F1 2023 - Round 7 : Monaco

dulpit

Let's try again. After last week's cancellation, it's time for round 6 again. Monaco. Looks great, could be crap race again. Who knows?

Timings as follows:

• Friday
  • FP1: 12:30
  • FP2: 16:00
• Saturday:
  • FP3: 11:30
  • Qualifying: 15:00
• Sunday:
  • Race: 14:00
• Channel 4 times:
  • Saturday
    • A documentary about Monaco (Monaco Grand Prix, The Legend): 18:20
    • Saturday highlights: 19:30
  • Sunday
    • Sunday highlights: 18:30

Current Driver Top 5:

1. Max Verstappen - 119
2. Sergio Perez - 105
3. Fernando Alonso - 75
4. Lewis Hamilton - 56
5. Carlos Sainz - 44

Current Constructor Top 5:

1. Red Bull - 224
2. Aston Martin - 102
3. Mercedes - 96
4. Ferrari - 78
5. McLaren - 14

You're welcome @flazio

PsychoPete

If any track can stop a RedBull winning it will be Monaco

AMKC

This would be the perfect place for an Alonso Aston Martin win. He just needs to do the perfect lap and not crash. Go Alonso.

recyclebin

First images of new Mercedes parts now doing the rounds. Looks to have sidepods now, similar to Aston Martin.

Must have taken a huge chunk of the budget to make the changes. So many new parts listed on Motorsport.com.

patmahe

I seem (judging by comments online) to be one of the few people who really likes this race. Of course its never going to be an overtaking fest but the sheer skill of getting those cars around those streets as fast as that is incredible. Qualifying in Monaco for me is one of the highlights of the F1 year, I've been there (not over an F1 weekend sadly) and its amazing just how narrow it is. It really is like a race around your local town with F1 cars, definitely worth a watch 🙂 the upgraded cars will be interesting too. I agree with the poster above who said it must have taken a good chunk of Mercedes budget to rework the car, but they needed to bite that bullet at some point rather than chasing the clearly limited concept they had. I actually think they might be slower initially (because others have developed this concept over a year and a half now so Mercedes are behind) but it has more scope to move forward for 2024/25. Can they outdevelop Red Bull though, I'm less sure.

flazio

Isn't free practice meant to be today?

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120639819#Comment_120639819

I think they did away with the old format of no action on Friday.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120639819#Comment_120639819

It used to be bit they changed that some years ago.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120639850#Comment_120639850

Yes they did.

Frank Bullitt

Zero sidepods are no more. That was a terrible experiment for Merc. They also have new anti-dive front suspension on the car.

Charlie-Bravo

It's kinda ugly. But that doesn't matter if it's fast. We'll see.

Frank Bullitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120640386#Comment_120640386

Probably won't be able to tell fully at Monaco either, they are a year behind on this approach as well, but it can't be any slower.

flazio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120640414#Comment_120640414

Williams beg to differ.

dulpit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120640375#Comment_120640375

Bizarre how long they clung to the zero pods concept. They keep saying that the side pods weren't the issue with the car, but they stuck out like a sore thumb compared to the rest of the field.

PsychoPete

Alonso tweeting "28/5" which adds up to 33, winning this weekend will be his 33rd win. Im all for this conspiracy! No better man to defend around Monaco

Frank Bullitt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120640722#Comment_120640722

Their overall concept was flawed from the podcasts I listen to etc. They are also limited on what they can change on this car with the chassis being too expensive to change mid-season.

I personally think the car looks like a dogs dinner now, it is a mix of aero approaches.

Charlie-Bravo

So can we have a poll on who will 'crash' in quali to better their race start? I'll start with Chuck LeClerc.

flazio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120640835#Comment_120640835

Lance Stroll obviously.

dulpit

Whereas Nyck de Vries will crash because #tradition

mickdw

Alot to be said for getting a hot lap in early. Gives the option of going nuts for the final run and not being too worried if you block the track.

Charlie-Bravo

Saturday looking dry but weather for Sunday is possible thunder and rain at 15:00 local! Interesting....

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/spv2bfe5f#?date=2023-05-28

flazio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120641177#Comment_120641177

Had a quick check of his Formula E record here. In 2021 he suffered a 40 place grid penalty and even though he started second to last, he still had to serve a 10 second stop/go in the pits. He retired with electrical failure.

Last year using their weird qualifying duel system he qualified 8th and finished 10th.

McFly85

Really looking forward to this weekend.

Merc binning their awful sidepods was a long time coming but I still didn’t expect it to happen this soon! Be interesting to see what difference it makes.

Naturally the RB will be heavy favourite but in a season with one car so far ahead of the rest Monaco can at least give other teams the chance at real success if they can nail quali.

Im gonna stick my head out early and say Charles will win his home race this time. The Ferraris race pace has been generally rubbish but we’ve seen them do well in qualifying, especially in Baku where Leclerc got both poles. The Aston hasn’t really been anywhere in quali so it could be a quiet race for Alonso.

MadYaker

Leclerc could easily bin it though. My money is on Max or Alonso

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120641581#Comment_120641581

Last year using their weird qualifying duel system he qualified 8th and finished 10th.

Nothing weird about it. It's quiet brilliant, simple and clever and is something F1 should think about doing for the tracks like Monaco and Singapore where traffic is a problem in qualifying.

It's just like quater finals, semis and then the final just like matchs are played in Football/Soccer tournaments like the Euros and the World Cup.

AMKC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120640386#Comment_120640386

It's not kind of ugly it is very ugly. I would laugh my arse off it Mercedes qualified 19th and 20th tomorrow lol. Can you just imagine? I could see Lewis retiring during the race instead of finishing near the bottom.

Anyone know what Lewis lowest finish is in the Mercedes is on a race day?

muckwarrior

I seem (judging by comments online) to be one of the few people who really likes this race. Of course its never going to be an overtaking fest but the sheer skill of getting those cars around those streets as fast as that is incredible. Qualifying in Monaco for me is one of the highlights of the F1 year

Agreed. There's nothing that showcases the speed, accuracy, and skill like an onboard lap of Monaco. It's a true spectacle that, for me at least, more than makes up for the high likelihood of a processional race.

Vicxas

I dont care if the Merc is ugly, i just want a bloody race where it isnt a RB 1/2

Charlie-Bravo

Hulk damaged his car at the chicane and managed to get back to pits. Red flag now probably to clear debris.

Cool_CM

Albon hit the barrier - session over

MadYaker

I'm all on for an Alonso win, the Mercs are still slow and Leclerc looks close to have to having a big shunt all the time.

Frank Bullitt

Alonso looks like he is on it.

This was supposed to be RB's weakest track...and Max is fastest.