Monaco GP Thread - Will contain Practice, Qualifying and Race spoilers

[Fernando]

Spoiler:

Round six of the 2012 Formula One World Championship sees the teams and drivers head for the Monaco Grand Prix, the jewel in the sport’s crown and a race which this year celebrates its 70th anniversary.

The tight and twisting streets of the Principality first played host to the world’s best drivers and machinery in 1929, when William Grover-Williams triumphed in a Bugatti, and in the decades since it joined the F1 calendar in 1950, the Monaco Grand Prix has lost none of its glamorous lustre, with stars of stage and screen rubbing shoulders with royalty, business tycoons and racing heroes throughout the high-glamour, high-octane weekend.

For the race drivers, however, it’s one of the most demanding racing weekends of the season at a circuit where the closeness of the walls and the slippery, unpredictable nature of the road surfaces mean that the tiniest error is often severely punished.

As such, ultra-refined high downforce aero packages will be the order of the day, as will Pirelli’s Super Soft tyre, which makes its first appearance of the season here in Monaco, alongside the more familiar Soft compound. The Super Soft is unchanged from last year, and while in 2011 teams expected the tyre to last just 10 laps, in the race drivers used them for anywhere between 12 and 32 laps in their first stint. Maximising that compound could prove crucial here.

Formula One also heads to Monaco with the possibility of remarkable record being set this weekend. The 2011 season has seen a different winner at each of the opening five races. That last happened in 1983 (Nelson Piquet, John Watson, Alain Prost, Patrick Tambay, Keke Rosberg) but six different winners at the opening six rounds has never happened in the sport’s 62-year history.


CIRCUIT DATA

Circuit de Monaco

Length of lap:
3.340km
Lap record
1:14.439 (Michael Schumacher
Ferrari, 2004)
Start line/finish line offset
0.000km
Total number of race laps
78
Total race distance
260.520km
Pitlane speed limits
60km/h during practice, qualifying and race

CHANGES TO THE CIRCUIT SINCE 2011

Various sections of the circuit have been resurfaced in order to remove bumps that were present in 2011.

Tyre walls have been replaced by TecPro barriers in turns 1 and 14.

One ‘planter’ has been removed on the right in the pit exit thereby allowing a straighter line out of the pits.

The crane situated on the end of the barrier in the run-off area at the chicane has been removed thereby providing nearly 15 metres more space.

An abrasive surface has been laid in the run-offs at turns 1, 5 and 10.


Monaco GP
Fast Facts
► This will be the 70th Monaco Grand Prix, the race stretching all the way back to 1929. It is the 59th Formula One race here, with the principality making its bow on the first F1 tour in 1950. It then took a break until 1955 but has featured on the calendar every year since.
► Ayrton Senna holds the record for the most wins here, with six. Five of them were back-to-back, scored between 1989 and 1993. Michael Schumacher and Graham Hill are next on the list with five apiece. Hill became known as ‘Mr Monaco’ in the 1960s, winning from 1963-’65 and also in ’68 and ’69.
► Alain Prost won four times in the 1980s, his first victory arriving in 1984. His tally, plus Senna’s, led to the unbelievable statistic that for an entire decade from 1984-’93 just two drivers won here.
► In 1955, Alberto Ascari drove through the chicane and crashed into the harbour. He survived that brush with death and swam to safety only to be killed four days later, testing a Ferrari at Monza. The only other driver to end a race in similar style was Australian Paul Hawkins who crashed into the harbour after 79 laps of the 1965 race. He also swam to safety, but like Ascari, racing took his life and Hawkins fatally crashed out in a sports car race at Oulton Park in 1969.

► The 1982 race had possibly the most exciting end to any race here, with five leaders in the final two laps. Prost led with rain failing but slid off. Riccardo Patrese then led but spun and rejoined. That left the way open to Didier Pironi but amazingly he ran out of fuel, as did the next man on track, Andrea de Cesaris. Derek Daly took over but his already damaged car stopped on the final lap, leaving the win to Patrese who had managed to bump-start his car. The Italian had no idea he had just claimed his first grand prix win.
► 1984 saw one of the most memorable Monaco races. In heavy rain Alain Prost hung on to the lead from pole position to take the win when the race was stopped after 31 laps. Had it gone on any longer, though, the Frenchman would surely have been caught by either Ayrton Senna, who had risen to second from 13th on the grid, or Stefan Bellof, who had driven superbly to reach third from 20th on the grid despite the conditions.
► Olivier Panis scored his only F1 win here in a rain-hit race in 1996. The attrition rate was so high that just seven of the 22 starters were classified, though by the time the race had reached its two-hour limit just four were still running. Panis’ caution earned him a narrow win ahead of David Coulthard and gave his Ligier team a first victory in 15 seasons.
► Panis won his race from 14th on the grid. That makes him something of an anomaly, as in the past 20 years he is the only driver to have won from further back than third on the grid. Pole, however, is not as important as it seems, with 10 of the past 20 winners starting from second or third.

