Monaco Grand Prix preview
On the week that marked the 60th anniversary of the FIA Formula One world championship, the class of 2010 role on to the streets of Monte Carlo for the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.
Famous for its glamour, with the expensive yachts in the harbour overlooking the tight and twisty circuit, Monaco is the ideal setting for such a momentous occasion.
Italian Nino Farina won the first Grand Prix, held at Silverstone, and went on to become the sport’s first world champion in his Alfa Romeo in 1950.
Six decades on, Jenson Button is the current world champion, and he leads the drivers’ standings after five races from Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel.
Alonso topped the timesheets in both practice sessions on Thursday, but the double world champion insists he has more to give. “There is still a lot of work to do and quite a margin for improvement. The track conditions will get better by Saturday, given that so many cars from the different categories will be running over the next couple of days. I hope that in time I will again find a well balanced car,” said Alonso.
Red Bull have dominated this season, setting five out of five pole positions, and collecting two victories, and could reasonably have claimed all five. They have the quickest car on the grid. Mark Webber won the last race in Spain, and he and his teammate Vettel stormed to a one-two lockout in qualifying, but he is playing down the team’s chance of having a good weekend. “It was an exceptional situation that we were on pole by one second. I think it would be unlikely to have that type of gap here, it's a short lap anyway and it doesn't take that long to get around here. You only have to win by just enough, and hopefully we can still do it here. But whether we'll be as dominant remains to be seen. I think it's going to be a very, very competitive weekend with McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes,” said the Australian.
Button won from pole here last year in his Brawn GP car. Now in the cockpit of a McLaren, the most successful Formula One team at Monaco with 15 wins since 1984, he fancies his chances of consecutive wins but admits it will be a close race.
“It was one of the highlights of my season, and also of my entire racing career. It’s a race that you grow up watching; you know the circuit, every corner, by heart before you’ve ever driven there, so it’s an extremely special place. It’s a race every young driver dreams of winning. I love the place, and I’m really looking forward to getting back there. I think the result is extremely tough to call this year because there are a lot of very competitive drivers in the field, so I’d like to think there’s a good chance of a slightly unpredictable race this weekend,” said Button.
Lewis Hamilton has endured a difficult season so far, and the performances of teammate Button have left him trailing the 2009 world champion. He was set to finish second at the Spanish Grand Prix, but a tyre blowout on the penultimate lap cost him 18 points. “It was looking like a great job for us but then it's never over until it’s over. Eighteen points and I'd have been right back in the championship battle but, as it is, I'm a little bit further back now. So I'm absolutely blown away that something happened on the last two laps of the race but that's motor racing,” said Hamilton.
There are huge concerns ahead of the qualifying session on Saturday as 24 drivers will battle it out for 17 places in the second part of the session, with some cars at least five seconds off the pace. Fighting for clear space will be the key, and also looking in the mirrors.
However, this won’t stop the drivers from enjoying the spectacle of racing at Monaco. “I always enjoy street circuits, especially this one, and I've always gone well there. I expect it will be even more challenging to drive Monaco this year with a full tank of fuel because the car will become less reactive. The tunnel used to be taken flat, but with heavy fuel I expect it will be much more of a challenge,” said Robert Kubica.
“I have always liked to drive in Monaco and that's why I am really looking forward to competing there this weekend. The Monaco Grand Prix certainly adds something very special to the Formula One calendar and driving through the streets of Monte Carlo is undoubtedly unique,” said Michael Schumacher.
It will probably take something very special for Schumacher to win this time, but whoever does, the champagne will taste a lot sweeter here than anywhere else.
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