download

#1040 2021 Monaco Grand Prix

2021-08-21 01:00

Array() no author 82025

#2021, Fulvio Conti, Translated by Sara Miconi,

#1040 2021 Monaco Grand Prix

The Monaco Grand Prix represents the fifth round of the Formula 1 World Championship. It takes place on the iconic Monte-Carlo street circuit, a non-p

fotor_2023-6-23_0_56_43-fotor-202306230571.jpeg

The Monaco Grand Prix represents the fifth round of the Formula 1 World Championship. It takes place on the iconic Monte-Carlo street circuit, a non-permanent track on the streets of the Principality of Monaco. With a length of 3.337 meters and 19 turns, the Monaco circuit has hosted the F1 World Championship since its first edition. Even if, in reality, the Principality has hosted car races since 1929, the year the track was inaugurated. The charm of this track causes the F1 Grand Prix to be one of the three pieces of the Triple Crown, an unofficial recognition attributed to those who, in their automotive career, manage to conquer, in addition to victory in the Principality, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To date, the only driver to have achieved this symbolic recognition is Graham Hill. The circuit is a sort of link between current Formula 1 and that of the past and brings to mind old Grands Prix, where risk and the skill of the drivers were in the foreground. Over the years, this circuit has written many memorable and equally dramatic pages. The circuit's absolute record is 1'10"166 set by Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes during qualifying for the 2019 Monaco Grand Prix. Ayrton Senna has the most victories on the streets of the Principality, with six victories. The historic organization of the Monaco Grand Prix provides for the first two free practice sessions on Thursdays, with Friday as a rest day. First, however, on Wednesday May 12th, 2021, the Federation establishes that starting from the Grand Prix of France, scheduled for the end of June, the tests that the rear wings of the cars will have to pass will be more rigid than the current ones. The Federation also plans to use on-board cameras to monitor the behavior of the wings while the cars are in motion, in an attempt to identify any excessive movement of the bodywork. Nick Tombazis, technical manager of the FIA expressed himself on the matter as follows:

 

"We will watch out for any abnormal rear wing deformation behavior, we will not tolerate any persistent out-of-plane deformation that can be devised to circumvent the symmetrical load applied in the load deflection tests. Should we observe any features that indicate exploitation of this area, we will introduce additional load deflection tests necessitated by the evidence found".

 

Furthermore, the Federation is working to use the on-board videos of the cars to evaluate any deformation. To facilitate this process, teams will need to place references on the wings. Two days later, on Friday May 14th, 2021, the Federation also announces the schedule for the British Grand Prix, which will be held on Sunday July 18th, 2021. The English Grand Prix is the first of three selected Grands Prix of the season in which the format of the Sprint Qualifications is used. On Friday, the first free practice session will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the traditional qualifications taking place from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; on Saturday the second free practice session is scheduled from 1:00 p.m. at 2:00 p.m., with the new Sprint Qualifying format scheduled at 5:30 p.m.; on Sunday the starting time of the Grand Prix is fixed at 4:00 p.m.. The Turkish Grand Prix, which in the previous weeks had replaced the cancellation of the Canadian Grand Prix due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is postponed to date to be determined due to the restrictions imposed by the United Kingdom on travelers from Turkey due to the high number of cases in the country dictated by the pandemic. The Turkish race is replaced by the Styrian Grand Prix, which had already taken place during the 2020 World Championship, to replace the Grands Prix not held due to the pandemic. The race in Austria is placed on the original date of the French Grand Prix, which in turn is brought forward by a week to accommodate the addition of this Grand Prix and thus maintain the record number of 23 seasonal appointments. Friday May 14th, 2021 Stefano Domenicali says he is satisfied with the promptness with which the organizational system has reacted to this situation:

 

"We were looking forward to racing in Turkey, but the current travel restrictions prevent us from doing so. Formula 1 has, once again, shown that it knows how to react quickly to these further developments so we are happy to announce a second round in Austria which allows the season to continue the 23 races scheduled. I want to thank the organizers and the Turkish authorities for their efforts in the last few weeks. Another thanks goes to the French and Austrian organizers for the speed and flexibility with which they found this solution".

fotor_2023-6-23_7_53_45-fotor-2023062375414.jpeg

With the change on the calendar, three Grands Prix are now scheduled in three weekends in a row, as already happened during the 2018 season and three times in the 2020 season. Before the postponement of the Turkish Grand Prix, the hypothesis arose of an exchange of dates with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, but this was not possible as the Azerbaijani stadium will host the match between the Wales and Switzerland national teams on Saturday June 12th, valid for group A of the European football championship. Arif Rahimov, member of the organizing committee of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, speaking about the idea of the exchange between Baku and Istanbul, says:

 

"I know there is a problem with their current Covid situation and the UK government has raised the alert status on Turkey, it stands to reason that it could put the race at risk, as most of the teams are based in the United Kingdom. There have been talks about a possible date swap, but we can't move the race. There's not much we can do because the European Football Championships start the following weekend, had it been another year there would have been no problems, but this year it just can't be done".

 

The Austrian country, after Italy, already thanks to the dispute of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix which took place in April and the one of the same name scheduled for September, is the second country to host two races valid for the World Championship this season, in this case one week after the other, as in 2020, but with the Grands Prix reversed: first the Styrian Grand Prix and then the homonymous one. On Wednesday May 19th, 2021, on the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix, McLaren announces the multi-year renewal of British driver Lando Norris.

 

"I'm really happy to have extended my relationship with McLaren. Having been with the team for almost five years, I truly feel like I am part of this family and could not imagine starting the next phase of my career anywhere else. McLaren have been a great support since my days in the minor leagues and now my aim here is clear: to win races and become world champion. Since we joined the team in 2017, our progress has been steady and we have clear ambitions together for the future. I want to say thanks to Zak Brown and Andreas Seidl for the trust they have shown in me since the beginning, and to the whole team for giving me such a solid environment to continue my career. We already had some incredible moments together that I will never forget and now I can't wait to push the guys together with Daniel to even greater success in the years to come".

 

And the satisfaction is also great for the CEO of McLaren, Zak Brown:

 

"I am delighted with the extension of our agreement with Lando for 2022 and beyond. He has been instrumental in our return to the top of Formula 1 and we are proud of the growth he has shown since joining us in 2017. Norris is one of the brightest talents and we can't wait to see him continue to go from strength to strength both on and off the slopes".

 

Also for the team principal of the British team, Andreas Seidl, the renewal of the contract with Lando Norris is an excellent choice.

 

"Our decision to confirm Lando in the long term was very simple, he has impressed us since his rookie year with performances to match and an evident evolution as a driver and professional. He is an integral part of our performance growth plan and the two podium finishes are a clear sign of his worth. Like him, we have strong ambitions for our future together and I'm happy to continue this journey. With Norris and Ricciardo we have an extremely talented and exciting driver duo, and this announcement is a strong signal of commitment to McLaren's next chapter from 2022 onwards".

 

For this race, Pirelli, the only tire supplier, brings C3, C4 and C5 compound tyres, the softest in the range available. Mario Isola, Pirelli Motorsport Director, comments on the choice made for this Grand Prix:

fotor_2023-6-23_7_53_50-fotor-2023062375419.jpeg

"Monaco is unique and its absence on the calendar since 2019 only underlines its peculiarities, and this makes us even happier to return to racing on this circuit.  Mechanical grip is the key to success as well as qualifying and strategy given the well-known difficulty in overtaking. This makes maintaining track position even more important, with the drivers who are called upon to get the most out of the C5 soft compound tyres in qualifying. The strategy tends to be reactive because teams make their stops when it gives them the maximum advantage on the track, thanks also to a large pit stop window due to the very low levels of tire wear and degradation".

 

On the occasion of the Monaco Grand Prix, the FIA establishes a single area in which the drivers can activate the DRS, located along the pit straight. The detection point, i.e. the point for determining the gap between the drivers, necessary to allow the use of the device, is established after turn 16. Furthermore, the Federation establishes that if a driver goes wide at turn 10 (Nouvelle Chicane) he will see his lap time canceled by the stewards. The driver who will use the escape route must do so in safety by returning to the track after having received the green light. The Grand Prix is back on the Formula 1 calendar, in its classic location in the month of May, after being canceled the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and due to the timing of the construction of the circuit on the streets of the Principality in short times. For the first time since the 1954 season, the top category did not stop in Monte-Carlo. The Grand Prix represents the second race of the season, after the inaugural race in Bahrain, which provides for the presence of spectators in the grandstands. In the previous weeks, the organizers announced the presence of spectators in the stands between 40 and 50% of the total capacity, with the event having a maximum of 7.500 spectators for qualifying and the race and 3,000 for free practice. These decisions were announced by the government of the Principality, through the Minister of State Pierre Dartout, who said on Tuesday May 4th, 2021:

 

"It is important that the Grand Prix is held with limited public participation and in compliance with maximum health safety".

 

Together with the public, the Drivers Parade also returns from this Grand Prix, the traditional lap of the track by the drivers on the open bus, scheduled as always two and a half hours before the start of the race. Before the start of the race weekend, the Federation announces that at the end of the race of the previous Spanish Grand Prix, the Red Bull driven by Sergio Pérez was drawn among the top ten cars for the technical checks. They were found to comply with the technical regulations on the occasion of the Monaco Grand Prix Williams will celebrate the 750 Grands Prix in Formula 1. For the occasion the livery of the FW43B will show off the special 750 Grands Prix logo and each member of the team will wear a kit that remembers this special milestone. The British team also decides to pay homage to its fans; In fact, 100 of them will have their names engraved on the cars of George Russell and Nicholas Latifi. To celebrate this special event, Williams team principal Jost Capito said:

 

"Williams has always been about people; those who work for the team, together with our fans from all over the world. This milestone is a celebration of all who have been on this journey to 750 Grands Prix and will continue to do so with us as the team enters a new era. We are excited to share some of the incredible stories that have made the team what it is today, to hear from supporters and what Williams means to them".

 

McLaren, on the other hand, will take part in the Monegasque event with a livery characterized by its classic orange, combined with the blue of the sponsor Gulf Oil. The first to talk about this special livery is Lando Norris:

 

"I think everyone will agree that this colorway is one of the best looking on the grid in quite some time, in fact, I even told our CEO, Zak Brown, that it's even better than our usual we have for 2021, but He didn't seem very convinced of that".

fotor_2023-6-23_7_54_11-fotor-2023062375434.jpeg

Daniel Ricciardo is also happy with the choice made by the British team:

 

"Obviously I love it, it's gorgeous and there was no better time to be excited about racing in Monaco. Now I'll have to focus and save energy for next weekend, but I can definitely say it's fantastic. And as I look, I'd say we're already the better".

