Grand Prix 2017 Monaco Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Monaco. It is the Marmite race of F1. You either love it or hate it and it’s a left over event from YEASTeryear (thank you thank you, I’m here all week, try the chicken). Personally I love it. I love the colours, the walled in racing and the fact it’s a ridiculous place to have a motor race. Those who hate street circuits will grumble about there being no overtaking and I see their point, but the thing about Monaco is that if you do get an overtake its usually spectacular or ends up in a big smash. It’s a quality over quantity situation.

CTA’s most controversial race of all time was the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix. It concluded in an 23 page argument and the banning of at least 3 members(seriously if you have a spare half hour then go into the archives and read it) . Between a three way battle between Vettel, Alonso and Button for the lead, Mclaren rebuilding Hamilton’s car on the grid during a red flag stoppage, Lewis accusing the stewards of racism and poor old Petrov getting flack for ‘feigning injury’ and ruining the race, there was a lot to discuss. If this years race is half as exciting as that one then we’re in for a treat.

2011 was a bad year for Lewis Hamilton but usually he is pretty hot round the principality. Sebastian Vettel on the other hand has not shown great form round the place – with that 2011 race being his only win. Because they are the title contenders you would expect them to be the ones at the front but as this is the great car leveller it could work out differently. Another thing you would expect this year is for this to be a one stop strategy. Track position is key so no one at the front will take too many gambles. Its pretty much a certainty that Hamilton will wait to see his rivals are stopping before he comes in, he’s been burnt by Merc on a tyre strategy like that before. Speaking of which how many times do you think Ricciardo will ask if his tyres are ready on his in lap? Dozens if I was him. Ricciardo is actually my tip for the win. I think he is exceptional round Monaco and will be hungry for a result given Red Bulls poor form so far.

Last year Max Verstappen became the youngest F1 driver ever to hit a wall in every session, before becoming the youngest F1 driver ever to walk back to the pit lane, then the youngest F1 driver ever to walk back in the garage and finally the youngest F1 driver ever to eat a toasted cheese and ham Panini. David Croft described this as the most exciting thing to happen in F1 in decades and Martin Brundle said he wished F1 had 5 more like him…….over footage of Carlos Sainz doing something amazing. In all seriousness though Max needs to dial in this year as this is Red Bulls big chance at race wins.

As I’ve said elsewhere Force India are clearly the 4th best team at the moment and are pushing Red Bull for that third spot. They have a great driver pairing but this is the first time Ocon has ever driven at Monaco so I expect him to be slightly lower down than he has been in the last few rounds. Perez though is always worth a punt for a cheeky podium. Carlos Sainz is also someone who might defy the odds and, depending on which Kvyat turns up, Torro Rosso could have a good day too. Hulkenberg will probably get a solid result. Massa, Stroll and Palmer will all crash out by lap 10, Haas will have brake issues and I suspect Sauber might punch above their weight once again. Ted Kravitz predicted pre-season that Sauber would be plumb last and much to everyones delight they have shown that Ted Kravitz is the plumb and scored some good results. They are taking a lot of risks strategy wise and I expect to hear about them doing something like that this weekend too.

That leaves me with Mclaren. Now its now been talked about much, and might come as a shock to you, but Fernando Alonso will not be driving for Mclaren at Monaco. He’s gone to seek fame and fortune in the US for one week only. That means we get the return of a certain Jenson Button. The race is not far from his house so its an easy one for him to come too. Now if the car keeps going (that’s a big if) then Mclaren might be in a position to do well. They claim their car is one of the best on the grid and the engine is holding them back, well engine power means squat in Monaco so they should be on pace. Button really has nothing to lose, he could pull off a great result and be a hero or crash out on lap 1 and know that in 5 years time people will barely remember he even came in for that race. I hope its the former purely to annoy Mark Webber. It is put your money where your mouth is time for Mclaren though and, having won the biggest idiot award in Spain, Vandorne will be very keen to get a good result.

So you love it or you hate it but we’ll all be watching it.
 
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Greenlantern101 I Don't think anyone is suggesting this pass could have taken place anywhere else but in practice. JB prob saw it was Lewis and decided to have some cheeky fun. I imagine it even made Lewis laugh as he came past him.

Good bit of fun.
 
I read this in the Metro this morning on the way to work but the rumours are that if Jolyon Palmer does not get his act together this weekend he could be dropped

Alonso apparently his management team have spoken to Ferrari so this could be a very interesting weekend for silly season
 
Well he could start from the pit and make the change immediately, couldn't he?

no because from what i understand you have to complete at least 1 lap on a compound to be deemed to have used it. which would mean if he starts on the grid, avoid the 'pile up' & then pit on lap 2
 
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impressive so close in Q1 top 5 within quarter of a second & top 9 within 1/2 second. that Riccardios pole lap last yr wouldve seen him 11th this year. such the rate of progress

what a lap from vandoorne 6th place
 
kimi rolling back the years. with a stunning lap when you think he was previous record holder at 1:13.4 to knock 1.2secs off that around monaco is spectacular, almost reminsent of Schumacher pole in 2012. kimi lap should looked so planted & just perfect between barriers. i cant seem to find the pole poll now on twitter because i want to feel smug as i was 1 of 8% that picked kimi whereas 71% picked vettel.

gutted just as lewis about make Q3 1.5 tenths up, then Vandoorne bins it in replica incident to ocon in FP3 & its all over now 13th which could be fasinating. but that merc was nearly undriveable the back end was all over place what a comeback from button 1st race back straight into Q3. although i feels both brits might be doing the 1 stop statergy & do 70odd laps on 1 set & use monacos track position to advantage

although rumours of matt damon doing the podium tomorrow afternoon. im glad Brundle confirmed hes not doing the podium interview as i don't want him having another heart attack
 
You know I think we will see a few guys into the walls tomorrow with these new cars even Hamilton nearly wiped his car twice

Its going to be a long race of attrition

Alonso must be glad he is at Indy given the Honda engine was brittle again and undid all of Button's good work
 
F1Brits_90 as far as I know Bottas and Hamilton were using the same set up and Hamilton had plenty of time to put in a banker lap but he seemed to be over driving trying to get that fastest time in Q2 before he had ensured he would get into Q3 even if it meant taking things steadier and getting in via tenth position before going for the fireworks.

On the other hand he may just have been on the wrong part of the circuit at the wrong time in his earlier attempts. As the the race engineers were saying to their drivers who were complaining about it being overcrowded "There you are, that's Monaco for you!".
 
yeah Bill Boddy if they were using same set up makes me think that did something break or was the rear tyres "cold" because Q2 was that perfect storm he was either ruined because he blocked or yellow flagged on his quick lap or his back end fishtailing wildly out of control & nearly put him in the barrier
 
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