Race Stewards
Biographies
NIGEL MANSELL OBE
1992 FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPION; 1993 CHAMP CAR CHAMPION
Nigel Mansell, 58, is the FIA driver steward at the Monaco GP. This is one of the few major events he failed to win during a 16-season career in F1 spanning 187 starts. After seven DNFs in 10 races here, Nigel’s final attempts reaped his best results here, two second places, in 1991 and ’92. He also scored pole position twice, in 1987 and 1992. During his F1 career he raced for Team Lotus, Williams, Ferrari and McLaren, winning 31 GPs, scoring 482 points, with 59 podiums and 32 pole positions. He switched to Champ Cars in 1993, taking the title in his rookie year, before quitting single-seaters in 1995. He returned to race in the British Touring Car Championship in 1998 and has since continued to compete occasionally.

JOSÉ ABED
FIA VICE PRESIDENT
José Abed, an FIA Vice President since 2006, began competing in motor sport in 1961. In 1985, as a motor sport official, Abed founded the Mexican Organisation of International Motor Sport (OMDAI) which represents Mexico in the FIA. He sat as its Vice- President from 1985 to 1999, becoming President in 2003.
In 1986, Abed began promoting truck racing events in Mexico and from 1986 to 1992, he was President of Mexican Grand Prix organising committee. In 1990 and 1991, he was President of the organising committee for the International Championship of Prototype Cars and from 1990 to 1995, Abed was designated Steward for various international Grand Prix events.
Since 1990, Abed has been involved in manufacturing prototype chassis, electric cars, rally cars and kart chassis.


PAUL GUTJAHR

PRESIDENT OF THE FIA HILL CLIMB COMMISSION, BOARD MEMBER AND PRESIDENT OF AUTO SPORT SUISSE SARL
Paul Gutjahr started racing in the late 1960s with Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Lotus and Porsche, then March in Formula 3. In the early ‘70s he became President of the Automobile Club Berne and organised numerous events. He acted as President of the organising committee of the Swiss GP at Dijon from 1980-82.
From 1980-2005 he acted as President of the Commission Sportive Nationale de l’Automobile Club de Suisse and in 2005 he became President and board member of the Auto Sport Suisse motor sports club. Gutjahr is President of the Alliance of European Hill Climb Organisers and has been steward at various high-level international competitions. He was the Formula 3000 Sporting Commissioner and has been a Formula One steward since 1995.

Source: FIA

[Guest]

Really looking forward to this weekend, especially as basically every single driver has come out this week it seems saying they are going to win it. Have seen the drivers press conference and Hamilton looked extremely confident and something tells me that this is surely Lewis' weekend to grab that elusive first win of the season where driver input is more significant. He must be a front runner for pole, however the question remains whether the team can have a weekend with no mistakes.

•Australia: Started on pole but finished third after an unlucky break with the safety car.
•Malaysia: Problems at two pit stops meant he lost a chunk of time, finishing third after starting on pole.
•China: Qualified second but started seventh after a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change.
•Bahrain: Wheel nut problems during two stops saw him drop down the field and finish eighth after starting second.
•Spain: Ran out of fuel in qualifying and was demoted to the back of the grid from pole
•Monaco: ?????????????????

What's everyone's thoughts about this and their general views on the weekend?

[Fernando]

It shall be a very exciting weekend as it always is with Monaco, In previous years you could storm off and pick a gap to come out in no traffic but with the gap so close this year your going to need your strategy spot on.

For pole with everyone who's bunched together it's people who are able to push harder so expecting Lewis/Pastor (high confidence and did very well in a rubbish williams last season) Kamui Kobyashi and Kimi.

