But CS was right behind MV so if he got medium he might be able to overtake then maintain/defend. CL initially when he got the mediums, he was able to pass cars easier too before the grip dropped.

Naah I think if CS was fitted with mediums, he would at least had a better chance rather than fitting the same tires as MV with only 6 laps fresher. Very seldom in F1 they can repass also. Both MV and CS even said the Ferrari was actually faster over the whole lap.

Well I still think it could be different as if CS able to pass with better traction he could build some gaps in the first 6-10 laps, ensuring he would have enough gaps to the Mercs. LH was about 7-8secs adrift at the race, barely able to match. Worse thing is MV repassing CS but I don't think LH could also pass, probably just catch up closer. Anyway mute point but again strategy has hever been Ferrari's strong point ever since the Todt/Brawn/MS era ended.

You saw how quickly the C4 start graining and lose grip in monaco when pushed by perez. Now imagine a higher degradation and hotter circuit with clean tarmac due to rain.

Even in the postrace interview CS mentioned should try soft but judging from data, he admitted the C3 is the much faster tyre for the last 15 laps especially when they want to flat out push without tyre management.

Also when it starts to grain, it's easily 1-2 seconds off pace. Lewis would easily pass CS at the end when it happens.

haha looks like the run away continues then

MV also started on mediums on the first stint, not hards. He changed on lap 8 taking advantage of the 1st SC then dropped back behind CS before CS had 1st stop on lap 20. CS also was held back for 3 laps by FA. By the time he passed FA, the gap was already like around 3-4 secs? What was the gap on lap 8 when SP had dnf, around 4-5 secs? Need to analyze the gaps progression before and after CS had his 1st stop on lap 20. Sure the hards was the better race tires thru the full stint and MV did make time against CS during lap 9-20 but that's also already different strategy timing (new vs old tires). However on the final sprint after SC, MV already at 6 laps old tires vs CS on brand new, so CS got 2 advantages: new and grippier tires if he got the mediums. For a short 16 lap stint whereby the initial 5-8 laps can provide extra boost of traction out of the hairpin and last chicane, he might be able to overtake first. Then if they had contacts or lost time dueling where LH could catch up and actually disturbed MV too so things can happen in the heat of the battle and it could end up differently.

During red flag, the parc ferme is released right ?  So teams can go and do mods on the cars if they want it ?

looks like i finally right after all  

The should've been in the path of Zhou, that'll teach them a lesson. IMO great drive by Sainz, he stuck by his own strategy and with some luck finally won.

Surprisingly Danny Ric didn't get much coverage at all throughout the entire race.
Suffered a drs failure & pitted 3 times.