The Official Monaco GP Thread 2013 ***SPOILERS***

[Grenoble]

zac510 said:

Everybody yawned and said "wake me up if they start racing again."

Many say that every year.

When asked what the golden years were they normally reference a year when the back markers were lapped up to 5 times, or when one team was massively dominant. Or both.

[Stuart Dickinson]

Could be an interesting race if the Mercs qualify at the front again, but still don't have the race-pace. If that is the case there will be a logjam behind them and its not like Monaco is the easiest place to pass. I'd bet on a safety car coming out at some point in the first 10 or 12 laps.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

free sky sports pass for this weekend.....

shell promotion said:

Simply fill up this Friday or Saturday with £30 of new Shell V-Power Nitro+ Unleaded or Diesel at selected sites and you will get a FREE Sky Sports Day Pass worth £9.99.

This will give you access to all 6 live Sky Sports channels for 24 hours.

So whether it's the 2013 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, Rugby, Cricket or Tennis, you can stream live Sky Sports to loads of devices. No Sky subscription needed.

[Grenoble]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

free sky sports pass for this weekend.....

shell promotion said:

Simply fill up this Friday or Saturday with £30 of new Shell V-Power Nitro+ Unleaded or Diesel at selected sites and you will get a FREE Sky Sports Day Pass worth £9.99.

This will give you access to all 6 live Sky Sports channels for 24 hours.

So whether it's the 2013 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, Rugby, Cricket or Tennis, you can stream live Sky Sports to loads of devices. No Sky subscription needed.

Thanks - I need to refuel...

[Allyc85]

Lucky bird in Gp2!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STZ2U_3SWco

[simonpeter]

Of cause I would forget Montoya, never really considered that rock ape a F1 driver.

Even when Schuey was dominating I don`t think anyone would question that he was driving the wheels off his car. Now they are driving the rubber off their tyres and what a sad spectacle it is.

zac510 said:

oh, me me! I remember! It was only 11 years ago. It was 2002 F1 season when Montoya scored 5 pole positions in a row and 7 in the whole season yet couldn't win a single race against the Ferrari juggernaut. Williams-BMW only won one race that whole year. Montoya was the only driver not in a Ferrari to even get even one pole position.
Everybody yawned and said "wake me up if they start racing again."

[Derek Smith]

Grenoble said:

Many say that every year.

When asked what the golden years were they normally reference a year when the back markers were lapped up to 5 times, or when one team was massively dominant. Or both.

One of the most exciting seasons was when McLaren totally dominated, winning all but one race, and the one lost was down to Senna being taken out by an errant Williams.

The most exciting race I've ever seen was the 87 British GP when the first two cars lapped all but two cars I seem to remember. But the winner wasn't known until 3/4s of the way through the penultimate lap.

I don't think it matters if one team dominates as long as the drivers are fairly equal and are allowed to compete.

[Jasandjules]

For me the most fascinating thing about Monaco is just how fast they go in seriously tight stretches of track.... The race itself is boring as a rule for me but seeing the cars going 100mph plus inches from a barrier, well, that is awesome...

[Grenoble]

Jasandjules said:

For me the most fascinating thing about Monaco is just how fast they go in seriously tight stretches of track.... The race itself is boring as a rule for me but seeing the cars going 100mph plus inches from a barrier, well, that is awesome...

Exactly. It's normally a rubbish race (with a few exceptions) but a great spectacle.

[TheHeretic]

Jasandjules said:

For me the most fascinating thing about Monaco is just how fast they go in seriously tight stretches of track.... The race itself is boring as a rule for me but seeing the cars going 100mph plus inches from a barrier, well, that is awesome...

The corner that Anthony talked about is a prime example. The direction change and the speed they go through there is superb. There is something about Monaco. As folks have said, they tend to be terminally dull affairs on the whole, but the 'aura' around the race seems to make up with it, with the visuals, the buildings, and the different ceremony, etc. It's one of those you don't particularly relish, but will still get up to watch.

[stephen300o]

No overtaking, it would still be great.

[mollytherocker]

TheHeretic said:

Jasandjules said:

For me the most fascinating thing about Monaco is just how fast they go in seriously tight stretches of track.... The race itself is boring as a rule for me but seeing the cars going 100mph plus inches from a barrier, well, that is awesome...

