29/05/2011
NEWS STORY
We're going to go out on a limb here and predict that - providing a cooler cover isn't left off one of his radiators - Jenson Button will win today's race.
As with most races today could be decided at the first corner, however, Monaco - as with most everything that happens here - is just that little bit special. If it isn't Ste Devote that catches you out it could be Casino Square, the Hairpin, the Nouvelle Chicane, the Swimming Pool or Rascasse. So many ways to trip up, so many rivals to assist you.
Thankfully, on this, the shortest of F1 tracks, pit stop activity will not be as manic as witnessed in recent events with Pirelli predicting a maximum of two stops. Indeed, the Italian manufacturer believes that some drivers will stop just once.
The difference between the two tyres - soft (prime) and supersoft (option) - is around 1.2s - 1.4s, Pirelli claiming that the prime are "good for 30 laps".
Of course, the big story remains Sergio Perez' horrific crash yesterday, everyone astounded that the Mexican youngster escaped relatively unscathed. However, nobody is forgetting what happened just a few hours earlier when Nico Rosberg used up several of his nine lives when he narrowly avoided crashing at the exact same spot.
Whilst we do not pretend to be experts, surely the best solution would be to angle the barrier where Perez crashed to a sort of 'pint' that deflects the car to the left or right rather than allowing it to slam full on. But what do we know?
A number of drivers are complaining about the various bumps here. However, this isn't Silverstone, Bernie cannot just click his fingers, threaten to take the race elsewhere and the job gets done. Not only do people live here, very, very rich people live here. They are wiling to let their town be taken over for one week but they will not sit idly by while the Principality is dug up and moved around in the name of sport. Many of the bumps were here before F1 existed and will be there long after Bernie has gone to that great paddock in the sky.
Now while we've picked Button as our winner, let's not get carried away, Sebastian Vettel comes here having won four of this year's five races. Indeed, he won seven of the previous nine races.
Monaco is one win that every driver wants on his CV and having lost out to teammate Mark Webber last year the German will be keen to make amends. That said, having failed to open his win account so far this season what better time for the Australian to open his 2011 account.
Fernando Alonso has looked good for much of the weekend, even if he's been pushing the Ferrari way beyond its limit. Massa has been pushing equally hard but without the results. Being almost a home race for the Scuderia - and Monaco being a great leveller - what better time for the team to make up for the misery of last weekend.
Starting from fifth, this could be Schumacher's best chance for s podium to date, what's more there are no Petrovs, Kobayashis or Alguersuaris to tangle with - at least on the first lap surely. Showing no signs of his horrendous accident yesterday, Nico Rosberg will be keen to turn the limitations of Monaco to his advantage.
Maldonado starts in the Top Ten for the second successive week, the Venezuelan suddenly beginning to discover some self belief. Sadly, Williams teammate Rubens Barrichello had been plagued by various problems all weekend.
While McLaren looked the most likely threat to Red Bull, it's hopes took a knock when Lewis Hamilton only managed to qualify seventh, the result of an unusually poor strategic call - given the circuit. To add to Hamilton's frustration, the stewards subsequently eliminated his Q3 time after ruling that he jumped the chicane on his sole flying lap. He should be starting from tenth but gains a place due to the fact that Perez is not racing today.
Renault describes its own performance thus far this weekend as "lacklustre", and given the nature of the Monaco track we don't expect any significant improvements today.
Starting from thirteenth, and with his team's hopes resting entirely on his shoulders, Kamui Kobayashi should be well worth watching today, the Japanese driver no respecter of reputations - be they drivers' or circuits'.
Force India, like Renault, has been disappointing, and the best the Silverstone outfit can surely hope for today is a couple of points courtesy of the elimination of rivals.
Lotus continues to improve now edging clear of Virgin and Hispania and closing in on the back of the midfielders. There's a way to go but they're getting there.
Talking of Hispania, though neither driver took part in qualifying, the Spanish team has been given the all clear to participate based on competitive times posted in free practice. Having crashed twice already this weekend, Tonio Liuzzi will be delighted to bring his car home in one piece today.
The pitlane opens and the cars make their way to the grid. The weather is glorious, no chance of a sudden shower turning the race on its head today. The air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 42 degrees.
They head off on the warm-up lap. While most are starting on the option tyre, Hamilton is on primes. Since his Q3 time was deleted he has the option to choose what tyres he starts on, unlike the eight men ahead of him.