 

And Mike Jones, CEO of Gulf Oil International, adds:

 

"When we reached the sponsorship deal last year, the fans were immediately enthusiastic about it, so we wanted to give them something in return. Someone had already sent us the respective colorways for their vehicles and someone even wrote us about the social media asking us to do the same. With Zak we started thinking about the history of Gulf and McLaren, and what to do. Here we are".

 

 McLaren CEO Zak Brown concludes by saying:

 

"We asked the FIA for permission for the livery and they approved it with enthusiasm. We will clearly only use it in Monaco, it is a special color scheme and must remain so. But it is also something that nobody has ever done before in Formula 1. They are curious to see how the fans will react and I think we will be the stars of the show in Monte-Carlo".

 

Starting from this race, a new prize called the Workday Agility Award will be established, in which the team able to take the best strategy during a Grand Prix will be awarded, with the aim of highlighting the technical value of the engineers often called upon to make decisions important and crucial in a matter of seconds.  Ben Pincus, Head of Marketing at Liberty Media, comments on the establishment of this new award saying:

 

"While it is usually the cars that get most of the attention on the track, behind the scenes there are tons of people who make the sport what it is. There is no sport in the world where human decision-making and innovation are more important than this and, through our partnership with Workday, we will bring these values to life".

 

Also on the eve of the Monaco Grand Prix, i.e. Wednesday May 19th, 2021, the Aston Martin team announces that British driver Jessica Hawkins, engaged in the W Series championship, will be the new Aston Martin Driver Ambassador.

 

"I am incredibly excited to be joining the Aston Martin team as their new Driver Ambassador, and look forward to working with Lance Stroll, Sebastian Vettel, Nico Hülkenberg and the rest of the team. It will certainly be a very demanding job, but for me it is a dream come true and I am absolutely not afraid of it. I also want to thank the W Series, a brilliant championship without which I simply would never have had this incredible opportunity to work within such an important team in Formula 1".

 

Former Formula 1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi is appointed assistant commissioner by the FIA. The Italian has performed this function on several occasions in the past, most recently at the Tuscan Grand Prix, held in 2020. Furthermore, for this Grand Prix, the English car manufacturer Aston Martin will supply the safety car and the medical car. Once the announcements are over, space is given to the driver' words. And to begin with is the AlphaTauri driver, Pierre Gasly, who says he is thrilled to be back racing in the Principality of Monaco:

fotor_2023-6-23_7_54_2-fotor-2023062375429.jpeg

"We know we really need to optimize everything to fight in the mid-pack. The potential is there, but we will have to work hard to keep fighting for the rest of the season. As for the Monaco circuit, I have to say that I really like it and I'm happy to be racing again. It's a really special track, totally different from the ones we've raced on so far. In Monaco it is important to stay on track for as long as possible, but I don't think the shorter free practice sessions are a problem, because we do as many laps as in the past but we simply spend less time in the garage. You always need time to adapt, find the limit of the car and get as close as possible to the walls, and then pick up the pace in each sector. And then, on Saturday afternoon, we give our all because we know that qualifying is 95% the result of the race".

 

The French pilot adds, during the press conference:

 

"I think all the teams managed to take a step forward, while we probably haven't improved as much as we would have liked. Last year finishing eighth or ninth was a great result for us, while this season people expect more. It puts more pressure on us as a team, we have to give more and work better to try and move forward. I think the driver makes more of a difference in Monaco than at any other track. In Barcelona, for example, all the drivers have done thousands of laps and know every aspect of the track. Here the pilots have been much less times and if you make a mistake you pay. So it's a more probative challenge and that's why we like it, because as a driver you feel that you can really have an impact on the results, more than any other circuit".

 

Yuki Tsunoda, his teammate, instead talks about his preparation for the weekend, based on the experience gained in the minor formulas:

 

"I can't wait to get on track in Monaco, especially after the difficult weekend in Spain. I've only done four F1 race weekends so far and now I'm resetting my mind. I'm trying to concentrate on driving and adapting to the car as best as possible. I have never raced in Monaco before, in any category, but for example I raced in Macau and so I have some experience on street circuits. The key will be to avoid making mistakes during free practice and to maximize my time behind the wheel. There are many unusual factors this weekend. I only discovered in Spain that free practice in Monaco is held on Thursdays. I'll have to make sure I don't lose concentration, but I'm sure I can adapt. I spent a lot of time in the simulator getting ready. Our car hasn't always been great in the slow corners, but I think the main factor will be how well I adapt to the track".

 

The two Alfa Romeo team drivers, Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi, have not yet collected any points since the start of the season. However, they are confident ahead of the next Grand Prix:

 

"Monaco is a demanding track for the drivers, even if everything that happens in the background doesn't really concern us. When you're in the cockpit, it's a weekend like any other. You need to trust this place if you want to have a good lap, you need to trust your car and yourself, because you need to use every bit of track right up to the barriers. It's easy to make mistakes and even a small one can have big consequences: at the same time, this can give you more opportunities as there are many elements that can turn hierarchies upside down on Sunday. When I started racing there was more fair play among the drivers, not that doors were opened when it came to defending but we weren't so rough in defense, ready to block the opponent in any way. Obviously sports evolve over time and evidently F1 had the need to introduce new rules, it's part of the game".

 

To the words of the Finnish driver are added those of the Italian driver:

fotor_2023-6-23_7_56_55-fotor-2023062375715.jpeg

"Of all the weekends of the year, this is one of the most special. There is a different atmosphere in this city and, with most of the drivers knowing the place so well, it is even more difficult to focus solely on the track. It's definitely a different weekend than usual! I've only raced here once in Formula 1, but I knew the track from my experience in junior formulas and it's an important testing ground for a driver. We have to be ready to make the most of every opportunity and maximize the potential of our car. You never know what can happen during a race here".

 

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is convinced that the Red Bulls will be the favorites to win the Grand Prix in Monaco:

 

"The first two races gave us both wheel-to-wheel battles and strategic battles for victory. Spain was far from a perfect weekend for us and there were a lot of lessons to learn. Nonetheless, moving from a second and fourth position on the first lap to a first and third place is something we can be proud of as a team. The next appointment is Monaco. There really is no race like this and we missed it dearly last year. We can't wait to get back to action on the streets of Monte-Carlo. It is such a unique and intense weekend for the drivers and the team, there is no margin for error. Monaco is a high downforce track and we know that is a strength of Red Bull. They were very fast in the third sector in Spain and this is often a good indicator of a strong performance in Monaco. So, we head into the weekend knowing Red Bull are the team to beat, whilst knowing we will face stiff competition from other teams. The last time we raced in Monaco was shortly after the passing of Niki Lauda. So, he won't be far from our thoughts again this year".

 

Sebastian Vettel, winner of Monaco in the 2011 editions with Red Bull and 2017 with Ferrari, does not lose hope despite a slow start with the Aston Martin team:

 

"For now we have been more effective in the race than in qualifying, but this weekend it will be absolutely essential to get the most out of it on Saturday. I am very excited to be racing again in Monaco, it is a unique and unrivaled track. The season is still long and the innovations introduced at Montmelò have proved to be effective. We will try to continue on this trail in Monte-Carlo".

 

Lance Stroll, like his teammate, can't wait to race again in Monaco after the absence of this appointment in the 2020 calendar:

 

"Anything can happen in the Principality and it could be an excellent opportunity for us to score big points in a really close mid-group battle. I am very happy to be racing on such a special track after missing the 2020 edition".

 

George Russell, in 2018 in Monaco, in F2, had been the protagonist of an unlucky weekend in which a technical problem had compromised his qualification which, in a circuit like that of the Principality, is fundamental. In 2019 he finished the race in fifteenth position on his F1 debut. On the occasion of the 750th Grand Prix in the history of Williams in F1, the British driver hopes to give the English team some good satisfaction:

 

"I can't wait to race in Monaco. It was a shame to miss the race last year due to the pandemic, as it is one of the most exhilarating and exciting events of the season. The team celebrates 750 Grands Prix, one more reason to try to put together a weekend at a high level. I am proud to be part of the history of this team".

 

Speaking then of his contract, following the renewal of his compatriot Lando Norris, George Russell adds:

fotor_2023-6-23_8_23_55-fotor-2023062382413.jpeg

"I hope to sign for several years, at least a two-year contract. In view of 2022, being on the market is positive given that F1 is destined to change, it is very important for a driver to be aware of being safe within the team, in order to be able to calmly and serenely build a relationship to cultivate together with the team to achieve the results to which we aspire".

 

 And, of course, he compliments his compatriot and friend:

 

"I'm very happy for him, he deserves it. Together it is a combination that is reaping extraordinary results and in 2022 they could be a real threat to the top teams".

 

For the first time Nicholas Latifi will race in Monaco in F1:

 

"I have raced in the Principality in various categories and I don't think there is any need to underline how excited I am at the idea of racing in Monte-Carlo in F1. The team crosses a prestigious milestone and it will be exciting to have the names of the over 100 characters who have made the history of this team on the Halo".

 

Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin, Haas drivers, have experience on the Monegasque circuit, since they both competed in the Formula 2 championship race in 2019. In that weekend, Mazepin closed both the sprint race and the feature race in the top ten, which make up the F2 race weekend programme. Both drivers looked optimistic ahead of the weekend, with Mick Schumacher declaring:

 

"It's a historic circuit and also a challenging track. It's a place where every driver is excited to race. I experienced it in Formula 2 in 2019 and I really liked it. I'm looking forward to doing that this year driving in Formula 1. It's always special, there's always something happening, something different. Mentally it's very tough, but it's a challenge and that's why it's so fun to drive around track like that. I can't wait, here the driver can make the difference. Of course, if you have a car that you trust, one that you feel comfortable with, it will most likely help you go to Monaco and ahead of FP1 you will have a more open mind to learn the track. If you also have to learn the car, or if you're not comfortable in the car, that makes it much more difficult".

 

As Nikita Mazepin says:

 

"It's always very special to race in Monaco, regardless of the car, because it's a city that turns into a racing circuit. It will be challenging to make your debut in Formula 1. I had a lot of fun in F2, I think it's a pretty good track for me. With the engineers, obviously you focus first on qualifying because on a circuit like that, Saturday is super important, given that there are very few overtaking opportunities in the race. I'd say it's a circuit for drivers because a driving mistake can cost you dearly, but having a car with a lot of downforce is important".

