Monaco - Pre race thread

Weather is showing a bit of chance for rain now. About 50%. Maybe wet track will give us a surprise.

next weekend, 24/5
Fri
24 MAY
20°14°

Partly Cloudy
20%
S 16 km/h
73%

Sat
25 MAY
20°14°

Showers
50%
SSE 16 km/h
72%

Sun
26 MAY
20°15°
Showers
50%
ESE 17 km/h
71%


Latest Williams rumor for driver change - https://www.planetf1.com/news/latifi-in-kubica-out-at-williams/

 

https://www.planetf1.com/news/haas-sponsors-rich-energy-lose-court-case-over-logo/

 

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Red Bull's big chance here


Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app

 

https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/143408/mercedes-thinks-poor-bottas-start-wasnt-car-issue

Mercedes believes the poor start that Valtteri Bottas felt cost him victory in Formula 1's Spanish Grand Prix was caused by a lack of grip, not a car problem.

Bottas reported some "strange" clutch behaviour immediately after Sunday's race, having crucially lost his pole position advantage to team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the first corner.

He said the team was still investigating the start on Sunday evening, but while Mercedes will continue to take "a good look" at it this week the team believes it was simply a matter of grip.

In the team's latest post-race video debrief, Mercedes sporting director Ron Meadows said: "We believe it was just a lack of grip on the pole position side.

"If you look at the support races, more often that not the second position guy or even third or fourth had a better start than the pole guy."

Trackside engineering director Andrew Shovlin said: "Yeah, that's one of the elements.

 

My recollection is that Kubica's consortium bought him 6 starts. The switch to Latifi was in the cards from Day 1, Williams desperately needs the cash infusion. A Latifi debut at Montreal makes sense, Battle Royal of the Canadian billionaire's sons.

 

Very very interesting - what billionaire son first into wall of champions lol

 

Interesting discussion from EspnF1 press team. I like these from them

http://www.espn.com/f1/story/_/id/26752546/is-mercedes-dominance-damaging-f1

 

Are you guys masochists??? why start this calvary so soon? we're gonna get our asses kicked again so no need to talk about it before the race!!

 

Interview with Binotto - https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/48255974 -
Mattia Binotto: Ferrari team principal on Vettel v Leclerc and the battle to catch Mercedes

 

Meh.... do we need to watch it at all.... race order of finish bottles, Elton, Maxine, LeClerc, ricciardo, Vettel after a spin. Now you can have Sunday afternoon to actually drive a ferrari instead of watching them **** it up again

 

I question the logic of buying a seat at Williams: what's the point ?
A not-so-good driver in a bad team, that sounds like a recipe for failure to me.
Williams is really on the ropes.

 

I think Ferrari, shockingly, can be under direct threat from a few drivers such as Kmag, Ricciardo and gasly at Monaco, based on Q3. I think they can forget about 3rd and likely 4th if Gasly doesn't mess up, but they're even under threat of 5th and 6th!

 

Wow - disturbing if true, yes seems possible!!

 

I think bas you're forgetting that Monaco is probably the track where the driver still counst for a lot, and Charles is very, very good at this type of places, i'm pretty sure he will put a nice couple of laps...

 

Didn't Chuck crash last year after exiting the tunnel?

 

Details, details, stop being so picky!!!

 

Ok. Cloudy with a chance of Bieber. lol

 

Only so much a driver can do with the tools he's given. Ferrari's chassis is ****. And Baku is all too recent...

 

I hope it won't be won by the slowest fella on the grid like last year.

 

https://www.planetf1.com/news/hakkinen-mercedes-wont-have-it-easy-in-monaco/

 

If not then its a Merc 1-2

 

Monaco is the sort of track where having a not-so-perfect chassis can be overcome by a spirited drive.
Monaco has witnessed so giant-killing charges in the past.
Lady Luck plays her part too !

 

I'm here. I'm not psyched, but I'm here.

 

For those who see overtakings as a sign of exciting racing, Motorsport gave a few stats regarding the last season:

- 2018 German GP, Hockenheim : 50 overtakings
- 2018 French GP, Paul Ricard: 48 overtakings
- 2018 Italian GP, Monza: 37 overtakings
- 2018 Belgian GP, Spa: 21 overtakings
...
- 2018 Monaco GP: 6 overtakings !!!

Motorsport doesn't say if these overtakings were the leaders passing back-markers ...

The thrill, once more, will be mostly provided during qualifications.
Unless incident, the race will turn into a procession.