The formula one move to Monte Carlo for its 6th race of the 2010 season, free practice will take place on Thursday. Normally the teams hit the track a day before qualifying that is Friday, but Monaco is an exception, where teams begin free practice a day earlier, and Friday is left as market day.
Current world champions Jenson button has won this race last season, and will be looking to once again make his mark on the street circuit of Monte Carlo, Button is also the only driver to have to race wins under his belt in the current season, as he took pole in Australia and China, while other races went to, Fernando Alonso of Ferrari in Bahrain, Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull in Malaysia and Mark Webber also from Red bull in Spain.
Michael Schumacher whose comeback was the biggest story in formula one before the start of the season, has not been able to make too much of an impact thus far, but in last race in Spain, the 7 time world champion did manage to edge out him team mate Nico Rosberg, who till the Spanish GP had the better of the German, but with the rent upgrades in the Mercedes Schumacher has looked much more comfortable and the team also believe that the changes suit Michael more then Rosberg.
Monaco has been a circuit which has not been dominated by one particular driver over the years, Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher have both won the race 5 times, while the record of 6 wins at Monte Carlo is held by the great Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, the German though has not won the race since 2001.
The F1 season this year has been more then exiting and has lived up to the hype created before the season actually began , by the number of drivers changing teams and off course the big Schumacher comeback. And also the new points system introduced this year, in an effort to encourage overtaking on the tracks.
Jenson Button fro McLaren is currently leading the driver’s points table with 70 points, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso is sitting in 2nd with just 3 points shy, while the 2 Red Bull drivers Vettel and Webber are in 3rd and 4th with 60 and 53 points, while Nico Rosberg form Mercedes is in 5th spot with 50 points.
Looking at the constructor’s table there is not much between the teams, McLaren are at the top with 119 points, edging past Ferrari who are in 2nd with 116 points, Red bull are also not far away in 3rd with 113, but there is a significant difference between them and the next team, as Mercedes are on 4th with just 72 points.
For now its all set up to be yet another fascinating contest this weekend, with the weather looking clear, but Monaco is known for some unscheduled showers in the past, but the narrow and sharp turns on the streets of Mote Carlo there will be enough chaos, but rain may just add a bit of pinch to it. Regardless of the conditions Monte Carlo always serves up an exiting contest and with the new upgrades in the cars it will be interesting to see how the teams use the modifications to their advantage.
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