The Official 2017 Monaco Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**

[Dermot O'Logical]

Vaud said:

Odd ball question for you... a friend lives in a Monaco (but isn't an F1 fan) and snapped this last night as he walked home.

I'd not seen this being done to tyres before - I assume it's a Pirelli QA / post race test for the tyre structure?

It could be that, or a precaution against them falling into the wrong hands and being sold on or re-used.

Pirelli destroy all race tyres after the event, even if they are unused.

[Vaud]

Ocon and Perez both overtook Stroll, the latter was missed by the producer (I think)

[Willhire89]

It could be as simple as cutting the tyre is the quickest/easiest/safest/most gentle way of removing it from the rim

[Vaud]

Dermot O'Logical said:

It could be that, or a precaution against them falling into the wrong hands and being sold on or re-used.

Pirelli destroy all race tyres after the event, even if they are unused.

I didn't know that - thanks.

And f1 is worried about fuel consumption

[Eric Mc]

Trabi601 said:

A bit like cycling points races, then. They work really well.

Or long medium/distance track running - such as the 5,000 or 10,000 metre races.In these types of events, running at the front from the off is never the best tactic. It's all about pacing yourself and making sure you are in the right position for the last segment of the race to ensure you have a good chance of getting over the line first.

I found the Indy 500 fascinating watching how the teams and drivers shifted and amended their tactics as events unfolded on the track. Over the decades I have watched open wheel oval racing on and off and always found it engaging. I lost interest when the CART/IRL dispute split the sport in the mid to late 1990s but it seems to have recovered a lot since those days and I hope to follow a few more events this year.

Certainly my love of F1 has been on the wane for the past few years. Although I will always keep on eye on what is happening in the world of F1, the compulsion not to miss every F1 race has faded a lot.

[epom]

Why is everyone complaining that the race was dull ? Its F1 and its in Monaco? What did anyone realistically expect ?? I love this race, well this whole spectacle the racing is usually over on the Saturday after qualifying.

[Eric Mc]

I think the word might by "unsatisfying" rather than dull. Monaco is Monaco - that will never change. On occasions, it can provide an exciting race, although not yesterday.

The problem with F1, in general, is "predictable outcomes". The result of the Indy 500 was unpredictable for the entire 500 miles. The result of the Monaco GP was pretty much predictable once qualifying was over.

[Crafty_]

Vaud said:

Odd ball question for you... a friend lives in a Monaco (but isn't an F1 fan) and snapped this last night as he walked home.

I'd not seen this being done to tyres before - I assume it's a Pirelli QA / post race test for the tyre structure?

Yes, they inspect the tyres afterwards and then they get destroyed, IIRC they eventually end up as that rubber tarmac stuff they put in kids playgrounds.

The teams own the wheels but Pirelli mount and unmount the tyres for them, they also do all the temperature checks when a set come off a car in a stop etc.

[PurpleAki]

Don't dress it up. It was dull. As was the Russian GP. F1 has some serious problems.

[ZX10R NIN]

babelfish said:

Pilotguy said:

I've always been a car guy but this afternoon I watched the World Super bike from Donington, the girlfriend's a fan.
I think I'm an instant convert. What a properly exciting race, easy to get into watching these riders extracting every last gram of performance from the bikes. Front wheel lift on exiting a corner? Every lap. Toe to toe challenges in the corners? You bet. Flat out full throttle cornering? Oh yes. Even a rear wheel lift on braking a couple of times!
I watched the MGP finishing laps straight after and there's just no favourable comparison I can think of. Rallying and Superbike for me on Sundays in future.

Watch this NW200 Superbikes. I was there this year. The best bike race.....

Edited to add: 54' 10" in, 180mph trying to make a pass, on the grass....

I like F1 & I thought yesterday's MGP was pretty standard fare you watch it for the just in case something happens as nothing really did I think the Ferrari thing got blown way out of proportion.

Road Racing is better racing than Superbikes which is better than as a spectacle than F1 but for me they all have their place, the NW200 was a cracker this year but it was bound to be after the Cookstown 100 had given a taste of what was coming the Skerries/Armoy/Southern 100 & Ulster GP are going to be of the scale this year it's so close.