"Steering is really heavy, I don't know why," complains Button on the warm-up lap.
Vettel holds Button off, but great starts from Alonso and Rosberg. No trouble at Ste Devote. Schumacher drops to tenth at the start but passes Hamilton at the hairpin.
At the end of lap 1, it's Vettel, Button, Alonso, Webber, Rosberg, Massa, Maldonado, Petrov, Schumacher and Hamilton. Vettel leads by 2.4s.
Hamilton tells his crew that he thinks Schumacher may have hit him and that he may have a puncture to his right-rear.
At the end of lap 2, Vettel leads by 3.2s as he blasts into the distance with a fastest lap (20.269) - the German is flying.
McLaren reports that Hamilton doesn't have a puncture, but he is already 13.6s down on the leader. Replay shows Schumacher had a dreadful start, Rosberg winding right around him on the grid.
Behind the Top 10, it's Barrichello, di Resta, Kobayashi, Sutil, Heidfeld, Buemi, Trulli, Alguersuari, Kovalainen, Glock, d'Ambrosio, Karthikeyan and Liuzzi.
Hamilton is all over Schumacher but he cannot find a way past, memories of Senna and Mansell is '92 sprint to mind.
Replay shows Schumacher clouting the rear of Hamilton's car at Ste Devote at the start.
As Vettel extends his lead to 4.4s, the cameras concentrate on the Schumacher/Hamilton battle, the McLaren driver using his DRS on the pit straight but to no avail. Other than these two, the rest of the field is pretty strung out - but not in the 1960s sense.
"My rear tyres are grained," says Schumacher as Hamilton continues to harry the Mercedes driver. Behind the two Barrichello and di Resta close in.
At the end of lap 9, Hamilton - aided by his DRS - makes a brilliant move on Schumacher at Ste Devote, in his garage his crew applauds, and rightly so. Elsewhere, Alonso posts a new fastest lap (19.262).
Within just one lap, Schumacher falls over 3s behind Hamilton, next time around the gap is up to 5.6s.
Barrichello goes through the inside of Schumacher at Mirabeau, the German subsequently pitting. A new nose is fitted and another set of options. He rejoins in twenty-first.
Massa is all over Rosberg, as Hamilton closes in on Petrov. Meanwhile the gap between Vettel and Button is down to 3.4s.
Massa clouts Rosberg and loses a part of his front wing, a couple of corner later the Ferrari is through with Maldonado also passing the Mercedes to add insult to injury.
At the end of lap 14, Button pits, as Vettel laps Karthikeyan. The McLaren driver rejoins in fourth on options. Rosberg also pits, the German rejoining in seventeenth.
Vettel pits next time around, however there's a cock up in the sense that the blankets are still on the tyres. Unbelievably, Webber also pits. The German rejoins in third (on primes) his teammate fourteenth (options). A disaster for the Australian.
At the end of lap 16, Alonso pits, handing the lead to Button. The Spaniard rejoins in third on primes, behind Button and Vettel.
Out front, Button posts a new fastest lap (18.091), as he enjoys a 6.2s lead. Vettel has 2.9s over Alonso who has Massa 4.3s behind. Only the leading three have stopped.
Di Resta pits at the end of lap 20, the Scot rejoining in sixteenth. With the race leaders lapping considerably quicker than those that haven't pitted it appears they made the right call.
Hamilton is all over Petrov, the Russian now 5.9s down on Massa but 5.3s clear of Barrichello.
At the end of lap 22, Hamilton pits but his crew are not in position. What is happening today? He rejoins in thirteenth (on options), behind Webber who has also had a nightmare today in terms of his pit stop.
After 25 laps (of 78), Button leads Vettel by 13.1s. Alonso is third, ahead of Massa, Maldonado, Petrov, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Sutil and Heidfeld.
As Maldonado finally pits, di Resta clouts Alguersuari as he passes the Toro Rosso at the hairpin. The Scot loses part of his front wing in the process.
Massa pits at the end of lap 26 as Hamilton goes quickest is the first two sectors. The Brazilian rejoins eleventh, just ahead of Hamilton, as the stewards announce that di Resta has been handed a drive-through for the clash with Alguersuari.
Petrov (fourth) pits at the end of lap 28, the Russian fitting a new set of primes and rejoining in thirteenth. Meanwhile Hamilton continues to hound the life out of Massa.
After 29 laps there are still no retirements. Lots of little clashes but no retirements.
