Monaco approaches...
Discussion
I don't wish this to be the main Monaco GP thread, I'll leave that to Piginapoke as ever.
But tonight with an old Santa Pod drag buddy, we got chatting about what makes the Monaco GP so special.
We concluded that the typical F1 fan response is to roll their eyes and demonstrate they really understand the sport by explaining that it's totally hopeless for modern F1, no overtaking and a complete waste of time in general.
We further concluded, that because it's totally unsuitable it's hilarious, and we can all look forward to something weird happening, safe in the knowledge that if there is an incident, it's VERY unlikely to result in driver injury as realistically, they aren't going that fast in the first place. The Monaco GP is hated by the teams, but loved by the fans (often secretly) because it's so likely there will be drama at some point.
This year, the midfield is very tight, so there is bound to be some contact at some point. Mercedes will probably qualify front row and if so, doubt we'll see anything interesting at the sharp end. Max could upset that, yet to be seen how good the RB is at Monaco this year. Ferrari, frankly have no chance here. I fully expect RB (Max..) to out qualify them, and that's pretty much the end of their hopes. Assuming Max doesn't crash out in quali again this year.
So... What's your predictions for Monaco 2019?
But tonight with an old Santa Pod drag buddy, we got chatting about what makes the Monaco GP so special.
We concluded that the typical F1 fan response is to roll their eyes and demonstrate they really understand the sport by explaining that it's totally hopeless for modern F1, no overtaking and a complete waste of time in general.
We further concluded, that because it's totally unsuitable it's hilarious, and we can all look forward to something weird happening, safe in the knowledge that if there is an incident, it's VERY unlikely to result in driver injury as realistically, they aren't going that fast in the first place. The Monaco GP is hated by the teams, but loved by the fans (often secretly) because it's so likely there will be drama at some point.
This year, the midfield is very tight, so there is bound to be some contact at some point. Mercedes will probably qualify front row and if so, doubt we'll see anything interesting at the sharp end. Max could upset that, yet to be seen how good the RB is at Monaco this year. Ferrari, frankly have no chance here. I fully expect RB (Max..) to out qualify them, and that's pretty much the end of their hopes. Assuming Max doesn't crash out in quali again this year.
So... What's your predictions for Monaco 2019?
768 said:
How fast do they get up to, I assume the tunnel and the start/finish straight aren't too slow?
Fire's the thing that would worry me most at a lot of tracks. Maybe it's just me but I feel like we're seeing more brakes catch fire than we used to and with halos and batteries around too it's, well, enough to make Hulkenberg not want to hang around at Abu Dhabi.
The brakes are designed in the knowledge that their operating temperature is so high that quickly stopping will result in some flames.Fire's the thing that would worry me most at a lot of tracks. Maybe it's just me but I feel like we're seeing more brakes catch fire than we used to and with halos and batteries around too it's, well, enough to make Hulkenberg not want to hang around at Abu Dhabi.
It is unsettling to see a bloke in a car that's on fire. But the fact we can see it, along with thousands of people at the event, is why it's not really a danger. There is a lot of generally non flammable car between the brakes and the fuel/driver, and there is always a team of Marshall's with fire extinguishers very close by.
The dangers of fire used to be far greater.
As for speed, of course the answer is 'bloody fast', they're still F1 cars! The chicane after the tunnel is the place to have the fastest accident. It's a far cry from taking a turn flat out at nearly 200mph and binning it at other more suitable tracks though.
Jasandjules said:
Really the only good thing about Monaco is watching the cockpit footage of just how fast and close they get to crashing on every lap.
I mean, I play F1 on the Ps4 and it is quite interesting running through Monaco... To actually do it in an F1 car must be beyond awesome.
Not the only good thing imo - but yes, that is a particularly good thing. It really does give crazy sense of speed and the driving is truly impressive.I mean, I play F1 on the Ps4 and it is quite interesting running through Monaco... To actually do it in an F1 car must be beyond awesome.
Another thought about this race... 18 cars have to get past at least one of the Williams at least once. Most of those cars will need to get past twice (maybe more..) - that in itself could create some opportunities by bringing the other cars closer together repeatedly during the race.
Obviously Williams are at this point experts in the art of letting other cars past, so probably won't be a big factor in the race. It's bound to cause some bunching up though.
Sticking with Williams, the cars appear extremely unpredictable even on wider tracks. Sending them through Monaco on a quali lap seems almost asking for trouble.
Obviously Williams are at this point experts in the art of letting other cars past, so probably won't be a big factor in the race. It's bound to cause some bunching up though.
Sticking with Williams, the cars appear extremely unpredictable even on wider tracks. Sending them through Monaco on a quali lap seems almost asking for trouble.
cuprabob said:
Kizmiaz said:
I tried getting round Monaco on the X Box. By the finish line I had destroyed the car several times over and lost the will to live. b
h of a track. Respect.
Pastor, is that you? h of a track. Respect.
https://youtu.be/YQrAA9O9u08
He really was a full scale plonker. Certainly did his bit to keep the races entertaining though!!
paulguitar said:
At Monaco though, you can be miles off the pace and if you are ahead nobody can pass. Wasn't Ricciardo down to the tune of a couple of hundred horsepower last year? They are lapping 7-8 seconds off the potential pace there, it is a farce.
I think we all already know that overtaking at Monaco is difficult, bordering on lunacy.Yet so many of us look forward to it. I don't think looking forward to a sporting even makes it farcical. Overtaking is compromised, but the sheer skill required of the drivers to simply maintain pace, and thus the order, is extremely impressive. The tiniest of errors will result in a huge change of the order - generally downwards for the one making the error, along with any victims of that error.
When it comes to 'sport' the challenge in Monaco is not to climb up, but to not mess up and fall down. That's a pretty reasonable challenge of any sportsman I think, given how awkward the circuit is in a modern car.
And anyway, in quali they all have the same opportunity to hit the track and show pace. If it's true that P1/2 will win no matter what, then it also has to be true that the race is won in quali, so just transfer your passion to outright driving abilty/pace to quali and enjoy the win on Saturday. Either way, the fastest chap wins, by your theory. They still have to go out there and earn it.
And quite apart from all of the above, in terms of drama, something will happen at some point. It always does. There will be at least on unfortunate driver - probably before Sunday.
paulguitar said:
On Saturday, I agree. It's a great spectacle and a unique challenge.
In the race though, they are so far off the potential pace of the car that it is really not impressive at all. The race last year summed it up, with Ricciardo tooling around in a ruined car and still able to win. Hardly a great sporting challenge!
The way I see it, in theory it's won on a Saturday, or at least reduced to an early race dash between two drivers. In reality though, there is an ever present chance of something weird occurring on Sunday, and turning it all on it's head.In the race though, they are so far off the potential pace of the car that it is really not impressive at all. The race last year summed it up, with Ricciardo tooling around in a ruined car and still able to win. Hardly a great sporting challenge!
I think Monaco falls down only when compared to other 'normal' circuits. In it's own right, the challenge remains, it's just a bit... weird. But that's OK. It's also steeped in history, it's a cathedral of our sport and quite often, stuff that's worth talking about occurs. If we're going to be F1 fans, then once a year it seems reasonable to head back to Monaco, even if it's mostly an odd F1 pilgrimage. Let's face it, it's nowhere near the dullest race in a season, and it never will be. Hence... Monaco remains.
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