25/05/2014
NEWS STORY
In 2007, as the relationship between Fernando Alonso and McLaren worsened, we opined that in giving way to his 'demands' and installing an official within the team garage to ensure there was no 'hanky-panky' the FIA was only fuelling the flames.
It goes without saying that in our humble opinion the reaction in the wake of yesterday's qualifying session was somewhat similar, the governing body appearing to be led by outside influences.
As the twentieth anniversary of the death of Ayrton Senna passes into history, certain people appear to be getting their way and creating a rivalry similar to that of the Brazilian and Alain Prost.
The 'fire and ice' situation at Ferrari having proved nothing more than a damp squib, certain sections of the media are intent of creating a situation at Mercedes. Of course, they are aided in their efforts when Lewis Hamilton claims teammate Nico Rosberg had a privileged upbringing whilst he came from a far more working class background.
Other than the fact that Stevenage is hardly Toxteth, Moss Side or numerous parts of London, let's not forget that from his very early teens he had the full backing of McLaren. Not exactly the life of the son of a world champion but then again Lewis was hardly roughing it.
Sensing a second title following years of frustration, the Briton, rather than relying on his god given skills appears to be going the way of others we will not mention, using the media to his full advantage.
Whatever, happened yesterday, there was no need for his petulant reaction nor the grunts and silences that said far more than actual words.
The media fearing another season of domination, albeit by a different team/driver combination, was delighted, greeting every comment with a knowing nod and a wink, asking questions that were so loaded they groaned under the pressure.
When Hamilton subsequently mentioned Senna and Prost it was a case of job done, the hounds of Fleet Street (or wherever they peddle their wares these days), having rekindled memories of Suzuka and suggesting Ste Devote could be the scene of similar silliness, raised a glass or three... job done.
Then again, when the wife of the so-called boss of the sport tweets a picture of herself gurning inanely as she stands alongside Justin Bieber - who looks as if he has walked off the set of Walking Dead - is it any surprise?
Even without yesterday's nonsense we faced a thrilling fight between the two Mercedes protagonists who have both won here previously. At a time he looked to be allowing his head to drop under the pressure from his talented teammate Rosberg has hit back sending out the warning that he shouldn't be written off.
Putting aside the issue of a Suzuka-style clash on the first lap, much will depend - on this circuit where overtaking is nigh impossible - on strategy and good pit work. With that in mind expect Hamilton's radio calls to be even more tetchy than usual.
Over 0.4s off the pace, the Red Bull duo will need to look at all possible scenarios if they are to bring Mercedes winning streak to an end. Then again, Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo have their own point to prove.
Behind them there's almost perfect symmetry, only Jenson Button messing things up, as the grid sees the Ferraris head the Toro Rossos and Force Indias. That said, did Button, who qualified 12th, spoil the pattern or was teammate Magnussen's effort (he qualified 8th) another sign of the Dane's talents. We tend to think the latter.
The two Lotus drivers are sandwiched by the Williams pair, Felipe Massa paying the price of Marcus Ericsson's recklessness. Rather than a Ronnie Peterson tribute helmet perhaps the Swede should have looked to a Taki Inoue lid.
Sauber's season goes from bad to worse, the Swiss team likely to be under pressure from the Marussias, particularly Bianchi, today. That said, the decision to change the Frenchman's gearbox overnight - results in demotion to the back of the grid - which gives Sutil and Gutierrez a little respite.
In terms of strategy either a one or two stopper is possible, according to the speed of the car and circumstances of the race. One stop is possible, but a two-stop sprint strategy could work if the car is fast enough and has enough opportunity to overtake.
With Monaco being a notoriously difficult track to overtake on, plus a high chance of safety cars, this is hard to predict - so a flexible strategy will always pay dividends.
Pirelli predicts a one stop strategy to be the quickest way, although with limited running on the supersoft it is hard to be completely sure. If so, drivers would start on the supersoft and change to soft around lap 30.
In terms of the weather, while rain no longer appears to be an issue, we know from experience that conditions can change very quickly, and usually do.
