.aspx |archive-date=June 4, 2011}}</ref> The teams, also known as "[[Formula One#Constructors|constructors]]", were [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]], [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]], [[Renault in Formula One|Renault]], [[Honda in Formula One|Honda]], [[Force India]]-Ferrari, [[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]], [[Toyota in Formula One|Toyota]], [[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-Renault, [[Williams Racing|Williams]]-Toyota and [[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-Ferrari.<ref name="classification"/> [[Formula One tyres|Tyre]] supplier [[Bridgestone]] brought four different tyre types to the race: two dry-weather tyre compounds, the softer marked by a single white stripe down one of the grooves, and two wet-weather compounds, the extreme wet also marked by a single white stripe.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg151>{{cite book |author=Alan Henry |title=Autocourse 2008–2009 |date=December 2008 |publisher=CMG Publishing |isbn=978-1-905334-31-5 |page=151}}</ref>

[[File:Kimi Raikkonen 2008 (square).jpg|thumb|left|[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] driver [[Kimi Räikkönen]] said his team would have a competitive car for the Monaco circuit.]]

Before the race, Ferrari driver [[Kimi Räikkönen]] led the [[List of Formula One World Drivers' Champions|Drivers' Championship]] with 35 [[List of Formula One World Championship points scoring systems|points]], and his teammate [[Felipe Massa]] was second with 28 points. McLaren driver [[Lewis Hamilton]] was third, also on 28 points, with one win fewer than Massa; BMW driver [[Robert Kubica]] was fourth on 24 points, ahead of his teammate [[Nick Heidfeld]] on 20 points.<ref name="pointsFIA">{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Bruce |title=The Official ITV Sport Guide: Grand Prix 2009 |chapter=Final Results 2008 |url=https://archive.org/details/grandprix2009off0000jone/ |year=2009 |publisher=[[Welbeck Publishing Group|Carlton Books]] |location=London, England |pages=116–117 |isbn=978-1-84732-262-3 |via=Internet Archive |url-access=registration}}</ref> In the [[List of Formula One World Constructors' Champions|Constructors' Championship]], Ferrari were leading with 63 points, 19 points ahead of BMW Sauber, and 21 points ahead of McLaren-Mercedes.<ref name="pointsFIA"/>

Ferrari had responded to Hamilton's win in the opening round of the season [[2008 Australian Grand Prix|in Australia]] by winning each of the subsequent four races, giving them a commanding lead in the Constructors' Championship. Ferrari's dominance had been highlighted by two [[List of motorsport terminology#O|one-two]] finishes: Massa ahead of Räikkönen [[2008 Bahrain Grand Prix|in Bahrain]] and Räikkönen's win over Massa at the [[2008 Spanish Grand Prix|following round in Spain]].<ref name="bahgpreport">{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/race/r788racereport.html |title=Bahrain GP – Sunday – Race Report: Massa on his own |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc |date=2008-04-06 |access-date=2009-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508144823/http://grandprix.com/race/r788racereport.html |archive-date=8 May 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="espgpreport">{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/race/r789racereport.html |title=Spanish GP – Sunday – Race Report: Kimi all the way (well nearly) |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc |date=2008-04-27 |access-date=2009-05-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508145336/http://grandprix.com/race/r789racereport.html |archive-date=8 May 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A strong drive despite an unfavourable strategy had helped Hamilton to split the Ferrari drivers on the [[podium]] [[2008 Turkish Grand Prix|in Turkey]], coming second, behind Massa but ahead of Räikkönen.<ref name="turgpreport">{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/race/r790racereport.html |title=Turkish GP – Sunday – Massa makes it look easy |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc |date=2008-05-11 |access-date=2009-05-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129093238/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r790racereport.html |archive-date=2009-01-29}}</ref> Ferrari had not won in Monaco [[2001 Monaco Grand Prix|since 2001]], and had been unable to match McLaren's pace [[2007 Monaco Grand Prix|in 2007]].<ref name=Elizalde>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67593 |title=Massa predicts strong race in Monaco |author=Pablo Elizalde |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-21 |access-date=2009-05-08}}</ref> After tests at the [[Circuit Paul Ricard]] in mid-May, Räikkönen said his team had developed a strong car for the tight, low-speed Monaco circuit, but they still expected a challenge from McLaren and BMW Sauber.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67586 |title=Raikkonen expects very competitive Ferrari |author=Pablo Elizalde |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-20 |access-date=2009-06-10}}</ref> Hamilton claimed that McLaren would be competitive at Monaco, but Kubica played down his team's chances, saying "I think a win will be very difficult."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67595 |title=Hamilton hungry for 'dream' Monaco win |author=Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-21 |access-date=2009-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67596 |title=Kubica downplays Monaco victory chances |author=Jonathan Noble and Simon Strang |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-21 |access-date=2009-05-08}}</ref>

