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/

 

[dave]

I think it's a bit unfair Chad to try and say his performance wasn't as good because he always does well there. That's to me like saying a golfer can't have an amazing round at a particular course because he was good last year.

 

[Slyboogy]

I think it's a bit unfair Chad to try and say his performance wasn't as good because he always does well there. That's to me like saying a golfer can't have an amazing round at a particular course because he was good last year.

I agree there, he massively outperformed Barrichello, he was even on the leaders lap! While I think 7th or 8th onwards everyone else was lapped at least once.

 

[johnnoble1990]

I think it's a bit unfair Chad to try and say his performance wasn't as good because he always does well there. That's to me like saying a golfer can't have an amazing round at a particular course because he was good last year.

I don't think that is what Chad was saying. I think, like me, he was pointing out that one race doesn't make him a good driver and that it was perhaps expected that he would perform well in Monaco so it doesn't necessarily mean he is turning things around. He will need to show consistency to prove he is more than a pay driver.

 

[dave]

I may have misunderstood what Chad was saying, but that's what I got from the 'but then he was a bit of a Monaco specialist in GP2'. To me that says that the performance isn't as good if he regularly does well, because his average performance over a few races is better than that of his peers. Personally I see that as more of an achievement

I'm not saying he's a good driver from one performance and wasn't aware of anyone else saying that.(I may have forgotten any posts that were though).

 

[Chad Stewarthill]

I think it's a bit unfair Chad to try and say his performance wasn't as good because he always does well there. That's to me like saying a golfer can't have an amazing round at a particular course because he was good last year.

Good point, well made. Perhaps I should have said, 'So it [Maldonado's Monaco performance] shouldn't have been so surprising, given his past good results there'.

 

[johnnoble1990]

Yeah. I think people seem to be getting carried away generally with his performance in Monaco. My assessment of all 6 races so far for Maldonado is poor. If he can prove himself in other places i will start to change my mind. It might just be taking him a little while to adapt.

 

[Chad Stewarthill]

I don't think that is what Chad was saying. I think, like me, he was pointing out that one race doesn't make him a good driver and that it was perhaps expected that he would perform well in Monaco so it doesn't necessarily mean he is turning things around. He will need to show consistency to prove he is more than a pay driver.

I agree with that too.

 

[Brogan]

I thought this was worth posting.

Hamilton v Maldonado on the left, Hamilton v Schumacher on the right.

The difference between an experienced racer and a rookie?

 

[teabagyokel]

Kills the idea of Michael Schumacher running people off the road, doesn't it?

 

[Jen]

Millimetres make the difference

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

Didn't Schumacher go off into the barriers right there in Practice?

He obviously didn't want to end up in those same barriers again.

His Mercedes' front wing was damaged, though.

 

[Fenderman]

Schumi damaged his front wing and Hamiltons rear wing (among other bits) when he punted Hamilton at the start. There was no damage from this overtake.

 

[Slyboogy]

You know, if they collided (Hamilton and Schumacher) no doubt in my mind would Schumacher would get the blame and criticism as everyone is on his case that he should retire and no one would have criticised Hamilton.

I made this point in another forum of Schumacher and Maldonado and the difference experience. I also pointed out, that whenever you are behind a driver you should take note on who is infront that you are trying to overtake as many drivers do, Hamilton showed not much respect to either of these drivers. I think it was very lucky that Schumacher managed to see that late on, credit must go to the old timer there for once.

 

[Fenderman]

You know, if they collided (Hamilton and Schumacher) no doubt in my mind would Schumacher would get the blame and criticism as everyone is on his case that he should retire and no one would have criticised Hamilton.......

This is F1. If a driver comes into F1 and can't be aware of what is happening around them, then they shouldn't be there. Hamilton's move on Maldonado started even earlier than his move on Schumi. If he wasn't aware that Hamilton was there then he should get the hell out of Dodge. It's not rocket science, it's road and race sense. I sure hope you bear that in mind if you get to follow that dream you told us about.

 

[Slyboogy]

This is F1. If a driver comes into F1 and can't be aware of what is happening around them, then they shouldn't be there. Hamilton's move on Maldonado started even earlier than his move on Schumi. If he wasn't aware that Hamilton was there then he should get the hell out of Dodge. It's not rocket science, it's road and race sense. I sure hope you bear that in mind if you get to follow that dream you told us about.

And Hamilton should remember his opponent is a rookie, and will be more fiesty and unaware of such situations since he has no experience in F1, and the driver behind, is meant to be the one that is meant to avoid the collisions this is one of the "unwritten" rules in racing. It's not rocket science, it's road and race sense

 

[Fenderman]

And Hamilton should remember his opponent is a rookie, and will be more fiesty and unaware of such situations since he has no experience in F1, and the driver behind, is meant to be the one that is meant to avoid the collisions this is one of the "unwritten" rules in racing. It's not rocket science, it's road and race sense

Look again at the photos posted above. Maldonado was beaten for the corner and would not accept it. I actually think he was well aware that Lewis was there and thought he could "tough it out". That's serious arrogance from a Rookie.

"I'm not going to argue with you anymore on this one until you've bought some spec's" Mr MacGoo.

 

[Slyboogy]

Look again at the photos posted above. Maldonado was beaten for the corner and would not acdeopt it. IO actually think he was well aware that Lewis was there and thought he could "tough it out". That's serious arrogance from a Rookie. I

"I'm not going to argue wuth anymore on this one until you've bought some spec's" Mr MacGoo.

I for one don't think he is aware, looks to me that he is looking at the apex and the HRT infront.

I have been told to go to Specsavers a fair few times

 

[Fenderman]

Yep. He's not very aware at all. Should be though don't y' thunk? I mean do you want to be on the same track as a guy who's not paying attention?

 

[Slyboogy]

Yep. He's not very aware at all. Should be though don't y' thunk? I mean do you want to be on the same track as a guy how's not paying attention?

Like I said The Fenderman...it's the dude who is behind who should be aware of his opponent, and was Schumacher aware? No he wasn't, it was only after/during they turned in, look at Maldonado's line, he's taking it tighter rather than wider, hence why he wasn't aware...why would he look off the track?

 

[Brogan]

look at Maldonado's line, he's taking it tighter rather than wider, hence why he wasn't aware

Errr, Lewis had been harrying him all along the straight and Pastor made several changes of direction to block him, so I think it's fair to say he knew exactly where Lewis was.

Reposting from earlier.