The corner that Anthony talked about is a prime example. The direction change and the speed they go through there is superb. There is something about Monaco. As folks have said, they tend to be terminally dull affairs on the whole, but the 'aura' around the race seems to make up with it, with the visuals, the buildings, and the different ceremony, etc. It's one of those you don't particularly relish, but will still get up to watch.

Get up?

[wanacoop]

MGJohn said:

Consider this: Would the fastest guy still be the fastest with different tyres?

Red Bull would surely have an interesting answer to that one .. Maybe not Ferrari and Lotus ...

This has been an extremely interesting season for me so far. Several interesting questions to ponder. Here's one:~

So who's the fastest in the Mercedes~Benz team ? ... Despite Bossman Brawn's instructions, Nico has been mainly showing the way admirably so far much to the surprise of some observers... that for me is interesting.. .

That is interesting, i wasn't sure how quick Rosberg was, so it's great to see that he is really quick. I always thought Ham was the fastest driver over 1 lap, so amazed that Rosberg is that good. Maybe after a few more races Will from the inbetweeners(aka Hamilton) will get used to the new car, and dominate..

Edited by wanacoop on Thursday 23 May 20:51

[TheHeretic]

mollytherocker said:

Get up?

yes, at the crack of noon...

(I've watched F1 froma variety of time zones. I lived in the US for 5 years.)

[iamlars]

An even better Free option to watch the race.

Tweet via the following webpage to be given a pass. First 3000 people only.
http://www.nowtvwatchtherace.com/

[FunkyNige]

Jasandjules said:

For me the most fascinating thing about Monaco is just how fast they go in seriously tight stretches of track.... The race itself is boring as a rule for me but seeing the cars going 100mph plus inches from a barrier, well, that is awesome...

I think people are moaning about the cars driving round at 95% for the whole weekend except a couple of qualy laps when they're inches from the barriers, the rest of the time they've got a fair bit of room for error.

[TheHeretic]

iamlars said:

An even better Free option to watch the race.

Tweet via the following webpage to be given a pass. First 3000 people only.
http://www.nowtvwatchtherace.com/

I won't be able to watch via that, as I am out of the country, so when I get my code, I'll pass it on to someone else if they want it.

[MGJohn]

wanacoop said:

MGJohn said:

Consider this: Would the fastest guy still be the fastest with different tyres?

Red Bull would surely have an interesting answer to that one .. Maybe not Ferrari and Lotus ...

This has been an extremely interesting season for me so far. Several interesting questions to ponder. Here's one:~

So who's the fastest in the Mercedes~Benz team ? ... Despite Bossman Brawn's instructions, Nico has been mainly showing the way admirably so far much to the surprise of some observers... that for me is interesting.. .

That is interesting, i wasn't sure how quick Rosberg was, so it's great to see that he is really quick. I always thought Ham was the fastest driver over 1 lap, so amazed that Rosberg is that good. Maybe after a few more races Will from the inbetweeners(aka Hamilton) will get used to the new car, and dominate..

One of the several valid reasons I was pleased that Hamilton was emerging from the McLaren womb and going to Mercedes was because it should provide a wider talent measurement yardstick. Even with now several years experience in a top team, I do not expect Hamilton to "dominate" any of the current F1 drivers. As many also believed would be the case when "non-Racer" Button ( ) joined Mclaren. With a few more races, we may have a clearer picture.

I'd really like to see a Mercedes-Benz 1-2 again in qualifying ... and a 1-2 across the line at the end of the race. Stranger things have happened at Monaco.

[suffolk009]

scubadude said:

suffolk009 said:

How far into any programme will any presenter get before they say "GLITZ AND GLAMOUR"?

BBC- 12 seconds, Sky- 47seconds.

"GLITZ AND GLAMOUR" - Sky F1 Show, Thursday, Pinkham, at about 35 minutes in.

Horner came close with "the glamour of Monaco", but no cigar.

[zac510]

simonpeter said:

Of cause I would forget Montoya, never really considered that rock ape a F1 driver.

Even when Schuey was dominating I don`t think anyone would question that he was driving the wheels off his car. Now they are driving the rubber off their tyres and what a sad spectacle it is.

Delightful; when I come up with an example to counter your scenario you dismiss it with a derogatory statement about the driver not being worthy of being a driver.