Toro Rosso's main 2008 car, the [[Toro Rosso STR3|STR3]], was also introduced that weekend; the team had used a modified version of their 2007 car, the [[Toro Rosso STR2|STR2]], for the opening five races.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67574 |title=Toro Rosso: No qualms about new car debut |author=Jonathan Noble |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-20 |access-date=2009-05-08}}</ref> Originally due to be introduced at the previous race in Turkey, a crash in testing had left the team short of spare parts, delaying the car's race debut.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67161 |title=Toro Rosso to race old car in Turkey |author=Jonathan Noble |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-05 |access-date=2009-05-08}}</ref> As the STR3 used a different [[Formula One car#Transmission|transmission]] than that used in the STR2, Toro Rosso driver [[Sebastian Vettel]] was forced to take a five-place penalty on the [[List of motorsport terminology#G|grid]] for an unscheduled change of gearbox.<ref name="trpenalty">{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67561 |title=Vettel to get gearbox change penalty |author=Jonathan Noble |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-19 |access-date=2009-05-08}}</ref> His teammate [[Sébastien Bourdais]] escaped a similar penalty because he had failed to finish the race in Turkey, allowing him a free gearbox change.<ref name="trpenalty"/> {{Clear}}

==Practice== [[File:Lewis Hamilton 2008 Monaco.jpg|thumb|right|[[Lewis Hamilton]] during Thursday practice]]

Three practice sessions were held before the Sunday race – two on Thursday, and one on Saturday. The Thursday morning and afternoon sessions each lasted 90 minutes; the third session, on Saturday morning, lasted for an hour.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg151/><ref name="sporting">{{cite web |url=http://argent.fia.com/web/fia-public.nsf/475632E46002BEDAC125744F004312F4/$FILE/F1.SPORTING.REGULATIONS.19-05-2008.pdf |title=2008 Formula One Sporting Regulations |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=2008-05-19 |access-date=2009-05-09}}</ref> One hour into the first session, officials noticed a loose drain cover in the run through Beau Rivage, and suspended practice. Ferrari and McLaren took the top four spots after the resumption – Räikkönen ahead of Hamilton, McLaren driver [[Heikki Kovalainen]], and Massa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/5/7813.html |title=Practice one – Raikkonen gives Ferrari edge on McLaren |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Management |date=2008-05-22 |access-date=2009-05-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202052143/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/5/7813.html |archive-date=December 2, 2008}}</ref> Behind Williams driver [[Nico Rosberg]], Kubica was the best of the BMW Saubers in sixth; his teammate Heidfeld was forced to retire because of an engine failure, and stopped his car in Casino Square after just 13 laps.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67610 |title=Raikkonen fastest in practice 1 – Monaco |author=Matt Beer |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-22 |access-date=2009-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67617 |title=Heidfeld laments lost track time |author=Pablo Elizalde |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-22 |access-date=2009-05-09}}</ref> Despite further delays during the second session – both Renault drivers crashed in separate incidents at Sainte Devote, requiring the [[Motorsport marshal|marshals]] to sweep the track of debris – Hamilton again proved strong, fastest ahead of Rosberg, Räikkönen, Massa, Kovalainen and Kubica.<ref name="prac2">{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67615 |title=Hamilton controls practice 2 – Monaco |author=Matt Beer |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-22 |access-date=2009-05-09}}</ref> Apart from the Renault drivers, two more cars struck the barriers: Toyota driver [[Jarno Trulli]] scraped the wall out of Piscine; [[Adrian Sutil]]'s Force India lost its [[Formula One car#Aerodynamics|front wing]] after tagging the barrier at Rascasse.<ref name="prac2"/> While light rain fell on Saturday morning, Kovalainen set the fastest time in the final session, before losing control at Piscine and damaging the rear of his car.<ref name="f1.comprac3">{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/5/7825.html |title=Final practice – Kovalainen tops dry-wet session despite crash |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Management |date=2008-05-24 |access-date=2009-05-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526202802/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/5/7825.html |archive-date=May 26, 2008}}</ref> The rain increased as the marshals cleared the debris, and in the ensuing poor track conditions Kovalainen's time remained unbeaten.<ref name="f1.comprac3"/> Hamilton managed second fastest, ahead of Räikkönen, Rosberg, Kubica and Massa.<ref name="prac3">{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67674 |title=Kovalainen tops practice 3, then crashes |author=Simon Strang |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-24 |access-date=2009-05-09}}</ref>

==Qualifying==

Saturday afternoon's qualifying session was divided into three parts. In the first 20-minute period, cars finishing 16th or lower were eliminated. The second qualifying period lasted for 15 minutes, at the end of which the fastest ten cars went into the final period, to determine their grid positions for the race. Cars failing to make the final period were allowed to be refuelled before the race but those competing in it were not, and so carried more fuel than they had done in the earlier qualifying sessions.<ref name="sporting"/>