Motorbikes make for better races (apart from the TT of course) than F1 but I still like F1

[skwdenyer]

Crafty_ said:

Vaud said:

Odd ball question for you... a friend lives in a Monaco (but isn't an F1 fan) and snapped this last night as he walked home.

I'd not seen this being done to tyres before - I assume it's a Pirelli QA / post race test for the tyre structure?

Yes, they inspect the tyres afterwards and then they get destroyed, IIRC they eventually end up as that rubber tarmac stuff they put in kids playgrounds.

The teams own the wheels but Pirelli mount and unmount the tyres for them, they also do all the temperature checks when a set come off a car in a stop etc.

Also don't forget that F1 tyres and testing are now so tightly controlled that, if they did not destroy them, there would always be a team alleging that another team had had a chance to use them illicitly...

[CraigyMc]

ZX10R NIN said:

I like F1 & I thought yesterday's MGP was pretty standard fare you watch it for the just in case something happens as nothing really did I think the Ferrari thing got blown way out of proportion.

Road Racing is better racing than Superbikes which is better than as a spectacle than F1 but for me they all have their place, the NW200 was a cracker this year but it was bound to be after the Cookstown 100 had given a taste of what was coming the Skerries/Armoy/Southern 100 & Ulster GP are going to be of the scale this year it's so close.

Motorbikes make for better races (apart from the TT of course) than F1 but I still like F1

I like watching bike road racing, but I don't get too invested in it because of the death aspect.

*awaits half of PH asking me to hand in my man card/calling me a pussy*

[telecat]

I have to think Wehlein has a problem racing. Twice now he seems to have ignored cars and not given space when they have an opportunity to overtake. In Both cases he's come off worst. I do think missing a bright Orange McLaren twice in the same race is showing a pattern. Also at Monaco what use is a five second penalty once you are in front of the car you were given it for? Either force him to give up the place or drive thru. It's an ineffective penalty.

[JNW1]

swisstoni said:

thegreenhell said:

The stewards have pinned the blame for the Wehrlein crash onto Button. They've penalised him with a grid penalty for his next race. That'll teach him...

Not fair imho. Should have been 50/50. Hell, I'm sure Button would have laughed off the entire blame.

Always been a staunch defender of Button but that move on Wehrlein wasn't his finest moment in an F1 car. I suspect it was borne partly out of frustration but that really wasn't an overtaking place and the move was never going to work unless Wehrlein had a) seen him coming and was b) prepared to jump out of the way and concede the corner.

I daresay Jenson was (rightly) annoyed that Wehrlein hadn't suffered more of a penalty for the unsafe release in the pits but being honest I don't think you can argue too much with the verdict of the stewards regarding the coming together later in the race.

[PurpleAki]

Are you seriously suggesting that it was Wehrlein's fault he was upended?

[RKi]

telecat said:

I have to think Wehlein has a problem racing. Twice now he seems to have ignored cars and not given space when they have an opportunity to overtake. In Both cases he's come off worst. I do think missing a bright Orange McLaren twice in the same race is showing a pattern. Also at Monaco what use is a five second penalty once you are in front of the car you were given it for? Either force him to give up the place or drive thru. It's an ineffective penalty.

[Crafty_]

Button went for a gap that was never there, he was too far back, but the time he realised and hit the brakes it was too late.

Every driver has at some time or another screwed an overtake, just the way it is.

To blame Wehrlein is comical.

[bobbo89]

However ambitious a move it was from Button i'm bloody glad he did it, gave the race the kick up the arse it needed to be interesting!

[telecat]

Wehlein made a mistake went wide and left a gap. Button saw it and dived in. In these circumstances If Wehlein had given "racing room" to Button then there would have been no problem. As I said he managed a similar trick at the ROC and also managed to unsafe release when Button came down the Pit lane. His "speed" in the race was unimpressive and he did not make use of the early pit stop.

[768]

I thought Wehrlein slowed very early, Button wouldn't have even thought of trying it otherwise.

Overly ambitious with the benefit of hindsight after that split second decision, yes, but perhaps the only ambition on show at Monaco yesterday.