Other than Hamilton, a number of drivers seemed quite despondent yesterday, especially Button, whilst others were clearly up for it.
On his first visit to the Principality - even as a tourist - kudos to Kvyat for his magnificent performance thus far, whilst Magnussen, Vergne, Perez and Bottas also deserve full credit for their performances.
Noticeable on Saturday were the swathes of empty seats in the grandstands, though these will no doubt be filled by the rich and the beautiful today. Also noticeable however was the fact that on these streets that normally reverberate to the roar of the F1 engines - whatever configuration - over the past couple of days it hasn't been quite the same. Whilst one appreciates that one can hear every squeal of the tyres, every slight brush of the barriers, it can't be right that people can hold conversations as an F1 cars passes by just a few feet away.
The main thing to remember, here more so than at any other track, is the fact that a race cannot be won at the first corner or on the first lap, but it can be lost. Take note guys.
There is an 80 per cent chance of a Safety Car today last year's race saw two and one red flag.
As the field prepares to head off on the warm-up lap the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 28 degrees. It is a little bit more overcast than it was earlier.
An overhead shot moments before the field heads off reveals that there are still lots of untaken seats, not nearly as many as yesterday, but quite a lot.
As they head off, everyone is on the supersoft (option) rubber bar Hulkenberg, Maldonado, Sutil, Chilton, Bianchi and Ericsson. That said, Maldonado fails to get away.
As they circulate, replay shows the Mercedes duo shaking hands on the grid.
They're away. Good starts from Rosberg, Hamilton and Raikkonen, the German leading the field up the hill. A poor start from Ricciardo who loses several places. At Mirabeau Perez is in the barriers after being clouted by Button. Out comes the Safety Car.
As Rosberg leads Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Alonso, Magnussen, Vergne, Kvyat and Hulkenberg, Grosjean, and Sutil pit. Maldonado doesn't appear to have left the pits after the start, his race over before it began.
At the end of lap 3 the Safety Car pulls off. Rosberg maintains his lead while Raikkonen passes Vettel who appears to have a problem. Indeed, the German drops down through the field, "there is no power" he reports.
"Come on guys," shouts the German to his crew as he pits, his frustration obvious.
Meanwhile, Hamilton closes on Rosberg, almost running into the back of the Mercedes at the Chicane. Raikkonen remains third ahead of Ricciardo, Alonso, Magnussen, Vergne and Kvyat.
Back on track Vettel complains that he is stuck in third gear.
The stewards announce they are investigating the Button/Perez clash.
0.766s ahead of Hamilton, Rosberg posts a new fastest lap (20.461). However, Hamilton is pushing hard.
"OK Sebastian, retire the car," Vettel is told, "bring it back to the pits." He duly obeys.
Rosberg is told that he's doing a good job with his tyres and that temperatures are lower than Hamilton's.
Apparently Grosjean picked up a puncture on the opening lap, hence the need for the pit stop.
Great bold move by Sutil as he passes Grosjean at Lowes (or what was called Lowes), it's now the Hairpin. The German takes full advantage of the kerbs to pass the Lotus.
Chilton, Bianchi and Gutierrez are under investigation for being out of position at the start.
Kvyat pits at the end of lap 11, sadly it's terminal, his car is pushed into its garage.
After 12 laps, Rosberg leads by 1.463s while Hamilton is 6.602s ahead of Raikkonen. Ricciardo is a further 3.702s down on the Finn.
Sutil makes the same move that worked on Grosjean on Ericsson now, the German up to 16th.
Lotus reports that Maldonado suffered a "fuel system related issue", as Hamilton reports that his rear tyres are going off after just 14 laps.
Button is up to ninth and Kobayashi thirteenth.
Down in fourth, Ricciardo goes quickest in S3 as Chilton makes another great move, this time on Chilton at the hairpin. The German now up to 15th.
On lap 18 Rosberg locks up into Mirabeau, not for the first time this weekend.
Chilton gets a 5s stop/go penalty for being out of position on the grid, similar penalties for Gutierrez and Bianchi.
