FI GP of Monaco
 

Ah, Monaco. A wonderful experience when I saw the race in 1978. Made an acquaintance in Zermatt whose grandmother married a guy from Monte Carlo. Watched the race from their 4th floor balcony overlooking the turn at the end of the main straight and the run up the hill. Good view of pit lane action too. Didn't sleep there, but left my pack and wandered off with my sleeping bag and partied far into the night. When I ran out of gas, well, the parks were cordoned off and patrolled by police for campers, so went into one and slept on the ground. Believe me, they started tuning those engines up early in the morning.

The Monaco circuit is unlike anything else in F1. Slow, tight, and twisty, with no runoff. Qualifying is all-important due to the inability to pass. Midfield cars can find themselves very competitive here. Looks like the usual suspects up front after FP1, though. Watch out for Norris, though, who was on the podium last year.

Position/Number/driver/team/time/ time back/laps run

1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:14.531 29
2 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:14.570 +0.039s 30
3 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:14.601 +0.070s 28
4 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:14.712 +0.181s 26
5 4 Lando Norris McLaren Mercedes 1:15.056 +0.525s 31
6 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri RBPT 1:15.083 +0.552s 33
7 3 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren Mercedes 1:15.157 +0.626s 33
8 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:15.211 +0.680s 34
9 5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:15.387 +0.856s 33
10 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:15.499 +0.968s 29
11 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri RBPT 1:15.536 +1.005s 36
12 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:15.539 +1.008s 26
13 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine Renault 1:15.749 +1.218s 28
14 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas Ferrari 1:15.806 +1.275s 30
15 23 Alexander Albon Williams Mercedes 1:16.110 +1.579s 39
16 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine Renault 1:16.315 +1.784s 24
17 24 Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:16.417 +1.886s 27
18 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams Mercedes 1:17.714 +3.183s 30
19 47 Mick Schumacher Haas Ferrari 1:18.636 +4.105s 12
20 77 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo Ferrari 2

And FP2


1 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:12.656 30
2 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:12.700 +0.044s 32
3 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:13.035 +0.379s 31
4 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:13.103 +0.447s 33
5 4 Lando Norris McLaren Mercedes 1:13.294 +0.638s 24
6 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:13.406 +0.750s 31
7 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri RBPT 1:13.636 +0.980s 32
8 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine Renault 1:13.912 +1.256s 31
9 5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:14.059 +1.403s 32
10 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri RBPT 1:14.134 +1.478s 27
11 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas Ferrari 1:14.239 +1.583s 32
12 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:14.267 +1.611s 29
13 77 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:14.468 +1.812s 28
14 23 Alexander Albon Williams Mercedes 1:14.486 +1.830s 33
15 24 Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:14.525 +1.869s 23
16 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:14.623 +1.967s 29
17 47 Mick Schumacher Haas Ferrari 1:14.894 +2.238s 33
18 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine Renault 1:15.216 +2.560s 34
19 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams Mercedes 1:16.276 +3.620s 33
20 3 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren Mercedes 2

Good summation. Still appears Ferrari and Red Bull have the strongest cars -- top four spots in both FP1 and FP2. Mercedes continues to be well off the pace.

And yes, at Monaco qualifying might be the most crucial session of its kind for the entire season. Almost impossible to pass unless someone they hit a wall or have a lapse in concentration. 'Twill be interesting.

scott memmer

Looking at FP1 and particularly through the helmet cameras, those guys are being shaken to bits in tese ne cars!
Russell, LeClerc, and Max are 24.

Alonso -41, Hamilton -37,Vettel 34, Perez, Ricciado and Bottas all 32.

I reckon these bouncing cars, especially on street tracks like Monaco must be murderous for all, esp. the older guys.
Hamilton did complain about it. (Yeah, I know he complains about everything, but fair dos!)

FP3.