Another crafty move from the wily old fox Schumacher at the hairpin, the German slipping inside his Mercedes teammate.
As Button extends his lead to 13.7, his McLaren teammate - using the best of his options - is battling for tenth.
On lap 32, Glock pulls to the side of the track with an obvious suspension problem, the German becoming the first retirement of the day.
At the end of the lap, Button and Barrichello both pit, rejoining in third as Hamilton and Massa come together at the hairpin. The Brazilian stops coming out of the tunnel, having clearly hit someone or something, out comes the Safety Car. Alonso, Heidfeld, Buemi, Rosberg and di Resta all pit.
It's all over for Schumacher also, the German's car grinding to a halt in the middle of Rascasse - now, didn't that happen once before? Trulli, d'Ambrosio, Kobayashi, Sutil and Liuzzi all pit.
Replay shows that following their initial clash, Massa clouted the wall in the tunnel wrecking his suspension. At one stage the two are side by side in the tunnel. Webber was also involved in the Hamilton/Massa clash at some point.
"I went down the inside and he turned into me," Hamilton tells his crew, "he did it on purpose." Hmm, lets see what the Race Stewards say to that.
After 35 laps, and still behind the Safety Car, Vettel leads Button, after that it's Alonso, Sutil, Kobayashi, Webber, Hamilton, Maldonado, Petrov and Heidfeld.
Vettel surely has to stop again, what with the race only at half distance, but Button also has to pit, the Englishman having not yet used the prime tyres.
At the end of lap 38, the Safety Car pulls off. Button has three cars he must pass before he is actually behind Vettel on the road. Barrichello pulls aside for the McLaren driver, as does Buemi.
Race Stewards are investigating the Hamilton/Massa incident. The Brazilian watches from the back of the Ferrari garage alongside his manager Nicholas Todt.
As he closes to within 2.3s of the race leader, Button is almost 2s quicker. Elsewhere, Hamilton is all over Webber. And in the middle of it all is Alonso, who is 6.6s down on Button.
Vettel is told of Button's tyre situation, warned that he must keep the McLaren driver behind him. The Englishman has to stop for primes and his options will only be good for another 10 laps, if that.
On lap 42, Hamilton - currently seventh - is handed a drive through. He serves his penalty almost immediately, rejoining in ninth, 10.184s down on Petrov.
Webber is all over fifth placed Kobayashi, who involved in his own battle with fourth placed Sutil. The gap between Vettel and Button is now down to 0.9s. Elsewhere, di Resta is involved in another incident, this time with d'Ambrosio.
Button is told that with Vettel likely to stay out a lot longer he needs to pass Vettel. Easier said than done.
At the end of lap 47, Button pits for the prime tyres. He rejoins in third, albeit just behind Buemi who is a lap down on the McLaren driver. Next time around Hamilton also pits, taking on a set of primes. He rejoins still in ninth.
On his first flying lap on the primes Button posts a new fastest lap (17.894) as he attempts to close the 18.4s gap to Vettel. That said, Alonso is in between the pair.
Another fastest lap from Button (17.478), 2s quicker than Vettel's pace.
At the end of lap 52, it's Vettel, Alonso, Button, Sutil, Kobayashi, Webber, Maldonado, Petrov, Hamilton, Heidfeld, Buemi, Barrichello, Alguersuari, Rosberg, di Resta, Kovalainen, d'Ambrosio, Trulli, Liuzzi and Karthikeyan.
As Kovalainen pits and Kobayashi posts a PB, full credit to Sutil who is running fourth and standing up to the pressure from Kobayashi and Webber. Elsewhere, Rosberg pits as Mercedes day falls apart. Maldonado also pits, the Venezuelan rejoining in eighth.
Webber pits at the end of lap 55, the Australian rejoining in seventh, 14s down on Petrov. Meanwhile, Button wonders whether Vettel is actually going to pit again. The McLaren driver is 7s down on the German and still lapping around 1.5s quicker.
Alonso closes to within 0.4s of Vettel, both drivers using tyres past their 'sell by' date, especially the German whose tyres are over 20 laps older.
A week after Vettel and Hamilton lapped Alonso in Spain, the Ferrari driver looks likely to repay the compliment as the race leaders close in on the Englishman.
As Button closes in on the leaders, fourth placed Sutil is a further 49s down the road with Kobayashi snapping at his heels. 16 fantastic laps remaining.