{{quote box|quote=Incredible! I have got pole on a track where I have always struggled. Now I am beginning to like it a bit more ... I managed to do a perfect lap with a great car: this result shows that, if you work hard and with attention to detail, you can do it everywhere ... Starting at the front means I have the best possible conditions, but we will have to do everything perfectly. We worked a lot on the set-up to improve on the situation compared to past years and I think this decision has paid off.|source=[[Felipe Massa]], following the third qualifying session.<ref name="qualquotes">{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/5/7829.html |title=Qualifying – selected driver quotes |publisher=Formula One Management |date=2008-05-24 |access-date=2009-05-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080712112747/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/5/7829.html |archive-date=July 12, 2008}}</ref>|width=28%|align=left}}

Massa clinched his third [[pole position]] of the season with a time of 1:15.787, and was joined on the front row by teammate Räikkönen.<ref name="autosportqual">{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67678 |title=Massa heads all-Ferrari front row |author=Steven English |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-24 |access-date=2009-05-09}}</ref> Hamilton took third place on the grid, with a qualifying time just 0.052 seconds slower than Massa's.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg144>{{cite book |author=Alan Henry |title=Autocourse 2008–2009 |date=December 2008 |publisher=CMG Publishing |isbn=978-1-905334-31-5 |page=144}}</ref> Kovalainen edged out Kubica to take fourth, the latter struggling to get heat into his tyres for his final run.<ref name="qualquotes"/> Rosberg's attacking style took him to sixth; Renault driver [[Fernando Alonso]], Trulli and Red Bull driver [[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]] occupied the next three places.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg144/><ref name="bbcqual">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7418396.stm |title=Monaco Grand Prix: Qualifying |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=2008-05-24 |access-date=2009-05-09}}</ref> Webber's teammate [[David Coulthard]] ended his second session in the barriers after the tunnel, after his car jerked sideways at the crest under braking.<ref name="gp.comqual">{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/race/r791q1report.html |title=Monaco GP – Saturday – Qualifying Session Report: Felipe threads the needle |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc |date=2008-05-24 |access-date=2009-05-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517040050/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r791q1report.html |archive-date=17 May 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Although Coulthard was unhurt, the position of his stricken car and the subsequent [[Racing flags#Yellow flag|caution flags]] surrounding it denied many drivers the opportunity to make their final [[List of motorsport terminology#F|flying laps]] in the session.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg144/> Honda driver [[Jenson Button]], who took 12th behind [[Timo Glock]] of Toyota, blamed the disruption for his performance, having prepared his car specifically for the final run.<ref name="qualquotes"/> Heidfeld suffered from similar tyre problems to his teammate and managed 13th; Williams driver [[Kazuki Nakajima]] and Honda driver [[Rubens Barrichello]] took the next two places ahead of Bourdais in the new STR3.<ref name="qualquotes"/> Renault driver [[Nelson Piquet Jr.]] lined up from 17th and Vettel managed 18th before his gearbox penalty demoted him to 19th.<ref name="autosportqual"/> The Force Indias of Sutil and [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] qualified slowest; Fisichella's penalty for a change of gearbox after morning practice meant he started from 20th on the grid.<ref name="gp.comqual"/> {{Clear}}