 

Haas team principal Guenther Steiner also talks about the race ahead:

 

"During the briefing we will tell both of us only one thing, which is to stay away from walls and barriers. Once you slam into Monaco, your session is over. You can't get the car back anytime soon and it's normally badly damaged anyway. The challenge is great. It's a very narrow circuit, there are a lot of people attending the event: in short, you have everything you don't want in a race like this. There should be little pressure on the drivers as we know the potential of the car. They should look to the race just to gain experience, then by the time they come back here with a better car they will have already learned how to deal with Monaco, which is obviously a very special race on the Formula 1 calendar. At the moment we are very happy with how they are doing within the of the Mick and Nikita team. We can always improve, but we are at an excellent point on a relational level. They started off on the right foot and are moving in the right direction. There are a lot of people who work in a Formula 1 team and the drivers need to get to know them better, especially those who work directly with them. Up until now, however, there has been very positive progress".

fotor_2023-6-23_8_30_17-fotor-2023062383051.jpeg

In the previous five editions of the Monaco Grand Prix, Max Verstappen has never gone beyond the fourth position obtained in 2019. In that Grand Prix he was the victim of a 5-second penalty for an unsafe release in the pit lane, and the author of a contact with Hamilton which, many think, will still happen during the current championship, given the proximity of the two title contenders on the track. One of them is Zak Brown, according to whom a contact between the two contenders could be an opportunity for victory for McLaren:

 

"Rivalries are big in the sport and by having these two guys involved, hopefully at some point in the year some opportunities can be created for us. I think it's only a matter of time before both are determined not to give way in a corner and nobody comes out. I think that's a great thing for Formula 1. Lewis had a pretty easy life outside of that one year with Nico (Rosberg). I think it's a great rivalry, Verstappen has pushed Lewis to take another step forward. Not that he needed it. It is definitely at its highest level. I think it is clear that Lewis is a very smart driver. You see him sitting there, waiting to strike and he's not too impatient. This is the experience of him that comes out".

 

A contact that Lewis Hamilton himself defines as possible, but which he tries to avoid in every way. Max Verstappen responds to the British driver's words and to a further statement that the Dutchman has much more to prove than Lewis Hamilton, saying:

 

"No, I have nothing to prove to Hamilton. Avoid contact? I don't know what to say about these things anymore, we don't look for it on purpose. They are good headlines for the newspapers, not the truth, maybe it's more convenient to talk about this than about the great races we've done. And then I think avoiding contact applies to both of us, not just me. We both did everything to avoid it, that's true. We raced well, honestly, we hope we can continue to do so and challenge each other to the maximum".

 

 The Dutch driver of Red Bull Racing then shifts attention to the race that awaits him:

 

"I just want to get the best out of myself and the car, with as few mistakes as possible. We haven't had a race here yet, we'll have to see how Thursday goes. If it goes as we hope, however, we will have a competitive car and hopefully we can be able to take pole position, which as everyone knows is very important here, given that overtaking will be very difficult".

 

Charles Leclerc has not yet collected points in Monaco neither in F1 nor in F2. But the next Grand Prix could be his great opportunity to unlock himself among the streets where he grew up, as he often likes to tell. The Ferrari SF21 in Barcelona proved to be very fast in the last sector characterized by low-speed corners, characteristics similar to those present on the Monaco circuit. During the press conference, the Monegasque indicated his favorite spot on the track:

 

"The first time in Monaco in F1 in 2018 will remain unforgettable for me. My favorite point on the track is the second variant of the Piscine, I think it's a section where you can really make a difference".

 

Carlos Sainz Jr. is at his first weekend in Monaco as a Ferrari driver. In the past, five points finishes were recorded for him out of five races. Obviously, the goal is to continue the lucky streak, so the Spanish driver talks about the differences in driving style to adopt to get the most out of his Ferrari:

 

"For my driving style, the car is different from last year's McLaren. I have to change my driving style, then McLaren has improved a lot with the engine, they are totally different cars. I know the differences, but right now I'm not willing to tell you".

fotor_2023-6-23_8_28_13-fotor-2023062382832.jpeg

The weather does not seem to offer itself as a further unknown factor in Monaco this weekend. The rain, which often enlivened various events in Monte-Carlo, currently has very low chances of appearing on the 3337 meters where the most famous street circuit in the world winds its way. Thursday May 20th, 2021 therefore comes the time for the first free practice session and the Mexican of Red Bull Racing, Sergio Pérez, takes the best time. Pérez, on Soft tyres, finished with a time a couple of tenths higher than the one obtained in the same session two years earlier by Lewis Hamilton. Carlos Sainz Jr. follows, with Medium tyres, just over 0.1 seconds behind.  During practice, the Spaniard also hits the barriers in the swimming pool area. The Ferrari driver precedes the other Red Bull driver, Max Verstappen, on Medium tyres, and Pierre Gasly. There are therefore three cars powered by Honda in the first four strokes. The Mercedes finish with the fifth and sixth fastest time, but the team seems more focused on finding the set-up for the race. Charles Leclerc completes very few laps before the failure of the gearbox forces him to abandon the session. Another driver forced to face problems is Fernando Alonso, who ended up in the barriers at the last corner. At the end of the tests, McLaren was fined 200 euros by the FIA on two occasions, as Daniel Ricciardo exceeded the speed limit established in the pit lane. In addition, there are eleven times canceled by the drivers for going wide at turn 10 (Nouvelle Chicane) and not going it correctly during the first free practice session. Time cleared Carlos Sainz Jr., Nikita Mazepin and Sergio Pérez (twice), Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, Nicholas Latifi, Antonio Giovinazzi and Fernando Alonso (once). After the first day of free practice, Andreas Seidl, McLaren team principal, comments on the first results offered by the track and the chronometers:

 

"The usual suspects are ahead here and I add Ferrari, which I expect to be very strong in Monaco. This is not our track, there are several low-speed corners where we suffer compared to our rivals".

 

Charles Leclerc managed to get on track during the second practice session, setting the fastest time. The Monegasque driver leads his teammate, Carlos Sainz Jr.. It has been since the 2019 Brazilian Grand Prix that two Ferraris have failed to set the two best times at the end of the second session of a Grand Prix. Behind the two drivers from the Maranello team are Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen, separated by just 0.007 seconds. The battle between the various cars is, in general, very close, with the first seven drivers within the margin of a second. Sergio Pérez, the fastest in the morning, is eighth. During the session Yuki Tsunoda and Mick Schumacher end up against the barriers.  A total of twenty-seven times were canceled by the drivers for going wide at turn 10 (Nouvelle Chicane) and not having traveled it correctly during the second free practice session. The times of Lewis Hamilton (five times), Sergio Pérez (four times), Carlos Sainz Jr. and Sebastian Vettel (three times), George Russell, Charles Leclerc, Lance Stroll and Nikita Mazepin (twice), Yuki Tsunoda, Valtteri Bottas, Esteban Ocon and Lando Norris (once). At the end of the tests on Yuki Tsunoda's car the transmission was replaced. The Japanese driver will not be penalized on the starting grid because he finished the Spanish Grand Prix early. After the first two free practice sessions, Max Verstappen expresses his first sensations on his Red Bull:

 

"We are slow. Not a little bit, a lot I'd say. We have to find speed, in all sectors, because others are speedy, unlike us. We are far away and I didn't even have great sensations driving. Normally I'm comfortable in the car right away and it's easy to find a good rhythm, while today it took a long time. So far this is definitely the weekend. I'm surprised by Ferrari's competitiveness, but this shows that we are quite weak. They are doing very well, while we haven't been up to par, as evidenced by the gap we have recovered. Luckily we have a day off tomorrow and can go over it all, but there are a lot of things that need to change.  We have to improve a lot to get to the level of the reds".

 

Lando Norris also talks about a good day for Scuderia Ferrari:

fotor_2023-6-23_8_23_50-fotor-202306238249.jpeg

"Surprised by Ferrari? No. Carlos said before the weekend that he would beat me. I think it was clear that here they would be very fast. They are very fast in the slow corners. There are a lot of them here, so it's no surprise. Traffic?  Yes, it's very difficult. You have to make sure that the tires are in the right window. Often you can't make the time on the first try. Many times you have to do it on the second or third attempt. Sometimes there are mistakes and they break your sequence of laps. It gets tricky and tricky, but that's always the case in Monaco. It won't be easy. Even having a day off will be bizarre, but that's what happens here".

 

To the appreciations referred to the Scuderia Ferrari are added the words of Lewis Hamilton:

 

"Ferrari are really, it's amazing to see them improve so much, but it's great. It means more competition. Ferrari in the past, whatever the reason, has been very quick to get the tires up to temperature. Even Red Bull is generally like this. This year for some reason there is very high grip, they have resurfaced most of the track so there is a lot of grip. I think already in FP1 we were faster than we were in 2019. This is fantastic. Ferrari the real opponent this weekend? I am seeing what you are seeing, in general I am focused on my work, but it seems to be like this".

 

For his part, Charles Leclerc seems very surprised by the performance expressed by his Ferrari:

 

"I was quite surprised that it ended like this. Especially in Monaco, it's important to do as many laps as possible: unfortunately with the problem I had in FP1 I was only able to do four, but I felt quite at ease with the car in FP2 and managed to do a good lap, with still some leeway. On the other hand, I'm sure that Mercedes and Red Bull have more margin than us. For this we must not let ourselves be carried away too much. There will be a day tomorrow to work hard, then we'll see where we end up. In the morning it was difficult, on this track it was not at all useful to look at Sainz's references to find mine, completely. In FP2 I had to go out on track trying to recover the pace and get my points of reference. After the first attempt, I was able to compare myself with Carlos to understand where I was missing something and I was able to recover by the end of the session. In addition to the flying lap, the race simulation also looks good, too good to believe. That's why I want to wait for Saturday, when we'll understand exactly where we are in qualifying and then we'll see in the race".

 

 And finally, the Monegasque driver also talks about his goals for the weekend:

 

"Unfortunately, it didn't go very well here in the past, but it's also true that I've always been competitive. Sure, I didn't finish the race, which is the most important thing, but I'm ready to give everything. And let's hope this year goes better. Compared to the first time here in Ferrari, I've grown a lot. We come from a very difficult 2020 season and I learned a lot. Even to take a little less risk when it's not needed. I learned to be more concrete.  I'm happy with this 2021 for now precisely because I managed to be quite concrete and that's what I wanted for this year. So for now everything is fine, but we have to keep working hard because fourth places don't drive me crazy. If I have to dream for Monte-Carlo, the dream is to win. Only victory allows me to do that.  But for now stay that way, realistically it will be difficult. Did I tell Carlos some Monte-Carlo secrets? Yes, good restaurants. See the city from another perspective? I actually try to abstract myself to contain all the emotions when I'm in the car. So I see it like any other track. But I like it a lot, like all street circuits, and Monaco is the best challenge for any driver. Yes, it's one of my favorite tracks. The part that I like the most, I repeat, are the swimming pools. The difference between winning here and at Monza? In Monza there was so much emotion, so many people. Seeing all those fans under the podium was incredible. Here the taste of victory could be a little different, it would also be a little like showing all my teachers, who'd get angry when I was young if I left school to go running, that I did it. There was a sense in all those absences. But then there's my family, my friends. It would be strange, Monaco is special to me. In the end it is a country but also a small city where we all know each other. Here, it would be strange but very special. A Grand Prix from the past that I would have liked to race? I would have loved to race with Senna here, because this track was special for him. Then he's my idol".

fotor_2023-6-23_8_14_59-fotor-2023062381519.jpeg

Charles Leclerc's teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. is also showing cautious optimism:

 

"Today was quite pleasant. The first few laps of FP1 I managed to understand that the car was quite different to what I've been used to in the past, but I managed to change a few things. The most important thing is that I have always seen myself in the top three positions. I was always there fighting. It's difficult here. We have different fuel loads, different set-ups and all the drivers push differently. There are those who push more on Thursdays and those who don't. We certainly look very close, but we have to wait at least until FP3. Things change a lot between Thursday and Saturday. Some drivers keep the margin on Thursday to go calmly, then on Saturday others like Lewis are always super fast. It's good to see that we are close to playing for important positions up front. There are positive signs, the car certainly doesn't go badly when cornering".