After 20 laps, Hamilton is 1.235s down on the leader while Ricciardo has closed to within 2.132s of third-placed Raikkonen.
Behind the leading four, it's: Alonso, Magnussen, Vergne, Hulkenberg, Button, Bottas, Massa, Gutierrez, Kobayashi, Bianchi, Sutil, Chilton, Ericsson and Grosjean.
As the leading duo prepare to lap Grosjean, Rosberg locks up once again at Mirabeau.
Ricciardo is now all over Raikkonen as the Red Bull comes into its own.
It's all over for Sutil who loses it on the run to the chicane hitting the barrier on the left and then careering onwards.
The Safety Car is deployed and Button and Gutierrez are quick to respond by pitting, the McLaren driver making a particularly late call.
Rosberg pits as does Hamilton, so too Kobayashi, Bianchi, Ericsson, Grosjean and Chilton. Stops for Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Alonso, Vergne, Magnussen and Bottas also. Indeed, Massa is the only driver not to pit.
Some hairy moments in the pits, not least Magnussen almost colliding with Vergne.
Hamilton is unhappy that he had to pit when he did. "I find it hard to believe," he says. Asking what the strategy is for the remainder of the race he is told that it is intended to run him to the end with no more stops. Told that his race is now in the hands of tyre degradation or the weather, Hamilton believes he should have pitted as soon as he saw Sutil's accident rather than wait for the Safety Car.
Raikkonen pits again, which suggests he had a puncture. He exits the pits in 13th.
The Safety Car pulls off at the end of lap 30.
Working furiously to generate heat into his tyres, Hamilton almost runs into the back of Rosberg at the Swimming Pool.
Rosberg, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Alonso, Massa, Magnussen, Vergne, Hulkenberg, Button and Bottas. Massa running fifth but must still stop.
Vergne and Magnussen are under investigation for an incident which saw the Dane pass the Toro Rosso before the line at Rascasse under the Safety Car. The Frenchman already being investigated for the pit incident.
A superb move sees Hulkenberg pass Magnussen at Portier. Brilliant stuff from the German.
Raikkonen makes an illegal move on Kobayashi at the Chicane to take 12th but has to give it back.
Vergne gets a drive through for his previous unsafe release as Rosberg and Hamilton trade fastest laps.
Bianchi barges his way past Kobayashi at Rascasse, the Frenchman literally pushing the Caterham out of the way. It's an important move as points are very much on offer today.
Grosjean is all over Kobayashi, who is told not to cut the chicane, as Ericsson shadows the Lotus. Vergne serves his penalty and rejoins just behind Bianchi.
On lap 41, Rosberg is told that fuel will become critical unless he starts using longer gears. That's after two Safety Car periods.
As Hamilton closes right in on Rosberg, Chilton does well to keep a wild Marussia under control.
Several laps later, Rosberg is told that he must use longer gears as fuel use is increasing.
Ironically, it was here in Monaco in 1982 that we saw mayhem in the final laps as one driver after another ran out of fuel. While Riccardo Patrese was the winner, Keke Rosberg, who retired after 64 laps, went on to win the title... the Finn taking just one win that season.
As Marussia reveals that Chilton clashed with Raikkonen - hence the Finn's need to pit - Kobayashi's car was damaged in a clash with Bianchi.
Vergne thumps the back of Bianchi as he attempts to pass the Marussia for 12th.
After 50 laps, it's: Rosberg, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Button, Bottas, Gutierrez and Raikkonen. Massa, who has now stopped, is eleventh, ahead of Bianchi, Vergne, Grosjean, Ericsson, Kobayashi and Chilton.
Rosberg is now back on target in terms of fuel use, Hamilton having failed to take advantage.
Vergne slows with blue smoke pouring from the back of his car, clearly an engine problem for the hapless Frenchman.
"Fuel situation has stabilised," Rosberg is told, "keep doing what you're doing."
In third, 15.735s down on Hamilton, Ricciardo posts a PB (19.497).
