Grand Prix 2011 Monaco Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Well how about that then, in a similar case in 2010 the doom and gloom merchants have vanished with a cracking grand prix in Spain. With the champagne still flowing we move on to Monaco a week later.

Mclaren will be a lot happier after running Red Bull all the way to the finish at a circuit where Red Bull normally run out of sight and could be favourites going into the Monaco race. Red Bull, however, will be the team to beat after 4 wins out of 5 races with Vettel looking unbeatable at the front but Spain showed that he wouldn't have it all his own way with Hamilton chasing him all the way to the end, even if Vettel extended his ever growing lead at the top of the championship

Ferrari seemed to have dropped back again after a superb start in Spain and eventually Alonso wound up 5th. But no doubt the Scuderia will be challenging the Mclarens and Red Bulls come the Grand Prix on Sunday. Felipe Massa's early season promise has vanished and he's back to his 2010 level and his seat will be back under scrutiny if he continues this lack of speed

Michael Schumacher will have reason to be optimistic after a strong race, beating his team mate and finishing a strong 6th as he best of the rest behind the Ferraris,Mclarens and Red Bulls. Mercedes no doubt have become the 4th fastest team over Renault who are now fighting over the lower points with Sauber and Force India.

However the big question on everyones lips will be DRS which didnt help overtaking in Spain (which is better) but more importantly where it will be placed on a circuit where straight track is at a premium so safety is a concern.

HRT continue to improve and are taking the fight to Virgin which for them is a massive achievement and its not long before they overtake them while Team lotus's optimism on Saturday didn't replicate on Sunday with a DNF for Kovalainen. But on a track where they would be weak, to get into Q2 is a massive achievement.

Hope seems to have returned to F1 after a surprisingly exciting race in Spain and it seems as if the feared Red Bull domination has been alleviated by the charging Mclarens and while Monaco is never a classic due to the nature of the track, it's certainly a spectacle

For Galahad's superb write up see here http://cliptheapex.com/pages/circuit-de-monaco/

 

[Brogan]

It's just becoming more and more of a BBC/RBR love-in if you ask me.

That was inevitable as soon as DC was made part of the team.

 

[Brogan]

Regarding being able to work on the cars on the grid, it has always been thus.

 

[Slyboogy]

That was inevitable as soon as DC was made part of the team.

Well, I remember 2009 used to be a Button love-fest. Especially with Legard and Humphrey at the helm

Regarding being able to work on the cars on the grid, it has always been thus.

Really strange that....sounds like one of the rules that have just been brought in the past 15 years

 

[Fenderman]

Going off topic but can I say how angry I was at the stupid rule that they could change tyres on the re-start! not just change tyres but they also basically rebuilt Hamilton's Mclaren. Stupid Stupid Stupid rule.

For the first time in a very long time I switched off as soon as the race was done because I felt cheated

I was watching that rebuild of the Ham's rear wing on the red button "in car" option. It was actually very interesting to watch.
Better than watching everyone standing around twiddling their thumbs

 

[Brogan]

The "will they, won't they (make it)" was as exciting as the race

 

[Fenderman]

 

[tranquility2k9]

That was inevitable as soon as DC was made part of the team.

DC loves red fricken bull. Whether he admits it or not, he trys to praise hamilton, even though he clearly dislikes him. But when it comes down to it, if anything is said bad against his beloved red bull or sebastian, he flips.

Look at Spain - Brundle says lewis was the best driver and fans clearly agreed but David tried to make up 1 million excuses as to why Red Bull were not faster and as to why Vettel was actually the driver of the day. OK then PUT LEWIS IN A RED BULL AND SEE HOW FRICKEN VETTEL GETS ON!

 

[Brogan]

My thoughts on Lewis's incidents.. Massa clearly turned in early at Lowes, and maybe Maldo turned in a TOUCH early at St Devote.

Jason Plato (racing driver)

 

[Chad Stewarthill]

I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the Montreal drivers' briefing. Are they ever filmed? There was some fascinating footage of drivers' briefings in the Senna movie preview dvd.

 

[Fenderman]

I'd love to be a fly on the wall at the Montreal drivers' briefing. Are they ever filmed? There was some fascinating footage of drivers' briefings in the Senna movie preview dvd.

Yes, indeed. I would hope that there is a full and frank discussion among the drivers about improving driving etiquette. I think some drivers have become compacent with the advances in safety. Sterling Moss, when talking about his view that the sport had become too safe, qualified his statement by saying that in his day drivers would give each other space as they knew the consequences of a collision could be fatal. There is no reason why we can't have good racing without some good manners, is there?

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

Did Anyone see the forum after yesterdays race, where EJ and Coulthard got pushed into the pool of the RB floatahome?

