Reply With QuoteDay off tomorrow, so watching practice 8) . Should be a corker of a race this year ,given the season so far, difficult to predict the winner .
Just a quick reminder that FP1 and FP2 are held on Thursday at Monaco.
Day off tomorrow, so watching practice 8) . Should be a corker of a race this year ,given the season so far, difficult to predict the winner .
good shout - now got it running on my second desktop screen in the office :)
The annual lottery that is Monaco.
News this week is that Paul di Resta's name has been added to the ever-lengthening list of potential replacements for Felipe Massa, although he's also touted as a replacement for Michael Schumacher, who appears to be this week's sacrificial lamb for the press to feast upon. Just to make things better for Michael, he was awarded a five-place grid penalty as a result of his accident with Bruno Senna in Barcelona.
On the subject of the Spanish Grand Prix, all affected by the fire in the Williams pit post-race are reported to be recovering. One Williams mechanic suffered some nasty burns, but is reported to be on the mend. Bruno Senna's car was sufficiently damaged that only the tub (the "survival cell") was salvageable.
Maldonado's win naturally opened the floodgates of speculation as to whether he was a) the next World Champion or b) the second coming. Nothing like heaping on the pressure - in my view he's still a rent-a-driver and prone to silly mistakes, and Williams are unlikely to be capable of mounting a sustained Championship challenge. Not that I wasn't delighted to see them score a win - even though they've become as corporate as the other teams, which is a necessary evil in today's world of F1, at the core of the team they're proper racers.
To Monaco. The first session saw Alonso quickest, but Monaco, as with all street circuits, takes a while to clean up, and the first session times can't be taken as being representative. A light drizzle shortly after the start of FP2 saw the section from Casino Square through to Portier (just before the tunnel) become a skating rink, as a result of a combination of the dampness and oils on the surface from normal traffic. Jenson Button emerged quickest, his time set early on, before the rain came.
Tomorrow (Friday) the streets are returned to normal traffic, so the circuit will be greasy and dusty again for FP3 and possibly qualifying on Saturday. Pole is vitally important as the DRS zone for the race is along the start/finish curve, and it's easy to defend along there, so overtaking is strictly limited, and usually requires a degree of co-operation from the overtakee.
I can only speculate what the response from the FIA would be if Monaco applied now to become a Grand Prix venue, but the sponsors love it, and the grid is always rammed with A listers and Premiership footballists before the start, posturing as though their lives depended on it. Bernie appears to enjoy it, so it's here to stay.
Regards
Ian
Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.
I hope we get another different winner, nice to see the championship so open for a change.
The Monaco GP tends to be a bit of a borefest, but as stated above, it's loved by F1 due to the rich and successful seeing it as a home GP, as well as a lot of the drivers and team owners.
There is always a good chance of something unusual or spectacular, it's Monaco
With the exception of Valencia my worst GP of the season. The cars outevolved this track decades ago.
I cant wait. Might not be a great track by modern standards, but its great to watch the cars threading their way through the narrowest of space. And thankfully its on the beeb!
read earlier on the bbc website that the bomb disposal boys were called in and had to blow something up!
Blimey! :shock:
I caught an interview with Heikki yesterday and the reporter asked "So where is the best nightlife this weekend?" and he said "It's probably on Kimi's yacht. I won't go until after the race though as I am afraid it will affect my race performance." :lol:
Anachronistic anda bit silly but I'm glad we still have it. I went there many years ago to watch it and it was amazing.
Schumacher goes quickest at Monaco :) , shame about the grid penalty :( . Peter , Ian , where are you :hello1:
Strangely pleased that MSC has gone fastest in qualifying. Whilst his era was quite boring to watch I really admired his dominance of the sport. I am glad he's regained a bit of his old form, even if it is just qualifying and won't start on pole. I hope he gets another win under his belt before he retires.
Originally Posted by jez
Had the kids with me! Great lap from Schuey, but wasn't it a strange Top 10? You could have heard a pin drop.
I must admit that I felt sorry for Perez. I've not checked for updates, but he seemed to lose steering, and it appeared to be the left front, which Maldonado drove into earlier, following an attack of the red mist, which he seems prone to - ask Lewis Hamilton.
I stand by my previous comments about Maldonado, by the way. He's starting 24th, as the stewards hit him with a 10-place drop and he needed a gearbox change.
It should be a good race tomorrow, with a few drivers out of position on the most important grid of the season. I expect that there will be a queue outside the Stewards' room after the event. I'll somehow need to fit it in around the Test Match, but I'm sure I'll manage.
Regards
Ian
Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.
From personal experience I can tell you this is very true :D
How can one driver get a 10 grid penalty for punting a driver off the track during practice, another get a 5 grid penalty for punting a driver off the track during a race.
Yet another driver gets a 24 grid penalty for stopping on the track after practice had finished.
Is it cos he's black?
I love F1, but something's broke at the moment.
Andy
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
Interesting session. I'd really like to have seen Schumi on pole....not least as I have one of his Legend Speedies!