===Qualifying classification=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:85%" ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Pos|Position}} ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|No|Car number}} ! scope="col" | Driver ! scope="col" | Constructor ! scope="col" | Q1 ! scope="col" | Q2 ! scope="col" | Q3 ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Grid|Final grid position}} |- ! scope="row" | 1 |2 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Felipe Massa]] |[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |'''1:15.190''' |'''1:15.110''' |'''1:15.787''' |1 |- ! scope="row" | 2 |1 |{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Kimi Räikkönen]] |[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:15.717 |1:15.404 |1:15.815 |2 |- ! scope="row" | 3 |22 |{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Lewis Hamilton]] |[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]] |1:15.582 |1:15.322 |1:15.839 |3 |- ! scope="row" | 4 |23 |{{flagicon|Finland}} [[Heikki Kovalainen]] |[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]] |1:15.295 |1:15.389 |1:16.165 |4 |- ! scope="row" | 5 |4 |{{flagicon|Poland}} [[Robert Kubica]] |[[BMW Sauber]] |1:15.977 |1:15.483 |1:16.171 |5 |- ! scope="row" | 6 |7 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Nico Rosberg]] |[[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] |1:15.935 |1:15.287 |1:16.548 |6 |- ! scope="row" | 7 |5 |{{flagicon|Spain}} [[Fernando Alonso]] |[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |1:16.646 |1:15.827 |1:16.852 |7 |- ! scope="row" | 8 |11 |{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Jarno Trulli]] |[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] |1:16.306 |1:15.598 |1:17.203 |8 |- ! scope="row" | 9 |10 |{{flagicon|Australia}} [[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]] |[[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |1:16.074 |1:15.745 |1:17.343 |9 |- ! scope="row" | 10 |9 |{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[David Coulthard]] |[[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |1:16.086 |1:15.839 |data-sort-value="10" | No time{{ref|1|1}} |15{{ref|2|2}} |- ! scope="row" | 11 |12 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Timo Glock]] |[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] |1:16.285 |1:15.907 |data-sort-value="11" | |10 |- ! scope="row" | 12 |16 |{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Jenson Button]] |[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] |1:16.259 |1:16.101 |data-sort-value="12" | |11 |- ! scope="row" | 13 |3 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Nick Heidfeld]] |[[BMW Sauber]] |1:16.650 |1:16.455 |data-sort-value="13" | |12 |- ! scope="row" | 14 |8 |{{flagicon|Japan}} [[Kazuki Nakajima]] |[[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] |1:16.756 |1:16.479 |data-sort-value="14" | |13 |- ! scope="row" | 15 |17 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Rubens Barrichello]] |[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] |1:16.208 |1:16.537 |data-sort-value="15" | |14 |- ! scope="row" | 16 |14 |{{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]] |[[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:16.806 |data-sort-value="16" | |data-sort-value="16" | |16 |- ! scope="row" | 17 |6 |{{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Nelson Piquet Jr.]] |[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] |1:16.933 |data-sort-value="17" | |data-sort-value="17" | |17 |- ! scope="row" | 18 |15 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Sebastian Vettel]] |[[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:16.955 |data-sort-value="18" | |data-sort-value="18" | |19{{ref|2|2}} |- ! scope="row" | 19 |20 |{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Adrian Sutil]] |[[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:17.225 |data-sort-value="19" | |data-sort-value="19" | |18 |- ! scope="row" | 20 |21 |{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] |[[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] |1:17.823 |data-sort-value="20" | |data-sort-value="20" | |20{{ref|2|2}} |- !colspan="8"|{{center|Source:<ref name="autosportqual"/>}} |} ;Notes *{{note|1|1}} – [[David Coulthard]] failed to set a time in Q3 following an accident at the end of Q2.<ref name="autocourse2008-pg144" /> *{{note|2|2}} – [[David Coulthard]], [[Sebastian Vettel]] and [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] were each given five place grid penalties for changing their gearboxes.<ref name="autocourse2008-pg144" />

==Race== [[File:Massa Monaco 2008.jpg|thumb|right|[[Felipe Massa]] drives through Sainte-Dévote]]

On Sunday morning Coulthard became the third driver to incur a gearbox penalty, after changing his transmission following his crash during qualifying.<ref name="coulthardpenalty">{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67715 |title=Coulthard gets five-place grid penalty |author=Jonathan Noble |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10}}</ref> The penalty moved him from 10th to 15th on the grid.<ref name="coulthardpenalty"/> In contrast to Saturday's dry qualifying session, frequent showers soaked the track on Sunday morning, making racing slippery and potentially hazardous.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67714 |title=Drivers 'nervous' ahead of wet Monaco |author=Jonathan Noble |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10}}</ref> Although the showers subsided by early afternoon, they resumed 20 minutes before the start, the changeable conditions forcing teams to delay tyre choices for as long as possible.<ref name="commautosport">{{cite news |url=http://live.autosport.com/commentary.php/id/13 |title=As it happened: Raceday in Monte Carlo |author=Geoff Creighton and Emlyn Hughes |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10}}</ref> By the time of the three-minute warning most drivers had opted for the standard wet tyre; only Piquet started the race on the extreme wet.<ref name="tyrestrategies">{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67744 |title=Tyre strategies – Monaco GP |author=Jonathan Noble |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10}}</ref> Kovalainen's engine [[Stall (engine)|stalled]] as the cars set off on their [[List of motorsport terminology#F|formation lap]]; his car was pushed back to the pit lane by his mechanics, where it was restarted and a new steering wheel fitted to solve the problem.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149>{{cite book |author=Simon Arron |editor=Alan Henry |title=Autocourse 2008–2009 |date=December 2008 |publisher=CMG Publishing |isbn=978-1-905334-31-5 |pages=146–149}}</ref>