 

Talking about the goals for the weekend, the Spaniard says:

 

"A front row in Monte-Carlo? Dreaming is free. For now we are dreaming, but we are aware that it will not be easy. We know that Mercedes and Red Bull have a superior car: if they find the right performance they will be in front. The Ferrari environment is very good, the team is motivated, it was clear they were not happy with 2020 and wanted to demonstrate more this year.  I liked how he reacted, I also like how I'm feeling with the car in these first few races. I immediately had a good feeling with the car, which is not yet what I would like but I have to say that the adaptation process is going much faster than I expected. I'm going strong in qualifying, I'm just missing the details to make the weekend perfect".

 

Finally, Sainz talks about the differences between Lando Norris and Charles Leclerc, his former teammate and the current one:

 

"There are a lot of them, but both of them are good guys and beautiful people. We get on well with them from the first moment. As drivers they are different in their driving style, in their approach to the team. They have a different way of working and doing things, but in the end they both achieve a very similar result.  If there is one of the two with whom I get on better? I get on very well with Leclerc, but you know that I also got on very well with Lando".

 

Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto remains realistic, despite the results obtained by his drivers during FP2:

 

"It's always nice to dream, but we also have to be realistic. It's true that in qualifying in Monaco everyone can be very close and a few cents can make the difference, where the driver can make the difference. Here Leclerc proved to be very good and already this year in qualifying he showed a lot with several fourth places: this is the position he must aim for, but who knows if he will be able to do something better. As for Sainz, he is gaining confidence in the car. He's growing, this is a track he likes and I think this is an interesting challenge for him to tackle in this respect to get as close as possible to Charles".

 

 The Swiss engineer also talks about the development of the car that will be used next season:

 

"We are at a point where important choices are being made on aerodynamic concepts. In a month they will be defined and then we will start with the production of the first pieces. To then work on the details, on the aerodynamic geometries. The car is so different that you can't afford to waste time or slow down, we see how much progress we make every week. It is a key moment because there are only a few weeks left before freezing the project: starting next year there is a regulation that will last for several years and we cannot be caught unprepared or inattentive because it is not only 2022 but everything that comes after. It is inevitable that it will be the priority: right now the new single-seater is growing in line with our forecasts. From the following season, the engine freezes for the next three years, so important directions must be taken. In terms of the power unit there are limitations on the test bench hours available. You have to be efficient in development. We then have to use a new petrol with 10% ethanol, which is greener.  It seems simple, but instead the characteristics of the combustion completely change".

fotor_2023-6-23_8_20_50-fotor-202306238219.jpeg

Because it is logical that at the beginning there will be someone who will have understood the new machines better:

 

"They won't all be close, initially this goal won't be achieved, then over time we'll see how close they get. The second objective of the 2022 regulations was to facilitate overtaking, I'm not convinced we will get there. The data shows highly performing cars capable of creating disturbances for those chasing in the slipstream".

 

During the afternoon, the Red Bull Racing team principal, Christian Horner, resumed the questions relating to Lewis Hamilton and the flexible wings:

 

"Lewis Hamilton loves all that rubbish, mind games of him. We must ignore it, let it go ahead. If he feels the need to make these statements it means that Max is getting under his skin. He is fantastic and is part of the sport. Look at the front wing endplate or flap. You can see how he starts to disappear from the shot and then reappears. So what is the difference between the front and the rear? We will have to make changes for the next test and that costs time and money, but we are not the only team doing this. It is probably a greater burden for those like Alfa Romeo, who are already at the limit".

 

And Andreas Seidl, McLaren team principal, also intervenes on the issue of flexible wings:

 

"We are satisfied with the content of the FIA directive, but not with the timing for implementation. Some teams have already exploited the advantage for several races, we are not satisfied. Allowing them to have it for other races as well is clearly something we strongly disagree with and have discussed with the FIA. It is clear that having flexible wings can bring a big advantage especially on a track like Baku, you can use much more downforce than if you prefer top speed. With the footage available from Barcelona I think it's pretty clear what's going on and we hope the FIA shows a very tough hand now on this issue, because it's not acceptable that teams that comply with the regulations are at a disadvantage".

 

As for the McLaren team, Daniel Ricciardo comments on his complicated day as follows:

 

"It was very nice to be back here in Monaco. It's a track that I like a lot, but despite that I didn't have a great day. We have a lot of work to do, but time is running out. We have tonight and all day tomorrow, and this is one of the reasons why I love Monte-Carlo so much. The rest day helps you to get even more into the climate, to reset if necessary and to understand where to improve. I think everything will be fine for Saturday and we'll figure out what to do, but today I felt a bit stuck at times. We have work to do, but the sun is shining and we'll be back strong and having fun on Saturday".

 

Speaking of the Red Bull team, Sergio Pérez seems less worried than Max Verstappen, but not entirely serene:

 

"I am really enjoying it. It's a fantastic track. We had a very good FP1. The car was fine. A couple of changes we've made have probably set us back a step. So, I think we have a lot of information for qualifying on Saturday. But we need to find the rhythm on low fuel. We have work to do. There is some rhythm to be found. We just need to understand what happened from FP1 to FP2. Hopefully we can fix everything and be in the mix on Saturday".

fotor_2023-6-23_8_0_16-fotor-202306238052.jpeg

Valtteri Bottas didn't seem to be entirely comfortable with his Mercedes in these free practice sessions:

 

"I feel we still have some work to do with the car. For my part, I miss the front a bit on this circuit. We had similar problems at other tracks, especially in the middle of the corner, but here, being all corners at low speed, if you don't have a good front feeling you can easily lose time. The car is also quite stiff over bumps and curbs in corners, which we'll look into. It will be important to light up the tires quickly and get them running. Today, on the first lap, I couldn't get them to work immediately, so we need to work a lot on that for qualifying. Ferrari looks fast, as does Red Bull. So it won't just be a challenge between two teams".

 

Otherwise, there is satisfaction within the Alfa Romeo team. And, in particular, Antonio Giovinazzi is confident:

 

"It was a positive start to our weekend, I'm very happy with the work we did today. FP1 was already ok and in FP2 I felt the balance of the car was even better. I'm happy with ninth position, but what really matters is qualifying. We have to keep up. Monaco is a unique track, difficult to compare with any other, and I think it really suits us. If we improve a little further ahead of Saturday, we can be confident".

 

Kimi Raikkonen also says he is satisfied with the answers he got during the two free practice sessions:

 

"Today was ok. A simple day, without major problems. So far so good, but it's Saturday that counts. We can definitely still improve, but others can too, so we'll have to get everything we can out of the car and see where it takes us. The conditions today were good, but we can't compare to other weekends: this track is unique. It doesn't matter anyway, the important thing is to be competitive".

 

Fernando Alonso and Esteban Ocon failed to bring their Alpines into the top ten in the two free practice sessions, but the aero updates bode well:

 

"It was an intense day, as Thursdays always are in Monaco. I think we did a good job with 64 laps in total, building confidence in the car: this is very useful and I'm happy about it. There's a lot to analyze as we've tried some new updates, but we'll look into them between tonight and tomorrow and aim to be strong for qualifying. Traffic management is going to be difficult, and we saw a snapshot in both sessions of how difficult it is to get a clean lap here. Managing this aspect well could be the key to a good position in qualifying on Saturday".

 

To the words of Fernando Alonso are added those of Esteban Ocon:

 

"The practice day went quite smoothly according to our schedule. We were able to understand the car, find a good rhythm and identify any problems. We didn't understand everything, but we will analyze it tonight and also tomorrow on the day off. We will work hard to find those tenths we lack at the moment to aim for a good position in the top ten. From my side, too, there are things I can do better to push the car to the limit. It was also very motivating to see some fans in the stands, a sign that we are starting to return to normal".

 

Yuki Tsunoda ended the second free practice session prematurely after a contact with the barriers. After getting out of the car, the Japanese driver explains:

fotor_2023-6-23_8_9_43-fotor-202306238101.jpeg

"Unfortunately, my second practice session ended earlier than expected: I wasn't pushing too hard, but I lost grip out of the corners and unfortunately hit the wall. I don't know if and how much the episode will affect my race preparation. Obviously it's not the ideal situation, but now I have two sets of Softs for Saturday, so it's not too bad. I just need to get ready for Saturday and try to put everything together in the moment that really counts".

 

But the Red Bull Racing consultant, Helmut Marko, mentor of the Japanese driver who demands more discipline from him, does not seem of the same opinion:

 

"We've told him a thousand times, in Monaco it's very important to drive without interruption to get used to the circuit and get the right automatisms. Tsunoda needs to start showing some discipline".

 

By contrast, Pierre Gasly has rediscovered pleasant driving in the narrow streets of Monte-Carlo. The Frenchman found himself really at ease behind the wheel of his AlphaTauri, finishing in seventh position behind Lando Norris:

 

"It was a positive day. In the morning we had a very good pace, a good way to start here in Monaco: I was comfortable with the car and I was able to push hard. We finished in the top ten in the afternoon and we're still quite satisfied, but it was much harder. I hope to be able to work with the guys on Friday to improve in the areas where we are still struggling. In general, however, we are quite satisfied. Monaco is unique, both in terms of grip and bumps on track, so we have to figure out what fits our package best. We have a good starting base, but we hope to be able to continue to improve in view of qualifying, because we know how crucial it is to qualify well here".

 

And he says he is also confident George Russell, at the end of the first day of tests in the Principality:

 

"Firstly, it's incredible to be back on track in Monaco. It's really exciting to push the car to the limit. Obviously it's really difficult to have 20 cars on the track in the space of an hour for everyone and get clean laps. I think we've had a productive day - the car is pretty much where we expected it to be. The Alfa Romeos look really fast, but we expected that on this type of circuit. We have a long day to analyze everything and I'm confident we can make interesting changes ahead of Saturday's qualifying".