Bottas, now with Gutierrez, Raikkonen and Massa on his tail, is struggling for grip. Indeed, shortly after the Finn stops on track (at the hairpin) smoke pouring from the back of the Williams.
While the yellow flags are waved as the Williams is craned away, we don't get the Safety Car.
All of which means that Bianchi is just outside the points in eleventh. That said, the Frenchman is under investigation for serving his earlier 5s penalty during the Safety Car period.
On lap 61, for the first time this afternoon, the gap between the two Mercedes is over 2s (2.148), the pair separated by Grosjean.
Gutierrez spins at Rascasse after clouting the barrier on the inside. With a punctured right-rear the Mexican is left facing in the wrong direction.
As he walks back to the pits, helmet firmly in place, it is obvious Gutierrez knows he made a mistake.
In all the excitement, Hamilton has closed to within 1.3s of his teammate.
Though it is unclear what is happening in terms of his penalty, Bianchi is now up to 10th.
On lap 64, Ricciardo posts a new fastest lap (19.316). Elsewhere, Kobayashi stops for fresh rubber.
Alonso remains fourth, ahead of Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Button, Raikkonen, Massa and Bianchi.
Bianchi is informed that he still has a 5s penalty however, with a 6.1s advantage over (11th placed) Grosjean, he could yet hang on to tenth and that all important point.
Hamilton, now 4.1s down on Rosberg, complains that he has something in his eye. As he drops further behind, Ricciardo is now just 7.823s down the road.
Hulkenberg, who is struggling with his rears, is under attack from the McLaren duo.
Told about the gap to Ricciardo, Hamilton says "I don't care about the gap to Ricciardo, I want to know what's happening with Nico". He is advised that the German is 5.657s ahead whilst the Red Bull is 4.725s behind and closing.
"You are 1.3s quicker than Hamilton," Ricciardo is told, "you will catch him, he has trouble with his vision".
With 5 laps remaining Hamilton, with Ricciardo 0.960s behind, has a gaggle of slower cars to pass.
Under pressure, Hamilton locks-up into Rascasse as, just ahead, Button passes Magnussen.
Raikkonen and Magnussen come to grief at the Hairpin. No damage just stuck in the middle of the corner. The Finn subsequently pits for a new nose.
All of which promotes Bianchi to 8th.
As the stewards confirm they are investigating the Magnussen/Raikkonen incident, Ricciardo is all over Hamilton. Rosberg leads by 8.5s.
Down in 12th, Raikkonen goes quickest in the first two sectors, posting the fastest lap of the race (18.479).
As Rosberg takes the flag and with it the lead in the championship, Ricciardo is all over Hamilton but the Renault can't match the Mercedes power.
Alonso finishes fourth, the only other driver to finish on the same lap, ahead of Hulkenberg, Button, Massa, Bianchi, Grosjean, Magnussen, Ericsson, Raikkonen, Kobayashi and Chilton.
Even with his penalty, Bianchi finishes ninth, thereby earning his, and his team's, maiden points, which means a whole lot of money.
Emerging from his car Hamilton's eye is clearly puffy, perhaps this not only explains his pace in the closing laps but also his failure to make any sort of eye contact with his teammate. Clearly the Briton still has an issue.
Asked post-race if Hamilton should have been brought in for his stop earlier, Toto Wolff replies that the team is installing a piece of new equipment in time for Canada, a "crystal ball".
What should have been a time of celebration for the German team as it scores its fifth successive 1-2 instead sees it having to bat off criticism of its driver management skills. If Lauda, Wolff and co are to grab the season by the scruff of the neck whilst maintaining a professional image it is important they sort out the silliness as soon as possible.
No such problems for Marussia, where nobody would begrudge the team its success today. It's been a long time coming but we're sure the boys in Banbury will feel it worth the wait.
As ever, Monaco gave us a little bit of everything, and while Hamilton and Vettel will be glad to see the back of it, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Button, Massa, Grosjean and Bianchi will surely believe the race delivered more than expected.
Not an absolute classic, but pretty good.
Check out our Race gallery, here.
Chris Balfe