Massa held his lead into the first corner at Sainte Devote, while behind him Hamilton used the pit lane exit to pass Räikkönen down the inside.<ref name="commautosport"/> Kovalainen's vacated fourth position was filled by Kubica, as Alonso moved into fifth, passing Rosberg.<ref name="fiaracefacts">{{cite web |url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressinformation/f1pressinfo/monaco/Pages/race_facts.aspx |title=Race Facts |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081117155940/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/mediacentre/pressinformation/f1pressinfo/monaco/Pages/race_facts.aspx |archive-date=November 17, 2008}}</ref> The latter made a [[pit stop]] soon after for a new front wing after making contact with Alonso at the [[Hairpin turn|hairpin]], promoting Trulli to sixth.<ref name="gpreport">{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/race/r791racereport.html |title=Monaco GP – Sunday – Race Report: In the wheeltracks of giants |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129093243/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r791racereport.html |archive-date=2009-01-29}}</ref> These positions were maintained for several laps, but the distances between the cars increased, in part because the spray thrown up by their wheels made close racing difficult.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/> The conditions proved to be crucial when Hamilton made contact with barriers on the outside of Tabac on lap six, necessitating his return to the pit lane for a new set of tyres.<ref name="commbbc">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7416199.stm |title=Monaco Grand Prix: As it happened |author=Sarah Holt |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527193828/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/formula_one/7416199.stm |archive-date=27 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> The McLaren mechanics fuelled the car for a longer second [[List of motorsport terminology#S|stint]] and Hamilton emerged in fifth, the distances between his competitors' cars resulting in him losing only three places during the pit stop.<ref name="gpreport"/> Alonso had a similar accident to Hamilton's at Massenet two laps later, and emerged in seventh after pitting and taking on extreme wets.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/>

Massa's lead – 12 seconds over the second-placed Räikkönen by lap six – was reduced to nothing when the [[safety car]] was deployed on the eighth lap.<ref name="fiaracefacts"/> Coulthard and Bourdais had crashed into the barriers at Massenet just seconds apart, requiring the marshals to separate the cars and lift them off the track.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/> When the safety car pulled off after three laps, Massa consolidated his lead over his teammate. Räikkönen, however, was called into the pit lane for a [[List of motorsport terminology#D|drive-through penalty]] after to failing to have his tyres attached by the three-minute warning before the race, dropping him back to fourth.<ref name="commautosport"/> Kubica, now second, took the lead when Massa slid off down the escape road at Sainte Devote, the undamaged Ferrari rejoining in second as the rain eased.<ref name="commautosport"/> The two swapped positions again after their pit stops – Kubica on lap 26 and Massa on lap 33 – but Hamilton, carrying more fuel than his rivals, took the lead.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/>

[[File:Sutil Monaco 2008 crop.jpg|thumb|left|[[Adrian Sutil]] early in the race]]

As a [[List of motorsport terminology#D|dry line]] appeared on the track, Hamilton extended his lead over Massa, from 13 to 37 seconds, by the time he made a pit stop for the second time on lap 54.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/> His timing proved fortunate, as he changed to dry tyres just as such a strategy emerged as the strongest, and he emerged 13 seconds ahead of Massa.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/> The Ferrari's own pit stop two laps later dropped Massa behind Kubica.<ref name="fialapchart">{{cite web |url=http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/monaco/Pages/lap_chart.aspx |title=Lap Chart |publisher=Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615013028/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/monaco/Pages/lap_chart.aspx |archive-date=June 15, 2008}}</ref> Hamilton's lead was reduced when the safety car once again deployed on lap 62 after Rosberg crashed at Piscine, hitting both sides of the track and scattering debris.<ref name="fiaracefacts"/><ref name="commbbc"/> Rosberg was unhurt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/5/7858.html |title=Rosberg feeling fine after Monaco crash |work=Formula1.com |publisher=Formula One Management |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608144939/http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2008/5/7858.html |archive-date=June 8, 2008}}</ref>

Of the 20 cars which started the race, Sutil had gained the most places by the second safety car period.<ref name="fialapchart"/> The Force India started from 18th, rose one place after Kovalainen was pushed back to the pit lane, passed Piquet on the second lap and Bourdais a lap later.<ref name="fiaracefacts"/> Sutil benefited as Button, Rosberg, Glock and Trulli made pit stops for repairs over the following laps, to sit in 11th by lap 14.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/> Alonso, on extreme wet tyres behind Heidfeld, attempted to pass the BMW at the hairpin, but succeeded only in damaging his front wing and forming a stationary queue behind him.<ref name="commautosport"/> He also benefitted by overtaking three cars under yellow flags and would have been penalised if he had finished the race.<ref>{{cite news |title=autosport.com – F1 News: Sutil reprimanded for passing under yellow |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67745 |work=Autosport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008043530/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67745 |archive-date=2008-10-08 |url-status=live |access-date=2009-09-12}}</ref><ref name="f1complete.com">{{cite web |title=Formula 1 complete – all access F1 – Sutil would not have scored points at Monaco |url=http://www.f1complete.com/content/view/8825/1179/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710220333/http://www.f1complete.com/content/view/8825/1179/ |archive-date=2011-07-10 |url-status=usurped |access-date=2009-09-12}}</ref> Sutil took advantage of the situation and passed four cars to take seventh, behind Heidfeld and Webber.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/> Running a long first stint until lap 53, he moved to fourth as the cars ahead of him made pit stops.<ref name="fialapchart"/> Vettel gained 12 places from the start, battling with Barrichello and Nakajima early on before jumping several places on his first stint as his rivals made pit stops, eventually switching to dry tyres when he stopped on lap 52.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg151/><ref name="gpreport"/> Webber improved three places from the start to sit in sixth, ahead of Vettel, Barrichello and Nakajima.<ref name="fialapchart"/>

