26/05/2012
NEWS STORY
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Famed for its Casino, it is only right that the Monaco Grand Prix promises to be as much of a lottery as its 2012 predecessors.
Thus far, after three practice sessions it's fair to say that none of us are any the wiser as to who's hot and who's not, a fact not helped by the changeable weather conditions on Thursday afternoon and the early conclusion to this morning's session following Pastor Maldonado's accident.
While the supersoft (option) tyres are as quick as expected, some drivers claim they are 'dropping off' after just two laps, while the track surface, especially those parts that have been re-surfaced, is proving almost impossible to get to grips with. Throw in some silliness, not forgetting the traditional problems with traffic on these tight twisty street, and you have a scenario at which only the bravest - or stupidest - would dare attempt to bet.
It's fair to say that the Lotus are looking good here, while this morning the Ferraris were equally impressive, especially Massa. McLaren and Red Bull have yet to truly show their hand but it has to be said Vettel appears to be struggling.
If ever there was a circuit where a good grid position is vital, this is it, so today, we can expect some real balls-out performances and bravery.
The lottery of qualifying aside, it came as no surprise when, twenty minutes before the session is due to begin, Maldonado is hit with 10-place grid penalty for this morning's incident in which he 'carved up' Perez. The damage the Venezuelan subsequently causing the crash which brought out the red flags. It was a stupid thing to do, and, coming just two weeks after his sensational weekend in Spain, is one of the best ever examples of hero to zero.
Not forgetting that Schumacher has a five-place penalty for his clash with Senna in Spain.
Five minutes before the start of Q1, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 39 degrees.
The lights go green and Pic leads the way, followed by Vergne. Alonso and Rosberg are amongst the early risers.
Pic gets the game underway, crossing the line at 22.752 however, his final sector is ruined by de la Rosa who clearly isn't using his mirrors. One would expect better from the Spanish veteran.
Unsurprisingly, Alonso goes quickest (17.128), ahead of Maldonado, hover, moments later Vergne goes second with a 17.817.
Out come the red flags as Perez clouts the barriers at the entry to the Swimming Pool, damaging his front wing and ripping off his left-rear wheel in the process.
This stoppage is frustrating for those drivers who were on their first flying laps.
With the clock stopped at 15:10, it's Alonso, Vergne, Kobayashi, Ricciardo, Schumacher, Maldonado, Karthikeyan, Senna, de la Rosa and Rosberg.
Prior to the crash, Perez, who crashed here last year, was on course to go quickest, having gone quickest of all in S2.
Replay suggests that the Sauber's steering may have been playing up just before the accident. Indeed, it is speculated that the steering could have been damaged in the clash with Maldonado this morning.
The session resumes at 14:11 (local time), Rosberg leading the way.
Rosberg goes eight however, moments later teammate Schumacher posts 16.441 to go quickest. A 16.633 sees Hamilton go second only to be demoted by Alonso's 16.623.
Next time around Rosberg posts 15.929 while Maldonado goes third with a 16.559.
With 10:20 on the clock, di Resta switches to the options, as do Kovalainen and Petrov. Elsewhere, Maldonado goes second with a 16.017.
Webber posts 16.179 to go third, as Hamilton goes quickest in S1. As Schumacher raises the bar with a 15.873, Hamilton loses time in S3 crossing the line at 16.063 to go fourth.
Kobayashi clouts the barriers at Ste Devote but, unlike his teammate, is able to continue.
Massa goes third (15.983), ahead of Maldonado, di Resta and Hamilton.
Raikkonen is still in the danger zone, the Finn having yet to post a time - as has his Lotus teammate. Clearly they are already in tyre-saving mode.
Grosjean goes ninth with his first lap, the Frenchman posting 16.246. Next time around, as Webber goes fourth, the Frenchman goes quickset in S1. A mistake in S1 means the Lotus driver fails to improve.
Raikkonen's first flying lap sees the Finn go seventeenth (16.807) as teammate Grosjean goes quickest in S1 again. Hulkenberg, on options, goes quickest with a 15.418 while Grosjean (primes) goes second (15.718).
With 2:40 on the clock Vettel, currently sixteenth, goes out on options as Raikkonen also switches to the softer rubber. Kobayashi also.
A 16.538 sees Kovalainen go seventeenth, dropping fellow Finn Raikkonen into the danger zone.
Kobayashi goes second (15.648) as Vettel and Raikkonen begin their final laps. The Finn goes fifth with a 15.889 while the German improves to fourth with a 15.757.
Vergne and Button are just above the danger zone, however, Kovalainen's failure to improve on 16.538 means they both survive into Q2.
