The continual problem of late posts continues this week with the introduction to the famous... or infamous Monaco GP. A race weekend which has always been more about the heritage, the tradition and the spectacle than the actual sense of competition. But then again unless the two Mercedes cars bounce off one another again there is rarely too much competition towards the front of the grid anyway, and surprisingly the fallout from that collision last time in Spain has been bizarrely minimal. After the first incident in Belgium two years ago - the world erupted with opinions and theories, the team were apoplectic with the tiniest bit of contact which did cost them the win but didn't take both cars out of the race at the time. This time round it was declared a racing incident, and even the drivers themselves haven't had a significant falling out like they did last time, although I imagine behind closed doors there are some very different feelings which are being hidden from the general public.
The News
Things have been rather quiet on the news front over the past two weeks - or more accurately I haven't seen too much news because I've been busy with stuff. Life the universe and things do tend to get in the way of taking meaninglessly into the dark and empty void that is this deserted corner of cyberspace. Alas despite my seclusion from all things motorised, the odd story has cycled it's way into my view and those include a pair of new rules that have made an appearance for the Monaco GP. The first of which is a temporary relaxation of the 'One helmet design per season' rule for the sake of this race weekend. There is a degree of tradition in doing something special simply because it is the Monaco GP and that a title which delivers all kinds of
The other rule in the helmet department regards tear-offs, in the preseason there were a lot of discussions surrounding disposal of tear-offs, and finding ways of keeping them off the track surface. The concept aims to prevent incidents where tear-offs have found their way into brake ducts and cooling systems and cause retirements.
Initially the FIA wanted a blanket ban on discarding the tear-offs outside the cockpit and instruct drivers to store them inside the car. A plan which never took off because there is no reasonable place to store them when hurtling round a race track, the air pressures inside the cockpit case them to rattle around and get caught in the pedals. So taking this information the FIA delayed the idea, until this weekend where a compromise was put in place - two tear-offs were permitted during the race and none during the other sessions. Since the rule was introduced on Thursday is has since been reversed once more - Charlie Whiting has found that the same conclusions that caused the rule to be abolished the first time, still hold now... who knew...
The Venue
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| Monaco - Home of Maldonado's never forgotten barrier fort... |
Monaco is probably one of the few races in the world alongside the Indy 500 and the Le Mans 24hrs that ordinary folk have heard of. Because of its history, its reputation and because of the money that changes hands across the weekend, if the long running street race was held in the suburbs of Northern England I bet it wouldn't get quite the same reception... even if the climate was more agreeable. But underneath the layers of obscene wealth, egotistic celebrities pining for any millisecond of screen time and parties there is a lot to like about the most superficial venue on the calendar.
Once you've scraped away the shiny facade of rich people you get down to the real reason that makes Monaco so special - and that is the circuit itself. In this modern era of F1 it easily be argued that the speed and power of the cars have outgrown the tiny coastal roads around the marina. But it places even more of a challenge on the drivers to keep all four wheels out of the omnipresent barriers. Yes the racing might be a tad on the processional side because overtaking is so much of a challenge - but one the rare occasions it does happen it is a joy to behold. But it is the mastery of the layout that is more testing than fighting for position, finding the limits and inching closer to the barriers without doing too much damage.
Even though the track is folded into the very tight confines of a small Mediterranean city there is a remarkable amount of variation between the types of corner and the corner speeds. While at the same time incorporating iconic features known through the entire racing world, from the slowest corner of the season at the Loews Hairpin, the unique tunnel section and the high speed swimming pool chicane. While tracks come and go from the calendar and go through layout changes - even Monza is considering a substantial redesign - Monaco remains the same. Not since the inclusion of the swimming pool section in the late 60s has the format changed. A couple of modifications here and there but everything else is as it was... with more barriers and less lamp posts that is.
The Form Guide
As is the tradition in Monaco, the first practice sessions are held on the Thursday - so we already have a reasonable idea of how things are going to work out. Based on the evidence of the first two practice sessions the winner of the race will be declared based on whichever car is still running at the end. The barriers have seen quite a lot of action so far - Haryanto, Palmer, Massa, Grosjean, Magnussen, Vettel, Palmer again and a second bump from Vettel sums up those who have had incidents thud far. Gutierrez and Bottas came very close to adding to that list in the first session, which was ended after Rosberg threw a drain cover at Jenson Button shattering the McLaren front wing. It wasn't the first time a drain cover has come loose under the aerodynamic forces of a race car but does ask questions of the normally impeccable preparations of the Monaco circuit organisers. But then again they might be feeling a little edgy after they dropped a historic McLaren from a crane during the Historic GP a fortnight ago.
Aside from the carnage a strange development arose from the practice session results - and that is Red Bull look rather strong this weekend in the hands of Daniel Ricciardo. Because Renault have brought an upgraded engine to Monaco, claiming gains of up to half a second per lap - which is a sizable jump. Magnussen for the factory Renault team has been given the newer engine too as there is only one available per team right now, but he spend time time in the wall so the jury is out on precisely how much it could help him. In FP2 Ricciardo with the new engine topped the timesheets and looked comfortable doing so ahead of Mercedes. Toro Rosso made themselves look like strong points contenders too - while Ferrari were struggling, Vettel hit the wall twice and Raikkonen was just off the pace. However I can imagine the red cars will sort something out for qualifying - so there is the potential for a genuine fight for pole that doesn't just involve Mercedes for once.
Anything can happen in the mid-field this time around, utter chaos can prevail and really rearrange the grid and the finishing order. As previously mentioned Toro Rosso have proven they have a really strong chassis being dragged around by the older spec Ferrari engine and Kvyat is dominating Sainz thus far. So they might be in front of the mid-field scrap featuring Williams, Force India, McLaren, Haas and if things stay as they are potentially Ferrari. McLaren have been quite vocal that they think they can beat Ferrari and therefore aim to be ahead of the main mid-field melee, but so far the times don't quite match that boast, even with Ferrari struggling so much at the moment.
At the back Renault, Sauber and Manor are on course for a difficult weekend, Renault look closest to joining the next group with Magnussen's upgraded car but the others are anchored to the back. Manor and Sauber especially are suffering from little aerodynamic grip and underdeveloped chassis' - Manor topped the speeds in Spain at times but can't go round corners quite as quickly as the others... shame Monaco is just about all corners then isn't it.
There is one final entrant that might mix things up a little bit, and that is the weather - there are forecasts of rain for the race which is generally bad for Williams, good for Jenson and hilarious for us folks at home. If they are already struggling to keep the cars off the walls then things will only get more chaotic if the rain does happen... oh please let there be some rain...
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