Sergio Perez emotional after surprise Monaco GP win: 'It's a dream come true'

Sergio Perez won a rain-disrupted Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, 29 May, as pole-sitter Charles Leclerc suffered another dose of ill luck on his home circuit. Perez, the first Mexican to win at the iconic circuit, claimed his third career win ahead of Carlos Sainz for Ferrari.

Perez's Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen took third to extend his lead in the world championship over Leclerc, fourth after a bungled pit stop strategy.

A deluge caused chaos and an hour delay to the start but Perez kept his cool for a "dream" victory after his crash in qualifying 24 hours earlier.

"Checo you have won Monaco, what a brilliant drive," Red Bull team boss Christian Horner told him over the team radio.

The man of the hour added: "It's a dream come true. As a driver you dream of winning here. After your home race there is no other more special weekend to win. It's a massive day for myself and my country," added Perez for whom this was a remarkable turn around in fortune after being left frustrated a week ago at relinquishing the race lead in Spain to Verstappen under team orders.

Here's what it means ??#MonacoGP @SChecoPerez pic.twitter.com/h8IqlLc4bx

'No words'

World champion Verstappen extended his lead over Leclerc to nine points in the drivers' title battle. Perez moved up to only six points behind Leclerc in third.

Leclerc was furious at seeing a winning hand collapse after losing time on one of the many pit stops.

"No words. We can not do that," he told his team.

George Russell took fifth for Mercedes ahead of Lando Norris for McLaren, Alpine's Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in the other Mercedes.

READ: WRAP | Sergio Perez wins 2022 Monaco Grand Prix

The seventh round of the championship was hit by a deluge before its scheduled 15:00 start,