 

At his first experience in Monaco in F1, Nicholas Latifi also appears satisfied with the work done:

 

"I enjoyed myself. It's my first time here in a Formula 1 car, as well as my first time driving a street circuit in these cars. It's a lot faster than I remembered in F2 and you really notice the impressive width of these cars. We have some things to work on to improve the balance ahead of Saturday. We had a pretty clean day gaining confidence lap after lap so I'm happy with where we are".

 

After a day of rest, during FP3 on Saturday May 22nd, 2021, the Ferraris confirmed their competitiveness, even if the best time was set by Max Verstappen, 0.047 seconds better than that set by Carlos Sainz Jr., who at difference of the Dutchman gets the time with Medium tires, and 0.2 seconds compared to the time of Charles Leclerc. The Mercedes drivers are in greater difficulty, as they are unable to get the Soft tires up to temperature; however, Valtteri Bottas closes practice scoring the fourth time, while Lewis Hamilton is only seventh. During rehearsals Mick Schumacher crashes at the Casino exit, heavily damaging his Haas. The German's accident led to the red flag being shown, and the session to be interrupted a few minutes from the end, so much so that the race director decided not to resume action on the track. Nicholas Latifi, at the same time, also hit the guardrail in the Piscine area: however, his car was less damaged. 

fotor_2023-6-23_7_56_42-fotor-2023062375659.jpeg

Thirty-two times were canceled by the drivers for going wide at turn 10 (Nouvelle Chicane) and not going it correctly during the third free practice session. The times of Charles Leclerc and Daniel Ricciardo (five times), Carlos Sainz Jr. (four times), Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen (three times), Kimi Räikkönen, George Russell and Sebastian Vettel (twice), Nicholas Latifi, Valtteri Bottas, Sergio Pérez, Nikita Mazepin, Esteban Ocon and Lance Stroll (once). Before the start of qualifying, the gearbox was replaced on Mick Schumacher's car, which did not take part in the official tests. The German driver will therefore be penalized by five positions on the starting grid. However, the penalty will have no practical effect as the Haas driver would have started from the last position in any case not having competed in qualifying. During the afternoon the track temperature is 34 °C, and the sky is cloudy, but there is no threat of rain. The track seems to get faster and faster from pass to pass. During Q1 Lando Norris takes first place with a time of 1'12"676; the first driver to break the 1'12"0 barrier is Valtteri Bottas. The Finn's reference, however, is beaten by Max Verstappen, in turn overtaken by Carlos Sainz Jr., and by Lando Norris. Meanwhile Kimi Räikkönen goes long at Santa Devota, without however damaging his car.Shortly afterwards, Max Verstappen returns to the top of the timesheets while, five minutes from the end of the session, the two Alpine-Renaults find themselves in the elimination zone. In the final moments of Q1, the two Alfa Romeo Racing drivers improve, while Sebastian Vettel is the last of the qualifiers. Yuki Tsunoda, Nicholas do not progress to the next stage Latifi, Fernando Alonso and Nikita Mazepin, to which is added Mick Schumacher, who did not take part in the session. 

 

Also in Q2 many drivers opted to do two warm-up laps, before looking for the absolute performance. Max Verstappen set a time of 1'11"040, but this is improved by Charles Leclerc, who manages to lap 0.3 seconds faster than the Dutch driver. The two Mercedes are still not very competitive, with Lewis Hamilton fourth and Bottas fifth. During Q2, Lando Norris took the lead in the timesheets, before Max Verstappen managed to drop below the 1'11"0 limit. Valtteri Bottas, after beating the time relief of Lewis Hamilton, manages to score a better time than that of Lando Norris, while the British Mercedes driver always remains in sixth position. At the end of Q2 Charles Leclerc, thanks to yet another attempt, sets the best time lapping in 1'10"597. Antonio Giovinazzi manages to enter the top ten and enters Q3, from which Esteban Ocon, Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll are excluded , Kimi Räikkönen and George Russell. In the decisive phase, that of Q3, Max Verstappen set the reference time of 1'10"567;  the Dutchman's time is only approached by Valtteri Bottas, 0.060 seconds behind. Whoever does better than the Red Bull Racing driver is Charles Leclerc, thanks to a time of 1'10"346. The other Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz Jr., is also fast, and sets the third fastest time. Even in the final stages from Q3 the drivers make two consecutive fast laps. Max Verstappen is unable to improve in the first attempt, nor is Sergio Pérez. A few seconds before the checkered flag is shown, Charles Leclerc hits the barrier at the Piscine with his front right tyre, losing the car. The session was interrupted and Charles Leclerc thus took the eighth pole position of his career, the first for him, and for Ferrari, since the 2019 Mexican Grand Prix. Bottas, Riccardo Musconi, tells the Finnish driver:

 

"Red flag, red flag, keep the delta positive. Leclerc has conveniently crashed it, exit to turn 16".

 

The Finnish driver replies:

 

"That would have been the lap".

 

Riccardo Musconi confirms:

 

"Yeah, you were unlucky Valtteri, but good job".

fotor_2023-6-23_7_51_15-fotor-2023062375134.jpeg

The front row is completed by Max Verstappen, while the second is made up of Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz Jr. It is the first time that a Monegasque driver takes pole position in the Principality, in an edition valid as a round of the Formula 1 World Championship The last to succeed was Louis Chiron in a Mercedes, in the 1936 edition, then a round of the European motoring championship. Eight times have been canceled by the drivers for going wide at turn 10 (Nouvelle Chicane) and not having traveled it correctly during qualifying. The times of Carlos Sainz Jr. (three times), Lewis Hamilton (twice), George Russell, Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel (once) are deleted. Despite the excellent result, Carlos Sainz Jr. is not fully satisfied with his position on the starting grid:

 

"We cannot be happy, neither me personally nor all of us as a team. Today we could have completed the front row without any problems, so I'm not satisfied. I had a 10.1 or 10.2 in my foot to take pole. Not having done it doesn't make me happy. Tomorrow will be another day, I will think about how to win the race. All weekend I had the necessary pace to be able to win, as well as to take pole. Starting fourth, everything will obviously be more complicated: there are a couple of things to see to try and recover but, as I said, I'm not happy".

 

Instead, Charles Leclerc is understandably happy, who obtained the pole position:

 

"Pole here is very special. I'm really happy. The weekend has gone smoothly so far. I knew I had the pace, I just had to get the job done. The last lap before the red flag was very good indeed. Nothing changed for us. I was at the limit, I had a lot of oversteer. I struggled to get the tires up to temperature in the last sector because there was traffic. In the end the rear closed a bit, but the time arrived. In the end I was improving a lot, I was 4 tenths quicker than stopping. It was a great lap. The car felt fantastic. Having Carlos by my side is also fantastic. In the dry, the situation tomorrow will be more predictable, but we will be competitive in any situation. The lap I did was good, but the most beautiful is the one I didn't finish. I lost the rear, I was at the limit and was 4 tenths faster. I enjoyed it, but it's ten percent of the weekend. We have to concentrate for the race, if we do everything right we will achieve the result. I never feel unbeatable, but I had confidence. The car was good, I had a margin in Q3. I wanted to give my all. Now we need to win, I'll have to get a good start and stay out of trouble. If there are no problems, everything will be fine".

 

 Mattia Binotto, on the other hand, seems more apprehensive about Charles Leclerc's car:

 

"There's a bit of concern for Charles' car: now we'll check, especially the gearbox. It will take about an hour to understand, the time to disassemble suspensions, axle shafts and all the rest but, as mentioned, the focus is on the gearbox and differential. I have seen no damage in the frame. The car runs very well at low speed, has a lot of load. It is the hardest cargo type to develop and find. Compared to others, we lack medium-high speed, but the car performs well in these conditions and at these speeds. It's a good omen for the rest of the season. On the radio he said little, I also saw him embarrassed but with a smile for the beautiful.  It was a good result for the team, but now we should focus on tomorrow's race. We should pay attention to the start and the pit stop, as usual here in Monte-Carlo, understand the tire wear at that moment and the strategy. Having Verstappen behind us doesn't allow us to take anything for granted, but in the meantime he starts up front. We can collect important points".

 

A bit of disappointment, however, as regards Carlos Sainz Jr., only fourth despite the speed shown up to now:

 

"Carlos is a little bitter. He was convinced, as am I, that he could do better. He maybe found some traffic on the preparation lap which wasn't ideal.  He has shown that he is very close to Charles, on a track where he has always performed very well. It's important for us to see how quickly he's integrating and to know we can count on him for the rest of the season. Regardless of all this, this is a car that has been able to be fast around the track since Thursday. The drivers have always been at ease and have always done very well. Obviously the team is also a bit embittered, there is the belief that we could have done better".

fotor_2023-6-23_7_51_22-fotor-2023062375146.jpeg

Even Laurent Mekies, sporting director of the Maranello team, speaking of the result obtained in qualifying, says:

 

"A beautiful qualifying on which, however, the sword of Damocles hangs due to the condition of Charles' car. Whatever the diagnosis, there is still the satisfaction of having a driver placed in pole position in the most difficult qualifying of the whole championship and of also having the regret of not having reached a higher position with Carlos, penalized - like other drivers, to be exact - from the accident that occurred to his teammate. We had arrived at this appointment with the awareness of being able to do well but we always kept our feet on the ground. The goal was to be first behind the two teams fighting for the World Championship but we managed to go much further. It is a result due to the talent of our drivers, to the preparation work done by the team, on the track and in Maranello, and to the support of all our technical and commercial partners. With our feet on the ground we must also remain tonight and tomorrow to prepare ourselves in the best possible way for the race, when the goal will be to reap the maximum possible from what has been sown so far".

 

Even Lewis Hamilton seems disappointed by the result obtained in qualifying, the worst since the 2018 German Grand Prix:

 

"What went wrong with the car? So many things we should have done but didn't. Tomorrow we will start from behind, but we keep our head up to keep pushing. But today is a disappointment. The decisions we took yesterday, in view of today, have caused a sort of domino effect that has worsened the situation. We will have to learn from mistakes. This is a wasted opportunity. But we will have to try to do better tomorrow".

 

 Talking about Ferrari's performance, Lewis Hamilton says:

 

"I wouldn't say I'm surprised. They know how to always make the tires work well. In competition they often lose a lot, but here they were expected to be strong. They don't have the best power unit, but a good car. They often build it well and they proved it this weekend".

