Monaco Grand Prix - Monte Carlo

[René]

The annual train ride through the streets of Monte Carlo! Overtaking is practically impossible so all focus is on qualifying.

This is of course Charles Leclerc's home race, but despite two pole positions he has never been on the podium here. I think it's about time!



But it won't be easy because it could become very close between Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari. Everyone will put as much downforce on the cars as possible and then it is up to the drivers to race as quickly and close to the crash barriers as possible.

[René]

Looking goooood so far, but of course, I should not get overexcited...  

But Charles is flying. 



FP2 times

1 Charles LECLERC Ferrari 1:11.278
2 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes +0.188
3 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin +0.475
4 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull +0.535
5 Lando NORRIS McLaren +0.675
6 Carlos SAINZ Ferrari +0.684
7 Lance STROLL Aston Martin +0.784
8 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull +0.821
9 Alexander ALBON Williams +0.979
10 George RUSSELL Mercedes +0.982
11 Yuki TSUNODA RB +1.071
12 Oscar PIASTRI McLaren +1.088
13 Kevin MAGNUSSEN Haas +1.195
14 Esteban OCON Alpine +1.276
15 Nico HULKENBERG Haas +1.291
16 Daniel RICCIARDO RB +1.299
17 Pierre GASLY Alpine +1.472
18 Logan SARGEANT Williams +1.512
19 Valtteri BOTTAS Kick Sauber +1.779
20 ZHOU Guanyu Kick Sauber +2.495

[René]

Still looking very good but don't rule out Max Verstappen. But Verstappen has been summoned by the stewards for driving unnecessarily slowly which could result in a grid penalty...



1 Charles LECLERC 1:11.369
2 Max VERSTAPPEN +0.197
3 Lewis HAMILTON +0.341
4 Oscar PIASTRI +0.532
5 Sergio PEREZ+0.554
6 George RUSSELL+0.599
7 Carlos SAINZ +0.610
8 Lando NORRIS +0.619
9 Yuki TSUNODA +0.622
10 Fernando ALONSO +0.718
11 Pierre GASLY +0.775
12 Alexander ALBON +0.811
13 Nico HULKENBERG +0.823
14 Kevin MAGNUSSEN +0.847
15 Lance STROLL +0.962
16 Esteban OCON +1.103
17 Logan SARGEANT +1.334
18 Daniel RICCIARDO +1.460
19 Guanyu ZHOU +2.461
20 Valtteri BOTTAS no time

And this was a super scary moment in F2 qualifying! A very close call for Isack Hadjar only just missing Miyata... scary.

[René]

Whooahh! Pole position for Charles Leclerc! That's half the job done. And fantastic quali also from Oscar Piastri. We have a classic Ferrari vs McLaren battle on our hands for tomorrow. Max showed that he does make mistakes when he doesn't have the outright best car. I hope we're seeing the end of the fizzy drinks dominance.



Starting grid

1 Charles LECLERC Ferrari 1:10.270
2 Oscar PIASTRI McLaren +0.154

3 Carlos SAINZ Ferrari +0.248
4 Lando NORRIS McLaren +0.272

5 George RUSSELL Mercedes +0.273
6 Max VERSTAPPEN Red Bull +0.297

7 Lewis HAMILTON Mercedes +0.351
8 Yuki TSUNODA RB +0.588

9 Alexander ALBON Williams +0.678
10 Pierre GASLY Alpine +1.041

11 Esteban OCON Alpine 1:11.285
12 Nico HULKENBERG HAAS 1:11.440

13 Daniel RICCIARDO RB 1:11.482
14 Lance STROLL Aston Martin 1:11.563

15 Kevin MAGNUSSEN HAAS 1:11.725
16 Fernando ALONSO Aston Martin1:12.019

17 Logan SARGEANT Williams 1:12.020
18 Sergio PEREZ Red Bull 1:12.060

19 Valtteri BOTTAS Sauber 1:12.512
20 Guanyu ZHOU Sauber 1:13.028

[robmarsh]

When you have the best car it is always easy to look super impressive when you are driving below the limit. Max and before that, Lewis, had it very easy and never stretched themselves or their cars. Charles has been accused of making too many mistakes but one will do when you have to drive the car over the limit just to get anywhere.