[Belgarion of Riva]

It's going to be a fascinating race. I wouldn't rule Alonso out of it. Would have picked Hamilton but his pit crew is bound to let him down again

[SteveG]

Expecting Hamilton to do the biz this weekend. Hasn't put a wheel wrong all season and is leading his team by example. Hopefully going forwards they'll follow suit.

[Fernando]

Practice 1 results

Fernando Alonso was fastest in first practice for the Monaco Grand Prix as the Ferrari driver ended the opening 90-minute session more than 0.3s faster than the Lotus of Romain Grosjean.

Sauber driver Sergio Perez, returning to the scene of his frightening accident last year, was an impressive third fastest ahead of Lewis Hamilton, Spanish Grand Prix winner Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Massa.

There was the customary slow start to the session as teams were cautious of wasting tyres on the 'green' street track, leaving Jean Eric-Vergne and Toro Rosso team-mate Daniel Ricciardo with the track mostly to themselves.

Vergne worked down to a 1m19.066s before some of the bigger names began to hit the track on the 40-minute mark. Those included Michael Schumacher's Mercedes and Romain Grosjean's Lotus.

It was the Frenchman who would leave a lasting impression on the times as he first recorded a 1m17.645s to go quickest for the next 20 minutes until he was outdone by Alonso who lapped in a 1m17.126s - just as his team-mate Massa scraped the barriers at Tabac.

The Ferrari ace's time stood for all of four minutes as the session passed through the hour mark and then Grosjean responded again with a 1m16.751s.

This time it was Hamilton who bumped the Frenchman, putting McLaren top, going four thousandths quicker as the circuit began to get busy.

Once again Grosjean had an answer as he lapped in 1m16.630s only for Alonso to re-emerge from the pits with 15 minutes to go and fire in two super-quick laps, the first a 1m16.4s and the second an impressive 1m16.265s. That would prove enough.

The double world champion had set an even faster first sector (19.8) as the session entered the final 10 minutes when Heikki Kovalainen's Renault engine failed through the tunnel stopping the session, the Caterham grinding to a halt on the exit and extinguishing all visibility from the area. The resultant oil on the track meant the session could not be restarted.

Behind the top six, Kamui Kobayashi was seventh for Sauber, ahead of Jenson Button's McLaren, world champion Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg.

Five-time Monaco winner Schumacher ended up 11th after damaging his front wing when he clattered the kerbs at the Swimming Pool, while 2010 winner Mark Webber was 13th in the second Red Bull.

Kimi Raikkonen completed just a single installation lap before deciding the Monaco-specific steering wasn't to his liking and decided to have it changed, wiping out the rest of his session.

Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m16.265s 22
2. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m16.630s + 0.365 17
3. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m16.711s + 0.446 19
4. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m16.747s + 0.482 12
5. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m16.760s + 0.495 20
6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m16.843s + 0.578 19
7. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m17.038s + 0.773 21
8. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m17.190s + 0.925 13
9. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m17.222s + 0.957 14
10. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m17.261s + 0.996 18
11. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m17.413s + 1.148 14
12. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m17.631s + 1.366 18
13. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m18.106s + 1.841 14
14. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m18.209s + 1.944 25
15. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m18.252s + 1.987 28
16. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m18.302s + 2.037 16
17. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m18.617s + 2.352 20
18. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m19.03$s + 2.774 20
19. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m19.341s + 3.076 16
20. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m20.838s + 4.573 26
21. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m20.895s + 4.630 18
22. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m21.638s + 5.373 9
23. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m22.423s + 6.158 15
24. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1

[Critical_mass]

Starting to rain too, so something else to mix things up. Quali is the key so Lewis could indeed get it this weekend, but we wont know until sat. I also have a feeling the Lotuses will have a very good weekend.

[harryspiv]

Loving Kimis helmet!!

This is worth a watch that may explain why he has chosen the helmet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgZbRx9p8zg

[SteveG]

Ferrari looking good - have they turned the corner ?
Lotus also looking hot. With Mclaren quali is gonna be tight tight tight - as it often is at Monaco.

Most amusing moment in P2 for me was D'ambrosio (commentating) admitting that he failed his driving test TWICE.