Looks like Perez has found some pace. And what about Gasly? Cars do sometimes work well here that don't work near as well elsewhere. It is indeed a unique race.

Hamilton and Russell (and others) have been complaining of "bouncing" cars, but not from porpoising as the speeds are not high enough for that here. Rather it is bouncing from the rough track surface. Remember that this is the first time at Monaco with the new formulation ground effect cars. Which almost by necessity have a stiffer suspension to hold the ground effect floor at the proper height. Stiff suspension means that the driver feels every bump and crease in the road.


1 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:12.476 27
2 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:12.517 +0.041s 29
3 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:12.846 +0.370s 28
4 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing RBPT 1:12.881 +0.405s 29
5 10 Pierre Gasly AlphaTauri RBPT 1:13.210 +0.734s 22
6 4 Lando Norris McLaren Mercedes 1:13.226 +0.750s 19
7 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:13.375 +0.899s 26
8 20 Kevin Magnussen Haas Ferrari 1:13.436 +0.960s 24
9 63 George Russell Mercedes 1:13.476 +1.000s 26
10 14 Fernando Alonso Alpine Renault 1:13.585 +1.109s 23
11 22 Yuki Tsunoda AlphaTauri RBPT 1:13.645 +1.169s 25
12 47 Mick Schumacher Haas Ferrari 1:13.827 +1.351s 26
13 5 Sebastian Vettel Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:13.838 +1.362s 28
14 77 Valtteri Bottas Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:13.849 +1.373s 25
15 23 Alexander Albon Williams Mercedes 1:13.882 +1.406s 22
16 3 Daniel Ricciardo McLaren Mercedes 1:14.104 +1.628s 29
17 31 Esteban Ocon Alpine Renault 1:14.260 +1.784s 22
18 18 Lance Stroll Aston Martin Aramco Mercedes 1:14.639 +2.163s 20
19 24 Zhou Guanyu Alfa Romeo Ferrari 1:14.861 +2.385s 25
20 6 Nicholas Latifi Williams Mercedes 1:14.910 +2.434s 26

My favorite course. My wife took her sister there to watch years ago. We were there in May 2019 and walking the course you get an appreciation for how tight it is. Monte Carlo is a wonderful place. Local fishwrap here is talking about F1 cutting Monte Carlo from the list. Big mistake if they do...

Jack, I read that too. I think they're trying to intimidate and force Monaco into updating and building out the track. It will still be a street circuit, but today's cars are much wider. They need more open spaces and DRS/passing zones. Reportedly, F1 has seen a huge spike in the U.S. market due to the Netflix series. They're now talking about doing THREE (3) races in the U.S. every year -- Austin, Miami and Las Vegas.

I think Monaco needs to bring their track into the 21st century. I wouldn't be surprised to see F1 cut that race for a season or two, just to whip their head around and get their attention.

scott memmer

Ahh, to be 41, again... ;)

Yeah, tell me about it, Jeff.

sm

I don't see any way Riccardo keeps his seat at McLaren; I preduct he'll be gone mid-year. Lando is driving circles around him.

It's a shame, because DR is one of the most popular drivers in the paddock, but this is a business about winning, and he's not even close. He won Monaco not too long ago, but now he's at the back of the grid.

Bummed.

Scott Memmer

Well, here I am, comfy recliner, nice strong cup of tea, creamcheese and marmite sndwiches, and lokks like they'll be driving with umberellas!

Seriously, at present, it looks like it could be a procession rather than a race!

Interesting. Might think of trying that combination some day. What sort of bread?

Love that, Andy. "A procession rather than a race." Yes, that's what it was.

I won't act as the spoler now that the race has concluded, other than to say that George Russell continues to outdrive Hamilton, in the same car. I don't think one can deny that anymore.

Great crop of young drivers coming up through the ranks. The future of F1 is in very good hands.

sm

Loves my Marmite! Bread ? Hovis wholemeal !

Sandwich added to bucket list!