The safety car was withdrawn on lap 68.<ref name="fialapchart"/> Later on the same lap, Räikkönen lost control of his car under braking out of the tunnel, and by the time he regained control his speed was too great to avoid a collision with Sutil.<ref name="gpreport"/> The Ferrari damaged its front wing and made a pit stops for a replacement before resuming, but the damage to Sutil's rear [[Suspension (vehicle)|suspension]] led to his retirement.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/> Webber benefited from the incident and moved to fourth place, while Räikkönen dropped back to ninth.<ref name="fialapchart"/>

[[File:Nick Heidfeld 2008 Monaco.jpg|thumb|right|[[Nick Heidfeld]] finished the race four laps behind race winner [[Lewis Hamilton]].]]

The slow pace during the opening laps meant the race ended after two hours, or 76 laps, rather than the 78 laps originally scheduled.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/> Hamilton, despite suffering a slow puncture on the final lap, crossed the finish line to take his first win in Monaco.<ref name="gpreport"/> Kubica followed in second, ahead of Massa and Webber.<ref name="classification"/> Vettel took the STR3 to its first points in its maiden race, coming fifth, ahead of Barrichello and Nakajima.<ref name="classification"/> Kovalainen recovered from his stall to finish eighth, one place ahead of Räikkönen, who set the [[fastest lap]] of the race on lap 74, a 1:16.689.<ref name="classification"/> He was followed by Alonso, Button, Glock and Trulli.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/> Heidfeld was the last of the classified finishers, in 14th position, four laps behind Hamilton.<ref name="gpreport"/> Fisichella retired with a gearbox failure after 36 laps; Piquet – two laps after he switched to dry tyres on lap 46 – finished his race in the barriers at Sainte Devote.<ref name=autocourse2008-pg146-149/> Sutil, Rosberg, Coulthard and Bourdais were the four other retirements.<ref name="classification"/>

===Post-race=== {{quote box | quote = ''This has got to be the highlight of my career and I am sure it will continue to be the highlight for the rest of my life. I remember on the last few laps I was just thinking that [[Ayrton Senna]] won here a lot of times and to win here would be amazing ... [From] the last corner onwards, I was screaming my head off basically, making sure the radio was off, but just so happy that I was able to pull it off.'' | source = [[Lewis Hamilton]], speaking after the race.<ref name="pressconference">{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/race/r791sunpc.html |title=Monaco GP – Sunday – Press Conference |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528123957/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r791sunpc.html |archive-date=28 May 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | width = 29% | align = right }}

The top three finishers appeared in [[Albert II, Prince of Monaco|Prince Albert II of Monaco's]] Royal box to collect their trophies.<ref name="commautosport"/> In the subsequent [[press conference]] Hamilton said that conditions early in the race made driving difficult: "When the weather is like this, when it starts to rain and we had an idea it was going to start to dry, the important thing is to keep it on the track but I can't explain how difficult it was for all of us. You were [[Hydroplaning (tires)|aquaplaning]] all the time and you were tip-toeing almost."<ref name="pressconference"/> Hamilton also said that his crash at Tabac had been the result of a stream of water running over the track, causing his car to [[oversteer]] and resulting in a puncture to his right rear tyre.<ref name="pressconference"/> Nevertheless, he praised his team and strategy for helping him take the victory.<ref name="pressconference"/> Kubica said that tyre problems in his middle stint meant he was unable to overtake Massa, who was driving a heavier car. Noticing Glock's success on dry tyres, Kubica asked his team to make a similar change, resulting in his pass on Massa.<ref name="pressconference"/> During the post-race interview Massa said that although he was fuelled to the end of the race after his first pit stop, the drying track forced him to pit again for new tyres: "It was a shame that we made a little mistake on the strategy but it is good to be on the podium."<ref name="pressconference"/>

Sutil expressed his disappointment after being knocked out of the race when he was on course to record his team's first points:

{{blockquote|''I can't believe it, it was so close. It feels like a pain in my heart. It is like a dream gone to a nightmare – suddenly you are in the car and it looks all fantastic, then you have to accept it is not going to happen ... It was after the restart after the final safety car that Kimi had a problem under braking and crashed into the back of my car. The race was over and it was a real shock. A few tears came out as the adrenaline was high – I just can't explain it.''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grandprix.com/race/r791sunquotes.html |title=Monaco GP – Sunday – Team Quotes |work=GrandPrix.com |publisher=Inside F1, Inc |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528124038/http://www.grandprix.com/race/r791sunquotes.html |archive-date=28 May 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

[[File:Robert Kubica 2009 Australia.jpg|thumb|right|[[Robert Kubica]] finished second and credited his strategy for his performance.]]