 

 Even Toto Wolff, speaking of qualifying, says:

 

"It wasn't a good day for us overall and we need to find out why we couldn't put Lewis' car in a happier position. It was a pity for Valtteri. He was leading by two and a half tenths on his final lap and had a great chance for pole, but accidents can happen here in Q3. It's the moment when the drivers are pushing the hardest. All day we struggled to generate grip in Lewis' car. This didn't let him find confidence in practice and he took it with him in qualifying. We will work hard to figure out why. Valtteri, on the other hand, was able to build his confidence and his car seemed to be in a better window. Tomorrow will be a tight race, we have to be patient and look for any opportunity to move forward".

 

Words also confirmed by Valtteri Bottas, who claims he had a chance for pole position:

 

"Thursday and also in this morning's practice I didn't have the best feeling with the car: we were still struggling with warming up the tyres. Even mechanically the car is not suitable for tracks like this one in Monaco. But I think we maximized the whole set-up for qualifying, made some changes and I felt comfortable. As qualifying went on, I saw we had a shot at pole position, it's a shame we couldn't finish the last lap. I think we will never find out if that would have been enough but it was a good lap up to the red flag, I was up by a tenth or two. Shame about the red flag really, but it's great to see a lot of teams competing up front, it's exciting and we're all pushing so hard on track, trying to make money from every little thing. I'm sure tomorrow will be a close battle".

 

fotor_2023-6-23_7_51_55-fotor-2023062375216.jpeg

Despite the missed pole position, Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner says he is optimistic:

 

"The immediate disappointment is because we should have done the last lap. You know how important it is here. So, there's frustration with that. However, the glass is half full rather than half empty. The extra cars between us and Lewis at the moment is a good thing. As for red flags, they're one of those things that happen. Max took it at the last corner. From the data he was two and a half tenths ahead at the point where he had to abort, that's why it was so frustrating".

 

Still disappointing, however, Sergio Perez's day, only ninth in qualifying. In this regard, die Christian Horner:

 

"Sergio will also perform, I have no doubts. We have seen a lot of drivers who have changed teams this year and are struggling. You know Daniel, the great driver he is, and obviously things are not going right now for him too".

 

And the Mexican Red Bull driver adds:

 

"I was making good progress during qualifying and then in Q3, the session I thought was going to be the smoothest, turned into the worst. Things got really messy and I couldn't get the ride together. We seemed to be going backwards and not making the progress we hoped or expected. I was struggling with the dropping temperatures so we changed our approach in the final session and that only made things worse, and then on my final lap in Q3 I hit traffic in the last sector and lost the lap. We know how important qualifying is here in Monaco, but we'll try to do the best job we can to recover tomorrow".

 

Although damaged by Charles Leclerc's accident, Max Verstappen exonerates his colleague from any responsibility:

 

"I think there is a big difference when a driver makes a mistake and hits the wall and when he does it intentionally. If Charles crashed at Piscine with a broken front wing, it's a different story, he didn't do it on purpose. He hit the wall and landed where I landed twice. It's just bad luck. Of course I'm disappointed, but that's life. I don't think Leclerc's lap should be canceled in the future, if there is eventually a change in the rules, I don't think it would be right. Qualifying here is a lot of fun. I had a good first lap in Q3, but the tires weren't quite in the right window and I knew it was going to be the last lap. Which looked really good to me when I got to the tunnel but because of the red flag I couldn't finish it which was frustrating because I felt comfortable in the car and knew pole position was at stake. Obviously Charles is driving very well so I knew it was going to be a battle but everyone in the team, both at the factory and at the track, did an incredible job to get the car to where it is now, especially after we struggled so much on Thursday. I think it's been a great weekend so far, we've recovered well from practice and tomorrow we'll start from the front row, which is the most important thing in Monaco, so it's not been too bad. I can be quite happy with second place after this red flag and now we just have to finish the job tomorrow".

 

Sebastian Vettel also says he is happy with the result achieved by his former team:

 

"It's good to see that Ferrari have taken a step forward and I'm happy for them that they are in pole position. I had a bad season and they had a bad season last year".

 

The best news for Vettel, however, concerns his feeling with his AMR21, which finally seems to be able to arrive:

fotor_2023-6-23_7_51_0-fotor-2023062375125.jpeg

"It took me some time to understand, but I think it gets better and better, even on a track like this where you need confidence. So that's a good sign. At the beginning of the season we wanted something more than the eighth, but the situation is this, we are working on it. It went a little better, I've always liked this track. It's always a bit of an anti-climax if you don't get the chance to do the second one but overall it's a good result for us".

 

Excellent day also for Antonio Giovinazzi, who conquers Q3 and hopes to score points during the race:

 

"I'm happy for the team. We had a lot of bad luck in these first four races and this result gives us all great motivation. It's just a pity about the last lap in Q3, with the red flag I was unable to use the set of new tyres. Maybe it could have been done better, but I'm still satisfied. Tenth position is like a pole, but I thought I could do even more after spending the entire weekend between eighth and ninth place. It's still fine like this, we'll have a chance to play our cards tomorrow. The goal is to make a good start, we know that it is very difficult to overtake in Monaco. We need to stay in the points after the first corner and see what happens".

 

 Finally, the Italian driver talks about Ferrari and what happened to Charles Leclerc:

 

"Charles didn't do it on purpose, that's a very difficult point on the track. Let's hope he doesn't take risks with the gearbox, for the Ferrari fans and for himself, who took this first pole at his home. All deserved".

 

Kimi Raikkonen's Saturday was less exciting. The Finn, in fact, pays the price in qualifying, obtaining only the fourteenth position on the grid:

 

"The car was ok, even if I had more confidence in the tires this morning. It's easy to miss that feeling, especially here, and it's these little things that end up making a big difference in lap time. I don't think anything went wrong. We just weren't fast enough on the laps that mattered. Of course you always want to be higher up on the grid, but we have to do better tomorrow. Let's hope we have some luck, because you never know what's going to happen. We have to survive the first few corners and then do our race".

 

Fernando Alonso is disappointed in this qualifying session after being eliminated in Q1:

 

"It was a tough session today and it's always a bit messy in qualifying here, because you try to find free space. I don't think this was the cause of the elimination in Q1 as we couldn't find the performance all weekend and we expected more from our package. It will be very difficult to start from the back here in Monaco, but anything can happen in this race".

 

On the other hand, the other Alpine driver, Esteban Ocon, is satisfied with his performance:

 

"We were all very close today and starting in eleventh position is not so bad. With the means we had it was probably the best we could do. I was happy with my lap and driving in qualifying in Monaco is always a pleasure. We haven't been as fast as in the last two races, but we have some things to analyze that will certainly help us in the future. We are in a good starting position tomorrow. It's not perfect, but we have a free choice of tyres. We are one position away from scoring points and we will be ready to attack in the race".

 

 After the elimination in Q2, a disappointed Daniel Ricciardo comments on the gap that separates him from his teammate Norris:

fotor_2023-6-23_7_51_8-fotor-2023062375130.jpeg

"I'm sure Lando is fast, but - without taking anything away from him - I refuse to believe he's a second quicker here. I'm probably more confused than angry. Of course, I'm also frustrated and shocked, we know that qualifications are very important here. But we have reached a point where the problem is not even the location. It's that we were a second slower than we should have been. I would like to say: Yes, I still have to learn the car. But not for a second. Not here. I refuse to believe I'm so slow here.  All weekend I felt I had a good feeling with the car, I often said to myself: This is a good lap. Then I see that at one point Lando is 1.2 seconds faster. I have no answer at the moment. From the data we saw the differences that existed on Thursday and we worked to smooth them out. So I felt good driving, maybe not yet 100% with the feeling in some places but I expected a gap of half a tenth here and there. But if you're not even faster in a corner it's different. You can be slower but at least in one corner, at least in one you will also have to be faster. I say it again, I'm not saying these things against Lando, who is very fast. But there is a lot of confusion on our part and I will ask for information on any problems with the car, without pointing the finger at the guys in the garage. I'm not going to bury my head in the sand and say, I'll make it right, I'm the best. I still want to work on it, I'm sure there are still things I can improve, but this weekend has been the most unusual so far".

 

On the other hand, Lando Norris is visibly more satisfied, after obtaining an excellent fifth place on the starting grid:

 

"It was a really good qualifying: I'm very happy to have secured P5. We were only two tenths off pole and only half a tenth off P2 - which isn't much - we were really close. But I feel I had a good lap and I don't think there was anything more that I could come up with. I'm really happy, even if it's hard to know that by doing something different you could have maybe gained that half-tenth and quite a few positions. It was a good day and I'm happy. Overall it's a good weekend so far, we've extracted everything we can out of the car. In my last attempt in Q3, in particular, I took quite a few risks, but they paid off and it was definitely one of the best laps I've done in my career. We did a good job today as a team and we just have to try and finish it tomorrow".

 

Good qualification also for Pierre Gasly, who finishes in sixth position:

 

"I am extremely happy with my qualification. I think we did the best we could with the car we had. Others on the other hand didn't maximize their lap and qualifying where we are today is certainly a huge achievement. I am very happy with all the work the team has done to give me such a strong car when it counted. I think it was one of my best laps of the weekend and I'm happy that everything came together today in Q3. We have fast cars starting behind us tomorrow but we know how difficult it is to overtake here in Monaco so we need to stay focused and have a clean race. I think we can aim to get good points. I really hope we can come away with a nice reward for all the work the team has put in".

 

His teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, commenting on the elimination in Q1, says:

 

"This weekend has obviously been a challenge, having never driven in Monaco before. But I think my qualifying lap was pretty good. I was unlucky to miss Q2. We planned to do three launch laps, but we only did two. Having to go to the weigh-in during the session affected our plan. Then we also had traffic in sector two during my best lap. We need to analyze all the data and see where my weaknesses are compared to Pierre. Then I hope I can improve to be able to battle with him in Q3. We are definitely seeing improvements from race to race and I'm happy with the performance of the car".

 

George Russell, who once again managed to bring Williams into Q2, comments on his performance as follows:

fotor_2023-6-23_7_46_10-fotor-2023062374626.jpeg

"This was our maximum today, and the lap in Q1 was fantastic. It's just exhilarating to get a good ride here, because it's not easy. It was very difficult in practice and I was struggling to gain confidence in the car, however in qualifying things seemed to go well. We knew that our car isn't very good at low speed cornering and that the Alfa Romeos could be fast. Overtaking an AlphaTauri and an Alpine to get P15 is the best we could do. It's an interesting race here - it's a tough street circuit where a lot can happen. Everything will be decided in the pits tomorrow, so let's wait and see what happens".

 

For Nicholas Latifi, however, some more difficulties:

 

"First of all I would like to say a huge thank you to the team for getting me back on track after the crash in FP3. Even if it happened, I got all the references I needed so I didn't lack confidence for qualifying. We had much colder conditions today and I struggled to get the soft tires in the right window - the balance wasn't as good as it was on Thursday. I think there was more potential today and I would have liked to be a little closer to Q2, but still it has been one of the most exciting laps of the year so far".