Quickest is Hulkenberg, ahead of Kobayashi, Grosjean, Vettel, Schumacher, Raikkonen, Rosberg, Senna, Massa and Webber.
We lose Kovalainen, Petrov, Glock, de la Rosa, Pic, Karthikeyan and, of course, Perez.
Vergne and di Resta are first out for Q2, the pair joined by everyone but Vettel within a few seconds. All are on options bar di Resta and Grosjean.
Vergne sets the benchmark with a 16.885, however, Schumacher and Rosberg are on very quick laps. Rosberg crosses the line at 15.022 with his teammate posting 15.635 moments later.
The times constantly tumbling as Webber goes second, Hamilton third and Alonso fourth. Vettel can only manage thirteenth, the world champion crossing the line at 17.744.
Massa continues to show good pace here, the Ferrari driver leapfrogging his teammate with a 15.314 to go fourth.
Having damaged his front wing after clouting the barriers on the approach to the Chicane, Vergne becomes a mobile chicane as he makes his way back to the pits. White flags are waved to warn his fellow drivers.
Vettel improves to ninth the German not looking at all comfortable in the Red Bull and clearly in danger of falling at the first hurdle. "It's jumping like a rabbit," he tells his crew.
With 6:00 on the clock, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Grosjean, di Resta, Vergne, Senna and Ricciardo comprise the danger zone, with Vettel and Kobayashi hovering.
Toro Rosso reveals that Vergne will not be out again, the Faenza team unable to repair his car in time.
Raikkonen can only manage 15.937 to go thirteenth, while Grosjean's 15.628 just about gets him into the top ten.
Massa bangs in a 14.911, the Brazilian on blistering form this weekend. Elsewhere, Vettel improves to with pushing Button into the danger zone. As Maldonado goes quickest in S2, Button fails to improve, the McLaren driver, like the Lotus duo, in serious danger of missing the cut.
Maldonado goes third (15.026), as Grosjean improves to eighth (15.219).
Next time around, with the clock now at 0:00, Grosjean goes quickest in S1 as Raikkonen is also looking good to improve.
Raikkonen goes tenth with a 15.322 but Button fails to improve, the McLaren driver's qualifying session coming to an early close.
Quickest is Massa, ahead of Rosberg, Maldonado, Webber, Schumacher, Alonso, Hamilton, Grosjean, Vettel and Raikkonen.
We lose Hulkenberg, Kobayashi, Button, Senna, di Resta, Ricciardo and Vergne.
With a good grid position so vital here, it will be interesting to see whether driver will attempt to save tyres by limiting their running as seen at previous races.
Shortly after the lights go green, Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen and Maldonado come out to play. All are on options, with Rosberg and Hamilton on brand new sets.
Having gone quickest in the first two sectors, Rosberg ease off in S3, crossing the line at 18.852. Moments later, Hamilton posts 15.796 but this is soon beaten by Maldonado (15.245).
Grosjean goes quickest in the first two sectors and again in the third, crossing the line at 14.639, the quickest lap of the weekend.
Rosberg can only go quickest in S2, but nonetheless he posts 14.572.
Webber goes third (14.688) squeezing out Hamilton and Schumacher. Vettel, Massa and Alonso yet to spot a time.
Vettel comes out on primes, the German appearing to have given up on pole and therefore saving options for tomorrow.
All eyes on Massa, for a change, however, by the end of S1 he's marginally off the pace.
Raikkonen can only manage sixth (15.199) with Massa's 15.739 putting the Brazilian eighth. The lottery continues.
Vettel, yet to post a time, aborts his lap and returns to the pits.
Alonso's 14.948 sees the Spaniard go fifth as Raikkonen looks set to improve.
Webber goes quickest in S1, crossing the line at 14.381 to take provisional pole. Hamilton can only manage 14.593 but Grosjean and Schumacher are on strong laps.
At the very death, Schumacher slaps in a 14.301 the seven-time world champion taking a pole that he cannot benefit from, the result of the silliness in Barcelona.
The German finishes quickest, ahead of Webber - who will actually start from pole - Rosberg, Hamilton, Grosjean, Alonso, Massa, Raikkonen, Maldonado and Vettel.
As Schumacher acknowledges the cheers from the crowd its like the good old day, the German still clearly loving every minute of it, determined to frustrate the media sceptics.
That said, and with no disrespect to Schumacher, a strange Q3 which really failed to come alight with a number of drivers appearing to not want to get pole.
Interestingly, looking ahead to tomorrow afternoon, when the weather remains uncertain, the fact that two of the practice sessions were brought to an early end means that drivers have been unable to carry out the practice starts that are so vital here.
Another aspect to consider as the lottery continues.
Check out our Qualifying gallery, here.