Räikkönen apologised to Sutil for their collision, blaming cold brakes for his loss of control.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67750 |title=Raikkonen apologises to Sutil |author=Jonathan Noble and Pablo Elizalde |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10}}</ref> [[Mike Gascoyne]], Force India's technical chief, called for the [[List of motorsport terminology#S|stewards]] to investigate the incident, but after deliberation no action was taken.<ref name="gascoyne">{{cite web |url=http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=42780 |title=Gascoyne: Kimi should be penalised |work=ITV-F1.com |publisher=ITV plc |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708052745/http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=42780 |archive-date=July 8, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67754 |title=Stewards take no action on Raikkonen crash |author=Pablo Elizalde |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10}}</ref> "The frustration is that if that was a Force India driver hitting a world champion we'd expect to get a one or two-race ban, but the other way round nothing ever seems to happen" said Gascoyne.<ref name="gascoyne"/> Sutil was called to the stewards' room and reprimanded for passing three cars under yellow flags on lap 13. Because he had retired, he was issued with merely a warning, but had he finished the race he would have been given a 25-second time penalty, which would have dropped him out of the point-scoring positions.<ref name="f1complete.com"/><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67745 |title=Sutil reprimanded for passing under yellow |author=Simon Strang |work=Autosport |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2009-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008043530/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67745 |archive-date=2008-10-08 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Hamilton's win was praised by [[Jackie Stewart]], a three-time winner of the [[Monaco Grand Prix]]. "At his age, Lewis can win this race many times," he said. "This is the first, I hope, of many victories for him in Monaco so that he can join the greats of Formula One."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article4004312.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202091619/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/formula_1/article4004312.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 2, 2008 |title=Triumphant Lewis Hamilton singing in the rain of Monte Carlo |author=Kevin Eason |work=Times Online |publisher=News International |date=2008-05-26 |access-date=2009-05-10 |location=London}}</ref> [[Damon Hill]], the [[1996 Formula One season|1996 World Champion]], said Hamilton "did very well indeed. I was most impressed, and the race as a whole was also a great advertisement for what F1 should be about."<ref name=autocourse2008-pg148>{{cite book |author=Alan Henry |title=Autocourse 2008–2009 |date=December 2008 |publisher=CMG Publishing |isbn=978-1-905334-31-5 |page=148}}</ref> McLaren would not win the race again until 2025, when Lando Norris took victory from pole position ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The race result left Hamilton leading the Drivers' Championship with 38 points.<ref name="pointsFIA"/> Räikkönen, who failed to score in Monaco, was second on 35 points, one point ahead of Massa and three ahead of Kubica. Heidfeld was sixth on 20 points.<ref name="pointsFIA"/> In the Constructors' Championship, Ferrari maintained their lead with 69 points, McLaren jumped to second on 53 points, and BMW Sauber dropped to third on 52 points, with 12 races of the season remaining.<ref name="pointsFIA"/> {{Clear}}

===Race classification=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%" |- ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Pos|Position}} ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|No|Car number}} ! scope="col" | Driver ! scope="col" | Constructor ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Laps|Laps completed}} ! scope="col" | Time/Retired ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Grid|Final grid positions}} ! scope="col" | Points |- ! scope="row" | 1 | 22 || {{flagicon|UK}} '''[[Lewis Hamilton]]''' || '''[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]]''' | 76 | 2:00:42.742 | 3 | '''10''' |- ! scope="row" | 2 | 4 || {{flagicon|Poland}} '''[[Robert Kubica]]''' || '''[[BMW Sauber]]''' | 76 | +3.064 | 5 | '''8''' |- ! scope="row" | 3 | 2 || {{flagicon|Brazil}} '''[[Felipe Massa]]''' || '''[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]''' | 76 | +4.811 | 1 | '''6''' |- ! scope="row" | 4 | 10 || {{flagicon|Australia}} '''[[Mark Webber (racing driver)|Mark Webber]]''' || '''[[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]]''' | 76 | +19.295 | 9 | '''5''' |- ! scope="row" | 5 | 15 || {{flagicon|Germany}} '''[[Sebastian Vettel]]''' || '''[[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]]''' | 76 | +24.657 | 19 | '''4''' |- ! scope="row" | 6 | 17 || {{flagicon|Brazil}} '''[[Rubens Barrichello]]''' || '''[[Honda in Formula One|Honda]]''' | 76 | +28.408 | 14 | '''3''' |- ! scope="row" | 7 | 8 || {{flagicon|Japan}} '''[[Kazuki Nakajima]]''' || '''[[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]]''' | 76 | +30.180 | 13 | '''2''' |- ! scope="row" | 8 | 23 || {{flagicon|Finland}} '''[[Heikki Kovalainen]]''' || '''[[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes-Benz HighPerformanceEngines|Mercedes]]''' | 76 | +33.191 | PL{{ref|3|3}} | '''1''' |- ! scope="row" | 9 | 1 || {{flagicon|Finland}} [[Kimi Räikkönen]] || [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 76 | +33.792 | 2 | |- ! scope="row" | 10 | 5 || {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Fernando Alonso]] || [[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] | 75 | +1 Lap | 7 | |- ! scope="row" | 11 | 16 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[Jenson Button]] || [[Honda in Formula One|Honda]] | 75 | +1 Lap | 11 | |- ! scope="row" | 12 | 12 || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Timo Glock]] || [[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] | 75 | +1 Lap | 10 | |- ! scope="row" | 13 | 11 || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Jarno Trulli]] || [[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] | 75 | +1 Lap | 8 | |- ! scope="row" | 14 | 3 || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Nick Heidfeld]] || [[BMW Sauber]] | 72 | +4 Laps | 12 | |- ! scope="row" | {{Abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 20 || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Adrian Sutil]] || [[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 67 | Collision damage | 18 | |- ! scope="row" | {{Abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 7 || {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Nico Rosberg]] || [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] | 59 | Accident | 6 | |- ! scope="row" | {{Abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 6 || {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Nelson Piquet Jr.]] || [[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] | 47 | Accident | 17 | |- ! scope="row" | {{Abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 21 || {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Giancarlo Fisichella]] || [[Force India]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 36 | Gearbox | 20 | |- ! scope="row" | {{Abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 9 || {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[David Coulthard]] || [[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] | 7 | Accident | 15 | |- ! scope="row" | {{Abbr|Ret|Retired}} | 14 || {{flagicon|France}} [[Sébastien Bourdais]] || [[Scuderia Toro Rosso|Toro Rosso]]-[[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 7 | Collision | 16 | |- !colspan="8"|{{center|Source:<ref name="classification"/>}} |} ;Notes * {{note|3|3}} – [[Heikki Kovalainen]] started the race from the pitlane.<ref name="autocourse2008-pg146-149" />