[GSC]

Suspect package detonated within the paddock O_O

[Fernando]

Practice 2 results

1 great britain Jenson Button 3 McLaren-Mercedes 1:15.746
2 switzerland Romain Grosjean 10 Lotus-Renault 1:16.138
3 brazil Felipe Massa 6 Ferrari 1:16.602
4 spain Fernando Alonso 5 Ferrari 1:16.661
5 venezuela Pastor Maldonado 18 Williams-Renault 1:16.820
6 germany Nico Rosberg 8 Mercedes GP 1:17.021
7 australia Mark Webber 2 Red Bull-Renault 1:17.148
8 japan Kamui Kobayashi 14 Sauber 1:17.153
9 germany Michael Schumacher 7 Mercedes GP 1:17.293
10 germany Sebastian Vettel 1 Red Bull-Renault 1:17.303
11 great britain Lewis Hamilton 4 McLaren-Mercedes 1:17.375
12 great britain Paul Di Resta 11 Force India-Mercedes 1:17.395
13 brazil Bruno Senna 19 Williams-Renault 1:17.655
14 germany Nico Hulkenberg 12 Force India-Mercedes 1:17.800
15 mexico Sergio Perez 15 Sauber 1:18.251
16 russian federation Vitaly Petrov 21 Caterham-Renault 1:18.440
17 france Jean-Eric Vergne 17 Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:18.522
18 australia Daniel Ricciardo 16 Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:18.808
19 finland Kimi Raikkonen 9 Lotus-Renault 1:19.267
20 germany Timo Glock 24 Marussia-Cosworth 1:19.309
21 finland Heikki Kovalainen 20 Caterham-Renault 1:20.029
22 france Charles Pic 25 Marussia-Cosworth 1:20.240
23 spain Pedro de la Rosa 22 HRT-Cosworth 1:20.631
24 india Narain Karthikeyan 23 HRT-Cosworth 1:20.886

[Critical_mass]

Its going to be a dull race over the weekend, lets all be honest. 1st or 2nd on the starting grid will take the win after a procession of a race.

[Fernando]

Its going to be a dull race over the weekend, lets all be honest. 1st or 2nd on the starting grid will take the win after a procession of a race.

I wouldn't count on it I was suppose to be flying out tomorrow evening for the Race but ive had a family issue so staying at home for it

[Guest]

Having watched the GP2 race this morning in the dry it was pretty dull, however strategy proved crucial for the podium places. Whoever can find the 'clean air', ultimately will be decisive this weekend. No point saving tyres here as being tucked in behind someone for long periods is inevitable so qualifying should be monumental......that's all true if it's dry. Sunday looks far from being dry and if that the case then the words dull, boring or processional don't come into it.

Too hard to call this one with this changeable weather and track layout

[Critical_mass]

if its wet, it'll be a good race, OR if its changeable conditions. but if its its dry i dont reckon there will be much of a show.

Im going to say either lewis or kimi for pole. The Lotus are looking good this weekend and we know lewis can perform very well around this track. will be keeping a close eye on alonso too.

[Gregers]

Lotus for the win this weekend?

[Bull]

looking foward to the race hoping Ferrari pick the pace up again with them being good in Practise maybe Massa will do well the week as well.

a lotus win is possible

[Critical_mass]

Yup quite possibly a lotus win, though if it rains anything is possible.

[Gregers]

I'm going with Grosjean to pick up the surprise win this weekend. Mrs G has gone with Kimi.

[dyrewolfe]

Ouch!

Perez clips a wall and loses a wheel. Q1 red flagged. Thats his race pretty much ruined.

[Bull]

yeah and Sauber had some great speed in Monaco as we can see with Koba

come on Ferrari!

[dyrewolfe]

Shock of the day so far...Button goes out in Q2, his time of 1:15.5 only good enough for 13th place. Hamilton is safe with his 1:15.1 good enough for 3rd.

I suppose second biggest shock is that Massa is looking very quick and is fastest in Q2. Alonso a little off the pace, as are the Red Bulls and Lotus cars.

Rosberg looking phenomenally quick...could be pole for him today.

[GSC]

SCHUMI!

Unfortunately has to drop 5.

[dyrewolfe]

Holy crap!

Michael Schumaches goes fastest with a time of 1:14.301 but with a 5-place grid penalty he will only start 6th. Maldonado qualifies 9th fastest but will start 19th after being given a 10-place penalty.

The top ten on the grid tomorrow will be:

1. M. Webber - Red Bull
2. N. Rosberg - Mercedes
3 L. Hamilton - McLaren
4 R. Grosjean - Lotus
5 F. Alonso - Ferrari
6. M Schumacher - Mercedes
7 F. Massa - Ferrari
8 K Raikkonen - Lotus
9 S Vettel - Red Bull
10 N Hulkenberg - Force India

[GSC]

Probably looking at 1 of those top 4.

