2012 F1 - Monaco

[TeaLeaf]

Just a quick reminder, Monaco gets extra free practice days, so 8.45am Thursday on the F1 channel (or radio/web etc) is the first free practice session.

I love Monte Carlo and this Grand Prix.   Looking forward to it.

Schumacher starts with a 5 place grid penalty for his inability to avoid the car in front at the Spanish Grand Prix.

[Sparko]

yep looking forward to this one, love the scenery that comes with the racing.....also the buildings around the track are kinda cool

On a serious note: it will be interesting to see how williams do after the 'great fire' a few weeks ago.  I think its really good of the other teams to help them out with gear etc.
Also be interesting to see if lewis can bounce back having driven an brilliant race in Spain after his grid penalty, a Williams 1-2 i feel

[Sparko]

Watched P2 today, I'm increasingly concerned at how narrow the track is at Monaco, every time they fly around that second chicane I can't help but cringe ....

[TeaLeaf]

I love the narrowness of the circuit, the fact that if you make a mistake you hit the barrier.   Awesome.

One of my favourite views of the cars is the head-on camera shot as they enter the first swimming pool chicane - to see an F1 car move that much, at that speed, with that little room is just electrifying.

[TheDvEight]

Anyone know why schumacher is on a grid penalty?

[Sparko]

for going into the back of someone in the last race, cant remember who it was now

[KKND]

for going into the back of someone in the last race, cant remember who it was now

Well the one he go into changed his lines more times then once...bit hard this penalty

[sulky_uk]

quote of the weekend from sky

" we are now joining fernando alonso as he takes a trip in georgi's vessel"

where do i queue to go in that one please!

[TeaLeaf]

Vessel's too short.... :whistle:  :getmecoat:

Anyway, great race almost happened today, the rain would have made it a spectacular last 7 laps given that Webber was practically driving on his rims.  

Respect to Alonso, another great result from a car that really has been bad enough to not allow him to lead the driver's championship, but there he is, top of the table.

Happy for Webber to get the win, he's a nice bloke, but it still grates somewhat when for the Constructor's national anthem we get the Austrian anthem for the 'Milton Keynes-based Red Bull F1 team'.   Some tosser with the cheque book might live in Austria, but the team and the expertise is all based here in Blighty, so use the right national anthem!

Complete misjudgement of the day:  pitting for intermediate tyres (for the non-existent rain) with about 7 laps to go and demoting yourself out of the points. :frusty:

Still, the whole race entertained!   Looking forward to the next one.

[Snokio]

Not the best race to watch this one, defo more fun for the drivers!

I think Verne gambled as his tyres were already shot and need to pit, which would put him out of the points (was in 7th IIRC before pitting), Wish it did rain!

Well done Webber, he's been on form all weekend! and agree about the national anthem, Redbull is an Austrian company granted, but not the Redbull racing team!

[RizZy]

I know there's great history there & the drivers love it, but Monaco makes for one boring race, it's back to the old days where they just follow each other round for the entire race & it all comes down to the start & the race strategy - not my sorta race at all.

[T-Bag]

Monaco would be more interesting with refueling. Despite the cliff face situations that some drivers were faced with there just wasn't enough over taking. If some drivers were on light fuel and some were on full tanks it would make for a far more varied race, with plenty of overtakes because of the larger differences in speed and also the time spent in the pits really matters. Whereas in the race it appeared to be a competition of who could hold people up the most.

Also if people haven't seen Connor Daily's spectacular crash this weekend it's certainly worth watching. A testament to the one move only rule (MS and BS incident also spoke to that last race) and also the incredible advances in safety in motor racing.

[Tutonic]

Making the Monaco track safer appears to have also made it slightly more boring. A shame, but it's still a unique circuit - watching the drivers trying to control an F1 car round those bumpy chicanes is still seriously impressive.

[TeaLeaf]

Much as I hate the procession, I'm happy to retain Monaco in the calendar because I get more than enough thrills and spills from watching the cars repeatedly come within and inch of the barrier for 78 consecutive laps.  I will never tire of being amazed by their precision driving whilst going round blind corners, over bumps, skipping past manhole covers and doing 150mph.  That's what Monaco means to me, the ultimate test of a driver's skill and that's why they all (bar one) seem to love it.

[RizZy]

A lap around monaco - http://www.wimp.com/formulamonaco/