If only every Formula One race could serve up as many thrills as yesterday's Monaco Grand Prix, there might be fewer tedious discussions about tyre degradation and greater focus on those who push themselves to the limit in a real sporting arena.

We had safety cars on the track at regular intervals; red flags and juddering collisions, with Massa requiring medical attention and Romain Grosjean involved in an many crashes as Wall Street, circa 1929 and the rare sight of both Force India drivers, Paul Di Resta and Adrian Sutil, engaging in high-speed overtaking manoeuvres prior to adding to their points tally. There was also the eventual victory of Nico Rosberg at the same circuit where his father, Keke, triumphed 30 years ago.

It was thrilling, heart-stopping stuff and a reminder that human frailty and frustration can impact wonderfully, even in such a choreographed milieu as F1. For once, with teams being forced to think on their feet as marshals jumped in and out of the proceedings to clear away the debris of a litany of incidents, there was a sense it was the drivers were dictating the action, not those who drone on about telemetry and DRS.

Yet the rather depressing backdrop to the frenetic events which led to Rosberg emerging in front of world champion, Sebastian Vettel, with Mark Webber completing the podium places, was that another storm is brewing over an issue which is leaving everybody tired and fretful.

In basic terms, Ferrari and Red Bull have lodged an official protest against Mercedes, accusing the German team of organising illegal testing, after the sport's tyre supplier, Pirelli, used them to carry out a test in between the Spanish Grand Prix and Monaco. Such in-season testing is prohibited and although Mercedes claims it has a contract with the FIA which allows limited testing, RBR and Ferrari have responded that this must only be with a car which is at least two years old.

It sounds terribly petty to outsiders, but Mercedes have not denied that they used their 2013 vehicle throughout the test in question, so one hopes that Rosberg and his colleagues enjoyed their victory party. The chances are the result will either be rescinded or that they will be given a severe penalty for the remainder of the campaign, considering the clout wielded by their accusers.

The prospect of a draconian punishment would be unjust on Rosberg, who dominated throughout the whole weekend and produced a flawless performance to secure his maiden success of 2013 and the second of his burgeoning career. Elsewhere, chaos reigned, with Max Chilton ramming into Pastor Maldonado and Jules Bianchi, and the intemperate Grosjean smashing into the back of Daniel Ricciardo.

"It's amazing, and this means so much to me," Rosberg stated in the aftermath. "This is my home, I have grown up here all my life and it is really special. I had a terrible start and I was close with Sebastian and Lewis [Hamilton], but after that I controlled the pace to the end.

"The car was really good, the tyres held on okay and that was really the key, so I want to say a massive thanks to the team."

Vettel, the master orchestrator, who was forced into the unaccustomed role of playing second fiddle, stated he was pleased with gaining the runners-up berth, and why not? Given the travails of a few of his principal rivals, including Hamilton, who is clearly struggling with the concept of driving conservatively and preserving equipment, and Fernando Alonso, whose mood was in stark contrast to his elation in Barcelona, Vettel has increased his championship points advantage to 21. He is currently 29 in front of Alonso, who he views as his main threat.

Nor was there much comfort for some of the other contenders, with the McLaren duo, Jenson Button and Sergio Perez, again at each other's throats – "He's got to stop running in on me, guys," hissed the Englishman to his technicians, at one stage. The suspicion persists that the title joust will eventually revolve around Vettel and Alonso, but if – and that is a big word in the court of Bernie Ecclestone – Mercedes are allowed to build on the momentum of the last 72 hours, they could also be in the mix.

As for Di Resta, the Scot had to grapple with the contrasting fortunes which pervade F1. On Saturday, he toiled horribly, and fared so badly that he only started 17th on the grid – which he subsequently described as his "worst experience in qualifying". In which light, climbing up to ninth was commendable. But he is still demanding more from his team.

Di Resta knows he can be where Rosberg was last night. But only if his organisation provide him with the tools to do the job.