VERSTAPPEN'S A RAINING CHAMP

Max survives a late heavy downpour and a brush with a barrier to clinch his 39th win and cement his lead

- NEIL RANDON

MAX VERSTAPPEN survived a late downpour and a brush with a crash barrier to win a dramatic Monaco Grand Prix.

Despite glancing the protective fence on the way to the 39th victory of his career, the flying Dutchman had been in control in his Red Bull from the start of the 78-lap race.

From pole position, the 25-year-old crucially got the jump on Fernando Alonso, also on the front row, in the sprint to the first corner.

as For the first hour, this was a dull procession Verstappen pulled clear of his Spanish rival by more than 10 seconds, who in turn was ahead of Esteban Ocon, Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton (right).

But when the rain hit with 25 laps to go, Alonso took a gamble on tyres, thinking it was not going to be much, and it backfired when the drizzle turned into a downpour. Alonso was forced to change tyres twice in a few minutes and his hopes of a win were gone.