Rosberg will fancy his chances into turn one, Mark has had a tendency to be a slow starter.

[Bull]

yeah Great lap from Shumi but sadly has to be dropped down to 6th.

[Guest]

Superb job by Schumacher you have to admit after the recent criticism. Lewis looked delighted and basically he has the chance to attack Webber and Rosberg instead of leading out from the front which suits him more. Button fails again and proves once again without a perfect car he has no natural pace or aggressive driving skill to outperform a car unlike his teammate.

I have a few points on Maldonado. Firstly is Pastor the real deal or is Senna just abysmal? Secondly, his ruthless and aggressive driving is a disgrace and it's not the first time we've witnessed it. His behaviour reminds me of former great champions and I was wondering whether or not people thought that he was of a similar mould and that he could potentially become a future world champion.

As for the race in dry conditions, I see it as a three way battle between Mark, Nico & Lewis with pit strategy being crucial and coming out into clean air being the decisive factor. In the wet........let the fireworks begin.

[Fernando]

I have a few points on Maldonado. Firstly is Pastor the real deal or is Senna just abysmal? Secondly, his ruthless and aggressive driving is a disgrace and it's not the first time we've witnessed it. His behaviour reminds me of former great champions and I was wondering whether or not people thought that he was of a similar mould and that he could potentially become a future world champion.

You don't become GP2 champion if your a bad driver, His always had a bad temper remember him driving through the pitlane for a drive through and flipping the bird at Charlie Whiting as he was going past.

Bruno Senna is a joke tbh sooner then replace him with Bottas the better

[monty junior]

That's the most i've enjoyed a surprise result since DC's win in Monaco ten years ago. It used to be such a given that Schumacher would take pole but to see him actually do it 15 years past his prime is pretty spectacular. A shame he won't start there but it must give him confidence he's still fast enough to take pole.

Good to see Massa drive well also, Button was crap i'm afraid, though except 2009 he's never been great at Monaco.

[SteveG]

Looks like Maldonado will be changing his gearbox. If so will start at the back of the grid next to...yep Perez. Let battle commence.

[Belgarion of Riva]

I'm amazed Maldonado only got a 10 place grid penalty. He's done this before and in both cases, they were unprovoked attacks.

Interesting decision by the race stewards

[Gregers]

1 or 2pm gmt start time?

[Trebs]

1pm BST

[Gregers]

Cheers mate

[harryspiv]

According to the weather app on my iPhone, we have a 30% chance of rain from 1pm till 3pm!!

[Fernando]

Had a fair few incidents over the weekend it seems rain would cause utter chaos

Spoiler:

[harryspiv]

That last one was a few miles an hour away from being an absolute bloodbath, very lucky that nobody was hurt!

[Dave.]

He anything to Derek Daly (son perhaps?)

[Fernando]

He anything to Derek Daly (son perhaps?)

Yes its his son Dave

[Dave.]

Derek is quite popular in the US, wonder if he still commentates on F1 there?

[The Special Juan]

10/1 that we hear Lee MacKenzie saying her catchphrase during the race. "Michael, tell us what happened."

[GSC]

Webber seems to be handing this race to Vettel.

[SteveG]

How the hell is Vettel making his tyre last so long - and lapping quicker than drivers who have already stopped ?? A joke !!

On a side note - another race for Hamilton goes by. Mclaren had better get to grips with their tyre setup - a joke - damn quick or Hami can kiss anotther WDC goodbye.

[GSC]

Vettel up to 4th without having to race anybody

[SteveG]

Vettel comes out ahead of Hami - another place lost

[bogbrush]

Vettel can win this from 9th without needing to pass anyone. Probably all one stopping though.

[SteveG]

Reckon the order will be as is. Can't see any more stops unless it rains.
Please rain.

[GSC]

For all the talk, the Monaco GP is perenially one of the worst races.

[Fernando]

The more you want rain the less it's going to happen.

It's a shame Ferrari don't do both way team orders considering Massa seemed faster then Alonso during the 1st stint. Nice to see Mclaren get pit stops right for once

[SteveG]

This is my problem with todays tyres. The order will fininsh as is becsuse everyone is nursing their tyres home. No attacking just a procession. May as well go to the pub right now - but someone may have a go at the death so will stick with it.

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