 

 On the other hand, disappointment for Nikita Mazepin, the only Haas driver present on the track during qualifying:

 

"We're a bit disappointed because it's not the first weekend where we seem to be strong enough at various points in a session, then for qualifying our competitors are able to extract the maximum. I was cautious but obviously FP3 went really well for us. I knew we did a consistently good job throughout the weekend, but maybe we don't have as much available when we really need to. I know everyone in the team is doing their best to extract potential from the car and we know where we are. I think everyone did a great job today. Qualifying here in Monaco is very exciting. I really enjoyed driving here, the whole atmosphere is very nice".

 

There is regret for Mick Schumacher after the accident in FP3, which did not allow him to take part in qualifying:

 

"My feeling in the car was very good, and is still very good. Looking at FP3, my first laps were very competitive, and we were right there with Alpine and Williams, which is very nice. You never know what would have happened but I think we were definitely fighting with Alonso and Latifi, it would have been something. In general, I just pushed too hard. Frankly that's it and I'm very sorry for the team. We lost an entire session missing qualifying. It's very bad, but it doesn't bring us down. We start from P20 and we still have a lot of drivers we can overtake. This is a special track, a special place, so I hope the race is exciting".

 

On Sunday May 23rd, 2021, a surprise piece of news shortly before the start affects the Monaco Grand Prix: poleman Charles Leclerc does not take part in the race, given that before lining up on the starting grid, the Monegasque driver's car suffers from a problem with the left axle shaft, forcing him to give up the race. His presence in pole position had already been questioned after the accident suffered in qualifying, but Ferrari had managed to fix the damaged transmission before the start of the Grand Prix. The starting grid does not undergo any alterations, with the first box remaining empty: it also happened in the 2001 edition, when David Coulthard in the McLaren-Mercedes had a problem with the launch control on the warming lap, but in that case he managed to take part to the race from the back of the grid. Charles Leclerc is also the fifth driver to get a pole position start and not take part in the race after Jean-Pierre Jarier in the 1975 Argentine Grand Prix, Didier Pironi in the 1982 German Grand Prix, Michael Schumacher in the 1996 French Grand Prix and Jarno Trulli in the 2005 United States Grand Prix. At the start of the Monaco Grand Prix, Max Verstappen, who started from the second pitch, maintains the lead, over Valtteri Bottas, Carlos Sainz Jr., Lando Norris, Pierre Gasly, Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Sergio Perez. 

fotor_2023-6-23_0_55_31-fotor-2023062305614.jpeg

The race remained blocked for several laps, in which Max Verstappen maintained the first position, with a margin of about 1.5 seconds ahead of Valtteri Bottas. Only around lap 20 did the Dutch widen the gap from the Finn, bringing it to almost 5 seconds while, in turn, it was Carlos Sainz Jr. who closed the gap on Bottas. On lap 29, Lewis Hamilton was the first driver to stop: the reigning World Champion switched to using the Hard tyres. The following lap, Valtteri Bottas and Lando Norris also returned to the pits. During the tire replacement operations, the nut that brakes the front right tire of Valtteri Bottas' car does not come off and the Mercedes driver is forced to retire. Pierre Gasly also returned to the pits to change tires, and then returned to the track, positioning himself in front of Lewis Hamilton. On lap 31, Sebastian Vettel also stopped in the pits: the German driver of the Aston Martin rejoined the race ahead of Pierre Gasly and Lewis Hamilton. Two laps later Carlos Sainz Jr. stops and during lap 34 Max Verstappen also stops. Sergio Pérez, who hasn't changed his tires yet, moved into the race lead, followed by Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz Jr. and Lando Norris. When the Mexican driver stopped in the pits to make a pit stop, Verstappen returned to the lead, while Pérez returned to fourth position. In the final part of the race, Carlos Sainz Jr. seems to be able to reduce the gap that separates him from Max Verstappen, who seems to be complaining about a loss of power in his power unit. Sergio Pérez also seems to be able to engage in a duel with Lando Norris for third place, but in the end both the Spaniard and the Mexican will have to give up. Meanwhile Lewis Hamilton, unable to overtake Pierre Gasly, stops in the pits to change the tires and set the fastest lap, which guarantees him the additional point. 

 

Max Verstappen crosses the finish line first and wins the Monaco Grand Prix, obtaining the triumph number 12 in his career. The Dutchman is leading the World Championship for the first time since he has been racing in Formula 1. Carlos Sainz Jr., second, takes his first podium with Ferrari. Honda returned to the podium at the Monaco Grand Prix for the first time since the 2004 edition, from second place with Jenson Button. The Japanese engine wins again on the streets of the Principality after 25 years; the last time it happened with Olivier Panis in 1996 with Ligier. McLaren, with Lando Norris, returns to the podium in the Principality after ten years; the last one dates back to the 2011 edition where at the time Jenson Button closed in third place. Raced with an average speed of 157.833 km/h, it is the fastest Monaco Grand Prix in the history of Formula 1; the previous record of 155.552 km/h was set in the 2007 edition when Fernando Alonso triumphed in a McLaren-Mercedes.  Behind the top three, Verstappen, Sainz Jr. and Norris, Sergio Perez takes fourth place. The Mexican driver precedes Sebastian Vettel, Pierre Gasly, Lewis Hamilton, Lance Stroll, Esteban Ocon and Antonio Giovinazzi. Twenty-two times were canceled by the drivers for going wide at turn 10 (Nouvelle Chicane) and not having traveled it correctly during the race. Time was canceled by Nikita Mazepin (seven times), Mick Schumacher (four times), Lando Norris and Nicholas Latifi (twice), Pierre Gasly, Antonio Giovinazzi, Lance Stroll, Daniel Ricciardo, George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Yuki Tsunoda (once). At the end of the Monaco Grand Prix, Max Verstappen is happy for having managed to win and obtain the leadership of the World Championship. However, the Dutch driver remains cautious:

 

"The positive aspect is that we have reacted to two weekends in which we were clearly defeated, but we cannot afford weekend starts like here in Monaco where we were decidedly slow on Thursday. In general, Mercedes remains the car to beat, of course, having taken the lead in both classifications is a nice injection of confidence for the team. What matters, however, will be still there at the end of the championship. It will mean that we worked well. The important thing is that goal, not to be in charge now".

 

And now, in view of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, the Red Bull driver is not so pessimistic:

 

"The track is nowhere near comparable to Monaco, not only for the straights, but also for the grip level which is very low. We usually feel good in those conditions, we'll see".

fotor_2023-6-23_8_3_37-fotor-202306238354.jpeg

Instead, Lewis Hamilton is much more disappointed, author of a race in which he got stuck behind Pierre Gasly's AlphaTauri:

 

"Did the team underestimate the AlphaTauri? They didn't underestimate her. We had already talked about it in the pre-race meeting about the fact that exactly what happened could happen. They had to find a way to avoid it, but they couldn't, there's nothing I can do about it. Even if we had passed them, we would have been stuck behind another car. Honestly, I don't want to talk too much about it, but we have to work hard on what happened today, because it can't be repeated. We still have a long way to go.  We want to concentrate on our work and we haven't done a good job here. We must make a better one next time. There is no reason to perform at this level in another weekend, with all the experience we have and the time we have been racing for. So we will certainly discuss it for a long time".

 

From the beginning of the Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc had commented on the problem encountered on his car. An issue that prevented him from taking part in the race:

 

"Honestly right now I just feel sadness. I was very emotional in the car when I learned that I would not be able to go. It's difficult, I'm sorry for the mechanics too. They worked really hard to try and fix everything. They were quite confident. It doesn't seem that the problem comes from the gearbox, the gearbox was ok. It appears to be coming from the left side of the car. We don't know exactly what it is. That's it. For now I'm sad. I will need a few days to get better. We checked all the pieces and they were in good shape. Now we have to see what gave way. I honestly believe it is related to yesterday's crash, but we have to check to see if that is indeed the case. For now we don't know yet.  Yesterday I pushed and made the mistake, but that's also what put me on pole. Max was on a good lap, Valtteri too, but we did the first lap faster than everyone else, this happened thanks to the fact that I pushed. On the second attempt I pushed too hard.  It happens in Monaco. I don't think I'll look back on it that many times. Yesterday I gave everything. I am happy with my ride.  Mistakes happen, we have to understand what happened today".

 

Speaking of Charles Leclerc's retirement, Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto admits the mistake he made during the repairs, with the hope that it won't happen again in the future:

 

"The team remained very united even last year in the difficulties. Those who lived it from within touched the right spirit with their hands. The choice of driver, Carlos, was a further step. It was something to amalgamate a solid group. I am very pleased, they get on well with Charles and everything is very positive in this sense. We must learn from mistakes, this time we made one. Making mistakes is fine, but then you have to try to figure out the solution so that they don't happen again in the future. Clearly this weekend we had the potential to win and nobody expected that, not even us. But the car is growing. It goes in the right direction. From the wind tunnel and the simulator we knew we could do well here. Not to be able to win, but to be able to do well, yes".

 

And he adds:

 

"There will be circuits with low-speed corners where we could be competitive again, but that's not a given. Instead of thinking about which circuit will be where we'll be competitive again, I prefer to concentrate on Baku. For now we have always worked well in view of each race weekend, maximizing the car's performance according to the type of circuit we found ourselves facing. There are also some developments coming, not many, but the important thing is that they work properly".

 

 After getting his first podium with Ferrari, Carlos Sainz Jr. is visibly satisfied:

fotor_2023-6-23_1_1_46-fotor-20230623122.jpeg

"Honestly, I'm much happier than in qualifying. Saturday was a very hard day for me. Today I started fourth but finished second in Monaco. So it's a good day for me as a driver. Overall, however, it is not for the team. Charles who was on pole was unable to start, I think Ferrari deserved the win this weekend. Yesterday I wasn't able to take pole, today Charles would probably have achieved success if he had started. I'm sorry, but in general I think Ferrari deserved at least the podium and, thanks to my result, the team can smile. The boys must be very proud of the path we are on. Having had the car to win this weekend is very important. Everyone must be proud of the progress: in general this year I don't think there will be another weekend like this. Maybe Singapore, but I don't think others. As mentioned, this weekend we could have won. We hope to be able to do it next time we have the opportunity".

