Monaco GP

jonno

Well it's only three days away and as it's one of my favourite circuits I can't wait. Granted it ain't the most exciting race of the year but just to see the drivers control the car around the circuit is enough entertainment ofr me and as for the nerve you need to go through tht tunnell at the speed they go at . . . . . well enough said.

It's gona all be down to strategy so I'm gona go with another tight battle between Ferrari and McLaren with the pole sitter to take the win.

1. Schumi
2. Raikonnen
3. Rubens/DC/Alonso

Robbo

If you're a betting man, I'd put money on a Renault. The power defecit won't mean much in Monaco, the thing handles beautifully and the Michelins might be the tire to have. However, in testing Alonso wasn't too quick but Trulli was. Trulli is always quick around Monaco and a pretty good qualifier so I'd put a tenner each way on him.

Edit: Paddypower have Trulli at 7-2 for a podium and 25-1 for the win. Montoya at 16-1 for the win would be worth a punt as well.

GreenHell

Obvious Shumi has to be favourite, good alternatives I believe would be the Mclaren duo and the renualt of Alonso. Shame some more bans were not introduced for this race I'd like to see how the drivers perform with manual gears on this track.

mike65

My money (if I had any) would be on Renault (Trulli) giving Ferrari a hard time, dunno what the weather forcast is but I belive its very nice at the moment so Jordan have'nt a chance...in the past the Jaguars have done well or at least Irvine did well round Monaco so maybe Webber could do something? (I say this not having seen todays practice times...)



Mike.

Dr. Dre

Originally posted by jonno
....it's one of my favourite circuits

Me too !
Although I was/am a huge fan of Spa.

Prolly Belgium would just shade it.

celticfc

Schumi to win and Rubens to be unlucky again somehow and finish about 3rd.

celticfc

After seeing 2nd qualifieng today I thing the williams must be on a low fuel load coz they wern't doing much most of the weekend.

anyone agree????

Seth Brundle

looks like the BAR won't even be there!
http://planet-f1.com/Home/story_11903.shtml

celticfc

Well done JPM , the low fuel load strategy worked for him.

I dont understand the lack of pace from the ferrari's though.

Washout

Delighted for JPM....
Even though there wasnt uch action on the track I rather enjoyed that race.

Always enjoy monaco no matter what cause the extra skill needed to finish the grand prix never mind win it is beyonfd any other on the race calander

mike65

I bailed out at the half-way point it was soooooo dull!

Good for Montoya though! Ferrari were'nt at the races as they had Bridgestone tyres...

Mike.

jonno

It was primarily a "Battle of the Tyre Empires". Bridgestone wern't at the races at all. They had a good run in the free practise sessions but Michellin out classed them in the race.

Well done JPM - nothing like a pretigious track to get your second race win (not that I would know:p)

Ciaran

Originally posted by celticfc
I dont understand the lack of pace from the ferrari's though.

Schumi was fast but the high fuel strategy screwed him up. If he hadn't been stuck behind the Renault for the first 20 laps or so, he would probably have won. The pace he had at the end of the race was much faster than Montoya and Raikkonen.

Seth Brundle

Originally posted by Ciaran
If he [schumi] hadn't been stuck behind the Renault for the first 20 laps or so, he would probably have won. The pace he had at the end of the race was much faster than Montoya and Raikkonen.

That is irrelevant. Using the phrase 'stuck behind' is incorrect. It should read 'he could not manage to pass'. The main reason MS did not do well in Monaco is his driving. Had he qualified better then he would have had a better chance of a win but as Monaco is very difficult to overtake on, a poor qualifing time lost him the race - not other drivers.

chernobyl

Originally posted by kbannon
a poor qualifing time lost him the race - not other drivers.

He had 50% more fuel in the tank than anyone else in qualifying and yet managed to only be 3 tenths of the pole time. Get some perspective and get your facts completely straight.

Schumacher would have never been able to push Trulli but after pit stop 1 (straight away) it looked as if the race was his. He was only 5 seconds off Montoya & Kimmi but i think he had a poor set of tyres as he was unable to keep pace with them.

Schumacher certainly had the speed and the car but the tyres on pitstop 1 finished him.

Seth Brundle

...and if he had a bit less fuel he may have gained those 3/10ths but he didn't! Thats my point.
Just because a car is in front does not mean that they are blocking him. It is a race - it is the person behind's job to get past them!

chernobyl

Originally posted by kbannon
[B
Just because a car is in front does not mean that they are blocking him. [/B]

I never said Schumi was blocked by Trulli but its more than a conicendence that once he got out of Schumachers way (with his pit stop) [and now i am saying he did slow him] that Schumacher suddenly pops in 14.5's...

At the time Schumacher would have been on a low load alright.
Schumacher never really challenged Trulli cus he was weighed down with a high load so for [imo] 80% of the time he spent behind Trulli he was only able to match his pace.

Ciaran

Originally posted by kbannon
That is irrelevant. Using the phrase 'stuck behind' is incorrect. It should read 'he could not manage to pass'. The main reason MS did not do well in Monaco is his driving.

It was Monaco. No one can manage to pass anyone.

Originally posted by kbannon
Had he qualified better then he would have had a better chance of a win but as Monaco is very difficult to overtake on, a poor qualifing time lost him the race - not other drivers.

That's what I said, the high fuel stategy meant he qualified that far down and ultimately lost him the race