I always like Monaco, regardless of the number of overtakes, as the race is always in jeopardy right to the end.

[René]

May 25, 2024 17:18:49 GMT robmarsh said:

When you have the best car it is always easy to look super impressive when you are driving below the limit. Max and before that, Lewis, had it very easy and never stretched themselves or their cars. Charles has been accused of making too many mistakes but one will do when you have to drive the car over the limit just to get anywhere.

I always like Monaco, regardless of the number of overtakes, as the race is always in jeopardy right to the end.

Very much agree, Rob!

[Carl]

May 23, 2024 16:30:49 GMT René said:

The annual train ride through the streets of Monte Carlo! Overtaking is practically impossible so all focus is on qualifying.

This is of course Charles Leclerc's home race, but despite two pole positions he has never been on the podium here. I think it's about time!



But it won't be easy because it could become very close between Red Bull, McLaren and Ferrari. Everyone will put as much downforce on the cars as possible and then it is up to the drivers to race as quickly and close to the crash barriers as possible.

Great photograph of Ronnie Peterson being hounded through Casino Square by Clay Regazzoni and, judging by his helmet, Patrick Depailler in 1976.  Tyrrell had a great result with both drivers on the podium.

[Carl]

May 25, 2024 17:18:49 GMT robmarsh said:

When you have the best car it is always easy to look super impressive when you are driving below the limit. Max and before that, Lewis, had it very easy and never stretched themselves or their cars. Charles has been accused of making too many mistakes but one will do when you have to drive the car over the limit just to get anywhere.

I always like Monaco, regardless of the number of overtakes, as the race is always in jeopardy right to the end.

It's paradoxical that the most iconic street course is also the most frustrating to race. I would love a fast sports car (a Caterham would do nicely) for the thrill of driving at Monaco, but doubt I'd enjoy race traffic.  So far, Prince Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi continues to ignore my requests for a special session.

[robmarsh]

A Caterham would be awesome through there Carl.  Back in the 80s when the then Formula E, Superkarts, were around people speculated that one of those would be faster than a turbo F1 car of the day around Monaco.  These little machines were powered by 250cc rotax engines and could achieve 150mph at Silverstone if my memory serves. They weighed 205kgs including driver, or in my case 250kgs.

[René]

[Carl]

Triumph comes at last for Monaco native Charles Leclerc!

Not everyone came so close to perfection. 

Kevin Magnussen must have thought Sergio Perez would be unnerved by close intimacy.  Nosing about a honeycomb never prompts bees to surrender. 

Mohammed Ahmad Sultan Ben Sulayem was reportedly dissuaded by race stewards from awarding victory to Oscar Piastri based on the leveraging of an unfair hometown advantage by Charles Leclerc.   

[chrisb]

many congratulations to Charles, with so much going on yesterday I did listen to the race and unusually I was sitting on the edge of my seat willing a Ferrari victory, something must be wrong but I was so pleased for Charles, 

the early red flag was awful, that RB was destroyed, and I am a bit surprised that it was a 'racing incident' Not sure what Kevin is up to and what a dreadful race for Haas

I wonder if we are already seeing the consequences of Adrian's departure from RB, only 31 points in it, wouldn't it be something, 

Rob, couldn't agree more, 

[René]

This was definitely the most emotional victory for a long time. Tears in my eyes.



I read many comments about the race being boring but not for me. I don't need to see 300 overtakes in a race to make it exciting. This victory was meaningful, for Charles, for Ferrari and for the sport. Maybe, just maybe we're going to see an exciting championship battle after all. Next, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.

[René]

[René]

Rumor has it Newey signed a contract with Ferrari in Monaco. Fred’s plan is slowly coming together….