Alonso has a go at Ste Devote at the end of lap 64, Button holds station, watching and waiting. Having pitted on lap 16, Vettel is performing miracles keeping his car on the black stuff.
Sutil and Kobayashi make contact at the hairpin, the Japanese driver getting past the German. As the Force India driver loses ground Petrov and Webber close in.
Alonso continues to take stabs at Vettel, but the German is having none of it.
Webber passes Sutil to take fifth, immediately setting off after Kobayashi who is 6s up the road.
On lap 67, Alonso cuts the first part of the Nouvelle Chicane, allowing Vettel a slight breather.
As the leaders close in on the mother of all traffic jams, McLaren is confident that Vettel is near the point of no return.
As the leaders wind their way through the backmarkers, Petrov goes into the wall at the Swimming Pool with Alguersuari also out on the spot. Sutil loses his right rear tyre and Hamilton has a broken rear wing. The Safety Car is immediately deployed.
Replay shows all manner of mayhem, Sutil losing a wheel after hitting the barriers, Alguersuari mounting the back of Hamilton's McLaren and Petrov crashing after getting caught up in the middle of it all, the Russian left with nowhere to go.
Therefore, after 71 laps, with the Safety Car still on track, it's Vettel, Alonso, Button, Kobayashi, Webber, Maldonado, Hamilton, Sutil, Heidfeld and Barrichello.
Indeed, before the end of the lap the race is red flagged, as an ambulance arrives at the scene of Petrov's accident.
The remaining cars line up on the grid just in case the race is resumed. Indeed, Race Control announces that this is exactly what will happen.
The McLaren crew works on Hamilton's car, not only fitting a new rear wing but also another set of tyres.
Initial reports suggest Petrov lost consciousness for a while, but is now in the ambulance and talking to his team and doctors.
So, we get two starts for the price of one. We've seen the tyres changed on Hamilton's car so we presume Vettel and Alonso also have new boots.
Renault confirms that Petrov reported being in some pain in his legs, and didn't want to get out of his car without medical assistance.
FIA scrutineer Jo Bauer watches the McLaren crew as it works on Hamilton's car.
Vettel is told that while he is starting behind the Safety Car, there is a good chance it will pull off almost immediately.
Ahead of the re-start, it's: Vettel, Alonso, Button, Kobayashi, Webber, Maldonado, Hamilton, Sutil, Heidfeld, Barrichello, Buemi, Rosberg, di Resta, Trulli, Kovalainen, d'Ambrosio, Liuzzi and Karthikeyan.
Amazingly, the man who appeared to kick-off all that Mayhem, Adrian Sutil, is on the grid and still in with a chance of some points.
The tyre-warmers are removed to reveal that Vettel, Alonso and Button are all on options.
Behind the Safety Car, the drivers work furiously at their steering wheels in an attempt to generate heat into their tyres.
They're away, and Button is caught napping allowing Kobayashi to close right in. Further behind Maldonado crashes at Ste Devote after contact with Hamilton.
The Williams is lifted to safety, as Vettel leads Alonso, Button, Kobayashi, Webber and Hamilton. Race Stewards announce that they are investigating the Hamilton/Maldonado incident.
Kobayashi locks up as he laps d'Ambrosio, allowing Webber and Hamilton to close in. Sutil is up to seventh, ahead of Heidfeld, Barrichello and Buemi.
Alonso posts a new fastest lap (16.931) as he harries Vettel, Button now 1.2s down the road.
A great move by Webber on Kobayashi at the chicane, the Sauber driver misses the corner and has to yield to the Red Bull driver.
Button goes quickest in S1 but it's too little too late.
On the final lap Webber posts a new fastest lap, his fourth of the season, but remains 20.7s down on Button.
Vettel takes the flag, thereby adding a crucial victory to an already impressive CV. Fernando Alonso takes a fine second with Jenson Button finishing third, and left wondering what might have been.
Webber finishes fourth, ahead of Kobayashi, Hamilton, Sutil, Heidfeld, Barrichello and Buemi. That said, it remains to be seen whether Hamilton will be punished for the Maldonado incident.
Rosberg takes a mightily disappointing eleventh, ahead of di Resta, Trulli, Kovalainen, d'Ambrosio, Liuzzi, Karthikeyan and, the last of the classified finishers, Pastor Maldonado.
Not for the first time Monaco pulls a surprise, a little magic, a little mayhem even a dash of madness. And Sebastian Vettel was there to master it.
To check out our Monaco GP gallery, click here.