If not here's a clip:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13588817.stm

 

[GeoffP]

I was always one of the "love marmites" voters for Monaco....

I also think the new regs have successfully changed F1 to keep the door open to more exciting moves....

I just don't think Monaco lends itself to a position where a faster car is behind due to tyre strategy, error, penalty, whatever and has a big box of tricks available to increase the speed differential.

Monaco is a tight circuit with no way out from error. It has a small handful of genuine overtaking points, but give a faster car a theoretical 170bhp boost and you'd better duck. The current regs do not make Monaco exciting, or even assist passing, they make it downright dangerous - I did not enjoy this race at all, I felt like an eight year old watching Dr Who from behind the sofa.

It's just too tight for the performance differentials, the 107% rule was brought in as a speed differential beyond which it was unsafe for the cars to race to on a standard track, but given the snapshot around a passing manoeuvre this could easily reach 125% or more, naturally followed by a corner on a narrowing track. Expecting drivers not to use these toys is ridiculous, allowing them to do so on a circuit like Monaco is mental.

I am therefore pinning my hat on the ban Monaco peg until such time as it can be returned to being a race as opposed to a demolition derby.

 

[Sarinaide]

I was always one of the "love marmites" voters for Monaco....

I also think the new regs have successfully changed F1 to keep the door open to more exciting moves....

I just don't think Monaco lends itself to a position where a faster car is behind due to tyre strategy, error, penalty, whatever and has a big box of tricks available to increase the speed differential.

Monaco is a tight circuit with no way out from error. It has a small handful of genuine overtaking points, but give a faster car a theoretical 170bhp boost and you'd better duck. The current regs do not make Monaco exciting, or even assist passing, they make it downright dangerous - I did not enjoy this race at all, I felt like an eight year old watching Dr Who from behind the sofa.

It's just too tight for the performance differentials, the 107% rule was brought in as a speed differential beyond which it was unsafe for the cars to race to on a standard track, but given the snapshot around a passing manoeuvre this could easily reach 125% or more, naturally followed by a corner on a narrowing track. Expecting drivers not to use these toys is ridiculous, allowing them to do so on a circuit like Monaco is mental.

I am therefore pinning my hat on the ban Monaco peg until such time as it can be returned to being a race as opposed to a demolition derby.

Geoff for president of the FIA, or at least CTA. beers on you

 

[johnnoble1990]

I wouldn't say ban Monaco. It is meant to be dangerous and that is why certain drivers love it. They do need to be cautious though. As said above from Stirling Moss, "in the good old day" drivers would give each other space. Yesterday, drivers were just driving into each other. It was frankly embarrassing for the Monaco GP, it was all so messy. If they want to improve overtaking on a tight circuit like this, then they should tighten the overtaking rules.

 

[johnnoble1990]

Any thoughts on the continued success of Kamui Kobayashi? Another high finish in a sauber and he made up quite a few places again starting from 12th i believe. If i had to pick 2 young drivers for the future at the moment, it'd be the 2 Sauber drivers.

 

[Sarinaide]

Any thoughts on the continued success of Kamui Kobayashi? Another high finish in a sauber and he made up quite a few places again starting from 12th i believe. If i had to pick 2 young drivers for the future at the moment, it'd be the 2 Sauber drivers.

Ditto though I would like to add Moldonado, at one point looked like he was on those American Bullriding shows, but has really come on strong, Williams look to be finally getting their car into a competitive state

 

[johnnoble1990]

To be honest, that was the first race i've seen in F1 where Maldonado was anything but a liability. It was an extremely solid weekend from him, but i think it is too early to judge how good or bad he is doing. He reminds a bit of Massa. Capable of pulling out strong performances, but spends most of the weekend facing the wrong way.

 

[The Enforcer]

I was also surprised to see Maldonado put in such a strong drive, although listening to comments on his performances around the principality in the lower categories, he clearly thrives on this type of circuit.

If that's the case and if Williams can start to deliver a stronger package then he might do well around the tight confines of Montreal and Valencia and start to answer some critics, myself included. (I won't hold my breath though)!

 

[Slyboogy]

Well I have been a big critic of Maldonado (rightly so I say) great race for him here....but one race doesn't make a season

 

[Chad Stewarthill]

I was impressed with Maldonado too, but then he was a bit of a Monaco specialist in GP2, with two wins and a 2nd place in his four seasons there.

But here's an interesting snippet from Wikipaedia's article on Pastor:

He also entered nine races (and made seven starts) in the Spanish based World Series by Renault, with a best finish of seventh.
However, his participation in the WSR was marred by a four-race ban for dangerous driving. He failed to slow down at the scene of an accident at Monaco, despite the presence of warning flags, and struck and seriously injured a marshal.