The world's most boring sport, I use the word sport very loosely.
Basically spotty boys driving oversize lawn mowers around in circles.
Plus in Monaco very little opportunity to overtake, plain daft place to have a 'race'.
Manufactured 'excitement' by having too small fuel tanks and dodgy tyres that wear out fast.
snoooooooooooooooze ..............................
Great quali session and great to see the master go quickest and shame he has that 5 place pen.
As always, can't wait for the race.
The difference between Schmak and Moldanaro is one was accidental and one deliberate, but agree running out of fuel vs crashing in to someone the differences are harsh, but them the rules as they say. They don't want people taking a punt on running a low fuel load in Quali to get a decent grid position, as running out of fuel and parking on the track during the sessions would be a disaster and could mess up other people runs too.
The difference between Schmak and Moldanaro is one was accidental and one deliberate, but agree running out of fuel vs crashing in to someone the differences are harsh, but them the rules as they say. They don't want people taking a punt on running a low fuel load in Quali to get a decent grid position, as running out of fuel and parking on the track during the sessions would be a disaster and could mess up other people runs too.
Andy, a couple of points
1) what moldanaro did was to ruin someone's day, just as schmak did. Irrespective of the damage/costs involved.
2) Strangely what Lewis did effected no one else - remember qualification had actually finished when he received the message from the team to pull over.
Also If moldanaro had pulled that stunt on a public road he might have been charged with dangerous driving or poss even attempted murder. As for schmak he at best would have been charged with driving without due or simply for being a F&ck Witt!
Andy
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
No I agree, Schumi continues to be a liability but is big news in germany so I reckon they will keep bending over to keep him sweet. The ongoing situation with Lewis has echoes of Ayrton about it in that he always seems to get the blame and ends up being disproportionally penalised compared to some other drivers and teams antics. Doesn't help that he drives for McLaren of course :wink: . In the older days when Schumi won all those titles the joke was Ferrari International Assistance for good reason.
The rules are a joke in F1 and always have been, pretty much made up, enforced or ignored as they go along, largely to ensure the commercial viability of the circus that is F1. Corner cutting a good example, Schumi has form in that area having got away with it in previous championships. This time he cuts off part of the track the other week to drive at Lewis, to get him back. If it was any other driver in any other championship he would be serving out a ban right now.
You can tell I am not a fan of that whining cheating arrogant so and so :lol: .
Agree Andy, was not defending it just explaining what was said as justification. Lewis always gets the rough end a t the moment. As my old man used to say if he was not getting bad luck he would have not luck at all. The penalty very harsh for the fuel incident.
The difference between Schmak and Moldanaro is one was accidental and one deliberate, but agree running out of fuel vs crashing in to someone the differences are harsh, but them the rules as they say. They don't want people taking a punt on running a low fuel load in Quali to get a decent grid position, as running out of fuel and parking on the track during the sessions would be a disaster and could mess up other people runs too.
Andy, a couple of points
1) what moldanaro did was to ruin someone's day, just as schmak did. Irrespective of the damage/costs involved.
2) Strangely what Lewis did effected no one else - remember qualification had actually finished when he received the message from the team to pull over.
Also If moldanaro had pulled that stunt on a public road he might have been charged with dangerous driving or poss even attempted murder. As for schmak he at best would have been charged with driving without due or simply for being a F&ck Witt!
Andy
Moldanaro was awful and IMHO he should be banned from the race at least and Schmak, just poor driving, blokes an arrogant arse.
F1 loves a controversy and especially at Monaco as that's what will make the race interesting,
Fresh controversy ahead of the start, with several teams likely to protest Red Bull's floor after the race.
Everybody is busy talking up their chances, but with Webber's record out of the traps (dismal) it's possible that Britney may lead going into Ste Devote. I saw some recent stats which showed that Webber has lost more places at the start than just about anybody else - and Massa has gained the most.
Has anybody seen Peter????
Regards
Ian
Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.
Well done Mark!
Fas est ab hoste doceri
It's like F1 of old, the only overtaking being during pit stops! I find the Monaco race extremely boring, they should all be given identical Touring Cars and left to get on with it.
I do like Webber a lot though.
Does Albert's wife look like she wants to be there?
"A man of little significance"
If the Red Bull is subject to protest, we may not know the result for a couple of hours. Winning the race will almost certainly guarantee that a protest will be lodged, as other teams will require "clarification" which, in F1-speak means that they hope that the Red Bull will be disqualified.
Hardly a classic. Most of the interest was whether it would rain or not. Ironically, it's just started raining while the top three are spraying the champagne - if that had happened half an hour earlier we might have seen more of a race.
Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.
Sorry to go on the missing list gents, but this is one of those situations where, if you haven't got anything polite to say, then it's best to say nothing :|
I know it's Monaco and overtaking is nigh on impossible, but at times I felt like I was watching a procession rather than a race. This era of 'tyre management' seems to really encourage conservatism on the track.....a shame in my view.