 

The Red Bull Racing team principal, Christian Horner, is also completely satisfied, at the end of an excellent race for both of his drivers:

 

"Winning here means a lot to any driver. Max has been unlucky here in the past, but today we caught our luck as Leclerc retired before the start. However, I have to say that we deserved this success and it is a great joy for us to leave Monte-Carlo with the lead in both championships. We have to stay close to Mercedes at this stage, because then the road is still very long. We have to score many points, we had to score them here and we did. I don't think Max lacks self-confidence. Not really a problem for him, I would say. This was a big win for him, but he's a driver who looks at the big picture. He definitely knows he's in a fight. Now I don't have a clear picture of what will happen. Mercedes had a bad day, but they will come back strong next weekend. Ferrari was the real surprise on this track, they were very strong.  It was nice to see them up there. The more competitive cars there are, the better for the championship. Baku will be interesting, but it's a different track".

 

Sergio Perez is also smiling, author of an excellent race:

 

"Checo did a great race. In qualifying he was unlucky, but starting ninth and finishing fourth tells us that he has a fantastic pace. When we managed to free him strategically, he showed incredible speed. He had the fastest lap until Hamilton put on new tyres. He was really unleashed: when he does well in qualifying too, he'll be very strong".

 

The Mercedes team principal, Toto Wolff, before talking about the misadventures of his team, dedicates a thought to Charles Leclerc, the victim of a problem in the pre-race:

 

"Not seeing him start after pole was terrible: for him, for Monaco and for Ferrari. Yesterday he went so fast and deserved to win. For us the weekend started badly. The car lacked speed and when you don't go fast here, overtaking is practically impossible. Valtteri's problem was terrible. Bottas' wheel is still on the car, perhaps Ferrari can. He could have finished second or third without this problem. He was going quite fast. I've always said that Valtteri goes fast. This is a track he likes.  When there is trust, he goes fast. Hamilton already got off to a bad start on Saturday morning and hasn't found this confidence. But this is a particular track, let's see Baku. Leclerc? I know how it feels. I feel the same, frustrated.  He deserved to win the race. I like the fight with Charles and Carlos. Except the one with Red Bull".

 

 After that, Wolff talks about the flexible wings issue ahead of the Baku weekend:

 

"If we arrive in Baku in this limbo situation and notice the performance advantage we imagine, we will go to the Commissioners. And if that is not enough, we will transfer the matter from the Commissioners to the Court of Appeal. I think the FIA should clarify the matter before we get to Baku. That type of wing was found not to comply with the regulation, but we were left in a regulatory vacuum, given that the new tests will only be introduced after Baku. We are in a very strong legal position and this is not the time to stall on this issue".

fotor_2023-6-23_1_1_35-fotor-202306231157.jpeg

After the withdrawal caused by the problems that emerged during the pit stop, Valtteri Bottas talks about his Grand Prix with great bitterness:

 

"Sitting in the car at the pit stop, I knew straight away that it was a slow one and I was seeing in my mind Sainz passing, then Norris, and when it got to 30 seconds, I couldn't believe it. It's obviously very disappointing and we need to learn our lesson so that it doesn't happen again. It was unfortunate for both me and the team, it will be a priority for us to improve our pit stops in the future as they have not been our strong point this year so far. Now we don't have to point fingers and try to assign blame, we have to try to grow as a team. Between lap 15 and lap 20, there was a good margin between me and Verstappen, but when he started picking up the pace I noticed that my front left started to degrade faster than his, making me lose ground. There was a big gap when I stopped and maybe it would have been difficult to fight for the win anyway, but we should have brought home second place today. We will have a meeting to go over the race in detail on Tuesday, to figure out what I could do better and what we can do better, then we will go ahead and prepare for Baku".

 

Mercedes technical director James Allison also analyzes what happened during Valtteri Bottas' pit stop. A pit stop effectively not completed yet, as you need to drive the car back to Brackley to get the nut out:

 

"If you don't proceed cleanly on the nut during the pit stop, it can happen that it blocks given the power of the guns used to change tyres. In this case it was like stripping a screw, and with the thread worn it was not possible to complete the pit. It was not possible to work on it on the track, so in the factory we will have to equip ourselves with a rather powerful drill and get rid, with difficulty, of what remains of the nut".

 

With five positions gained, Sergio Pérez was the author of a great comeback in one of the least suitable circuits for overtaking:

 

"It was a great day for the team and I am very happy for Max and we are now leading both championships. For me, the team did a fantastic job on strategy and the communication during the race was excellent. We saved the tires and used them when necessary, doing two or three qualifying laps to jump the queue of cars in front of us and finish fourth. I was also very fast in the second stint, I was closing the gap on Norris but he still had good tires and I never had a clear overtaking chance. I obviously opted for a conservative strategy, thinking about the important points for the team to win. These cars are very large indeed in Monte-Carlo, but this is the reality. We managed to minimize the damage on Saturday and I think once I get more comfortable with the RB16B in qualifying we will be in serious contention and fighting for the wins. For now, I'm happy with my result".

 

 However, Red Bull Racing consultant Helmut Marko thinks otherwise:

 

"The deciding factor is our co-driver, Sergio Pérez. So far he has simply been too weak in qualifying. If he were on par with Bottas, I don't think Mercedes would have played a two-stop strategy in Barcelona. This is currently our biggest handicap. We all only have two cars".

 

And speaking of Lewis Hamilton, the Austrian manager admits:

 

"Overall, with his experience, Lewis Hamilton is in the lead. He goes straight to the point. Then there are two young drivers: Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc. When in the individual lap, [the issue] comes down to speed alone, then Max is probably the fastest. Why should we win? Because Max belongs to the younger generation. It's a long season and I hope he has more reserves, even though Hamilton has had some incredible racing this year. We were humiliated by Mercedes for seven years, unsuccessfully chasing the title. Now let's see the possibility to strike again. We will mobilize all our reserves and possibilities to achieve this goal".

fotor_2023-6-23_1_9_37-fotor-202306231954.jpeg

After the third place obtained in the race, Lando Norris consolidates the same position also in the Drivers' World Championship:

 

"A podium in Monaco is really fantastic. It's really amazing, I never thought it could happen this weekend so I'm super, super happy. I am proud of the team for what we have achieved this weekend. We have made good progress: there is still a lot of work to do, but we have achieved another trophy and a good haul of points for the championship. A big thank you to all the team and everyone at the factory for all the work and passion they are putting into it. It's paying off, and I hope this is a motivation to work even harder and keep making improvements to the car".

 

The British pilot goes on to say:

 

"I'm enjoying what I'm doing with the team. But I am very focused on work. I'm still that carefree boy, but I want to show the other side, the hard daily work, the commitment I put into things and the results this season is giving me. This is why I got rid of social media. I still have my profiles, but I never look at them: a guy who works for me runs them and writes pretending to be me. But I'm far from all this, I'm disgusting. I am super happy and proud. I like to continue the relationship with McLaren and it's good to see that they trust me.  It's been a good journey so far: we started in 2018 and we were certainly not the top team, in fact we were close to the bottom. And seeing where we are now makes me proud: in the pits the guys are motivated and smiling. I want to continue like this and hope it will be even better when we can reach the top, catch up with the top teams and compete for victories".

 

On the other hand, it is a weekend to forget for Daniel Ricciardo, who was also lapped in the race by his teammate:

 

"This was a weekend to forget for me unfortunately. The race was all uphill after a very difficult qualifying. I struggled a bit at the start with the medium tires and this basically decided the final outcome. The second stint on the Hards was encouraging and the lap times started to improve, but at that point there wasn't much else I could do given how difficult it is to pass here. I'll just have to understand what happened and mentally disconnect for a few days before leaving for Baku".

 

Another positive performance by Esteban Ocon, who gives points to his team thanks to the ninth place obtained at the end of the Monaco Grand Prix:

 

"It was a positive race for us today, with ninth place and our fourth points finish in a row. We managed to overtake Giovinazzi with our strategy, thanks to a great pit stop from the team, but we lost the position to Stroll who was very fast on the harder tyres. I'm happy to still score points, especially after defending so much at the end. I think we can take some good things out of this race, in a weekend that hasn't been easy for us. We learned a lot. We understood some things that will help us to move forward".

 

Overall, it was a positive race also for his teammate, Fernando Alonso, who managed to climb up to thirteenth place:

 

"It was a disappointing weekend as we didn't get any points. As a team, we expected more in this GP. My race wasn't too bad, I started 17th and finished 13th, overtaking two cars on the first lap and taking some risks. Our second stint was quite long on the softs but they seemed to work quite well. I'm satisfied with the race, but starting so far back in Monaco is always difficult. We have to improve for Baku".

fotor_2023-6-23_1_1_30-fotor-202306231150.jpeg

Antonio Giovinazzi is also understandably happy, as he managed to score a point in the standings in Monaco thanks to his tenth place:

 

"We know that overtaking in Monaco is very difficult. I had a good first lap: Ocon passed me, but then I passed him in turn 5 from the outside. From there it was a very positive race. After the pit stop I found Ricciardo in front who had to come back and therefore not very fast;  Ocon took advantage of this to pass in front of me, then from there I got stuck behind him. He was slower, but as I said passing here is difficult. Eighth place was otherwise possible, but I'm happy for the first point and for the team. Now there is Baku, a track that I really like where I have good memories from GP2, so let's see. In Monaco, as for all citizens, the more you are familiar with the car the more you push and the closer you get to the limit. I'm very happy about this, right from the first free practice I felt at ease with the car. We steadily improved from Thursday to Saturday in qualifying. I'm happy with how the whole weekend went".

 

Speaking, however, of what happened to Charles Leclerc, the Alfa Romeo driver says:

 

"I'm so sorry for Charles, he's not having so much luck here.  Ferrari took a big step forward, yesterday in qualifying and today with Sainz's second place in the race. I'm really happy for them and also for us, since we have the same power unit.  Let's also hope for Baku, where engine power will be needed even more".

 

Instead, his teammate, Kimi Raikkonen, talks about his race, underlining the problems he had to face:

 

"It wasn't the most challenging afternoon for me, we gained some positions but not much else happened. That's the way things often go here.  We showed good pace and that should help us in the next races, but here in Monaco it's very difficult to pass even if you have a big pace advantage. That's how it went, but we can be happy for the team for Antonio's first point of the season".

 

Thus ended the fifth round of the World Championship, with Max Verstappen winning the Monaco Grand Prix and leading the standings with 105 points, followed by Lewis Hamilton, who made up for it by conquering the additional point for the fastest lap, thus reaching 101 points.  As for the Constructors' World Championship, Red Bull Racing leads Mercedes by just one point, the two teams being first and second respectively with 149 and 148 points.  McLaren follows in third place, just two points ahead of Scuderia Ferrari (80 and 78 points respectively).  The next appointment is set for Sunday June 6th, 2021, on the occasion of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, on the Baku street circuit.  Another track that can be defined as chaotic, where there is generally no lack whatsoever of twists and turns.


instagram
twitter
youtube
whatsapp
tiktok
spotify

©​ 2024 Osservatore Sportivo

Team

Contact us

Info