==Championship standings after the race== {{col-start}} {{col-2}} ;Drivers' Championship standings {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;" |- ! scope="col" | +/− ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Pos.|Position}} ! scope="col" | Driver ! scope="col" | Points |- | [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 2 |align="center"| 1 | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Lewis Hamilton]] | 38 |- | [[File:1downarrow red.svg|10px]] 1 |align="center"| 2 | {{flagicon|FIN}} [[Kimi Räikkönen]] | 35 |- | [[File:1downarrow red.svg|10px]] 1 |align="center"| 3 | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Felipe Massa]] | 34 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 4 | {{flagicon|POL}} [[Robert Kubica]] | 32 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 5 | {{flagicon|GER}} [[Nick Heidfeld]] | 20 |- !colspan=4|Source:<ref name="pointsFIA"/><ref name="Championship">{{Cite web |url=https://www.statsf1.com/en/2008/monaco/championnat.aspx |title=Monaco 2008 - Championship • STATS F1 |website=www.statsf1.com |access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref> |} {{col-2}} ;Constructors' Championship standings {|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 85%;" |- ! scope="col" | +/− ! scope="col" | {{Abbr|Pos.|Position}} ! scope="col" | Driver ! scope="col" | Points |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 1 | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Scuderia Ferrari|Ferrari]] | 69 |- | [[File:1uparrow green.svg|10px]] 1 |align="center"| 2 | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[McLaren]]-[[Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains|Mercedes]] | 53 |- | [[File:1downarrow red.svg|10px]] 1 |align="center"| 3 | {{flagicon|GER}} [[BMW in Formula One|BMW Sauber]] | 52 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 4 | {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Williams Grand Prix Engineering|Williams]]-[[Toyota Racing (Formula One team)|Toyota]] | 15 |- | [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg|10px]] |align="center"| 5 | {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Red Bull Racing|Red Bull]]-[[Renault in Formula One|Renault]] | 15 |- !colspan=4|Source:<ref name="pointsFIA"/><ref name="Championship"/> |} {{col-end}} *<small>'''Note''': Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.</small>

== See also == * [[2008 Monaco GP2 Series round]]

==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== {{Wikinews|Lewis Hamilton wins 2008 Monaco Grand Prix}} {{commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090329233551/http://www.fia.com/en-GB/sport/championships/f1/2008/bahrain/Pages/race_classification.aspx Official FIA results]

{{F1_race_report |Name_of_race = [[Monaco Grand Prix]] |Year_of_race = 2008 |Previous_race_in_season = [[2008 Turkish Grand Prix]] |Next_race_in_season = [[2008 Canadian Grand Prix]] |Previous_year's_race = [[2007 Monaco Grand Prix]] |Next_year's_race = [[2009 Monaco Grand Prix]] }} {{Monaco Grand Prix}} {{F1GP 00-09}}

[[Category:2008 Formula One races|Monaco Grand Prix]] [[Category:Monaco Grand Prix]] [[Category:2008 in Monegasque motorsport|Grand Prix]] [[Category:May 2008 sports events in Europe|Monaco Grand Prix]]