BORINGGGGGGGGG DULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL :shock:
That has to be the worst race that i have ever seen , Well if you could call it that.
No overtaking , 1 pit stop fo 99% of them.....
Ok good to see mark win one , He is a real nice fella i am chuffed for him....
No wonder jenson lost the plot and gave it a go in the end..
I thought there'd be more action, but 7/4 any redbull winner? Mes Sweeinghand gets her shoes.....
Fell asleep near the end! Thought it a tad boring. I tend to agree with Schumi's comments a while back in that the drivers are having to conserve
tyres and not driving flat out. I wonder what Ayrton would think if he was about today?
Utterly dire, the circuit for the race is a joke.
Time to take it to another emerging nation with a big fast purpose built track with lots of
places to overtake.
Even fans of F1 must have been bored out of their tiny minds, more thrills cutting my lawn.
BBC website says 'Webber wins thrilling Monaco GP' , are they having a laugh !
I was looking forward to it, but spur of the moment decided it can wait and recorded it instead. I'm glad I spent the day out with the family instead, it looked well and truly boring.
IMO Monaco GP is A joke and I rarely watch it. It is simply not fit for purpose.
Pains me to say it but i think it is no longer suitable for modern f1 as we now know it.
Fast cars can not overtake slow cars, what is the point?
Possibly the most mind numbing grand prix ever, very little if any legitimate overtaking and all of the drivers going at 80% to preserve tyres.
I ended up watching it on Sky+ x6 to get the boring bits out of the way....ie 95% of the race. :(
Well done to Mark though :)
Fastest laps:
Just goes to show how much the top guys were holding back.Code:Driver Team Time Gap Lap 1 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1’17.296 49 2 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1’18.423 1.127 35 3 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1’18.805 1.509 45 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1’18.806 1.510 46
Fastest laps:
Just goes to show how much the top guys were holding back.Code:Driver Team Time Gap Lap 1 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1’17.296 49 2 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1’18.423 1.127 35 3 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1’18.805 1.509 45 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1’18.806 1.510 46
Pole was 1'14.3 :shock:
Must be as dull for the drivers to cruise round at that pace as it is to watch.
On the other hand........anyone been?
I was there only once, but it was the year Senna (Ayrton) got past Mansell about 11 laps from the end and spent the rest of the race ..cough cough..."defending his position". The crowd were standing on their seats.......Boring it was not.......
On the other hand I did doze off (literally) at Silverstone a few weeks later ....sunny afternoon, up at 5am to avoid traffic, pint of beer, Mansell a hundred laps ahead of anyone else.......... :roll:
Edited coz I kant spel
The problems with that are:
a/ Half-empty grandstands - see Turkey and China. Although there is an income for FOM from holding the race, there's no atmosphere. Monaco is rammed for the race, albeit largely by poseurs and the glitterati, who don't know one end of a Formula 1 car from the other, but it has atmosphere.
b/ The sponsors love Monaco. And for that reason alone, it will be a permanent fixture on the F1 calendar. It gives them a chance to show off. The most prestigious events on the global motorsport calendar are the Indianapolis 500 (well done, Dario) Le Mans and the Monaco Grand Prix. If you take Monaco away, you take away the best opportunity for sponsors to show off, which is one of the prime reasons that they're in F1.
The racing is often dull and processional, as it was yesterday. But the sight and sound of the most advanced racing cars on the planet, coupled with the intoxicating aroma of money makes Monaco what it is. And what it is is irresistable to Formula 1. It's an anachronism, without question. But it's a cash cow.
Although no trees were harmed during the creation of this post, a large number of electrons were greatly inconvenienced.
While there wasn't much (any!?) overtaking, I thought it was far from dull. Sometimes you need to look beyond passing and crashes and appreciate 78 laps of arguably the hardest and most dangerous circuit on the calendar, one of the last heritage venues and the one a lot of the drivers want to win more than any other. The Indy 500 had 200 laps of passes and crashes which was exciting but nowhere near as engaging as Monaco.
Great victory for Red Bull (first team to record a second win) and Webber. Can't wait for Montreal next.
There is very rarely any overtaking at Monaco: there has not been for years. Decades even. The race is run - and usually won - on strong qualifying performance and race strategy to avoid stuffing up your qualifying performance.
Which is what happened. A very impressive race by Webber and Red Bull.
It certainly wasn't dull in my opinion.
I do not recall another race where the top six were separated by six seconds - or that resulted in the sixth winner in six races.
Monaco clearly is not suited to Formula 1 racing, but it is not going to change any time soon with the amount of money involved.
It can get pretty exciting when the unexpected happens, Senna for example when he binned it after obliterating Prost.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/motor ... index.html
I fell asleep during the Monaco Grand Prix, i was tired anyway and nothing was really holding my interest. Watched the Indy 500 later and i think there were more overtakes in the first lap there han the entire Grand Prix.......and 30 LEAD changes, now that's racing :D
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