24/05/2015
NEWS STORY
Monaco is an anomaly.
Were the circuit located on the south coast of England or the west coast of France it would have been dropped from the calendar long ago.
Once the playground of royalty and the super-rich, it is now mostly a hang-out for tax avoiders, ne'er do wells (to put it nicely) and wannabes. For bling read vulgarity, for glamour read sex.
Along the coast Cannes used to attract movie stars, now it plays host to pop singers and models whose talent appears to be inversely proportionate to the amount of clothes they wear.
The real glamour of Monaco is long gone, now it is mostly a sad fake living on its past... perhaps that is why F1 will never leave... they were born for one another.
Monaco encapsulates all that is wrong with F1, essentially the quest for style over substance, the total obsession with money. In the same way that rich men (and women) have stumbled out of its casino having lost everything, so F1 has sucked up the dreams (and fortunes) of many, bled them dry then spat them out. Next sucker please.
Don't get us wrong, the circuit remains a mighty challenge, one of the ultimate tests on the current calendar, but constant revisions, including moving the guardrail at the apex of Turn 15 (Swimming Pool exit) back to afford a better line of sight, will cause the likes of Graham Hill, Juan Manuel Fangio and Ayrton Senna to allow themselves a wry smile as they look down from that great paddock in the sky. Stirling Moss and Jackie Stewart, both three-time winners here, must also barely recognise the track.
In taking pole for the first time here, Lewis Hamilton said the job was only "half done". "There's still a long way to go...," he said. "It's going to be mentally and physically challenging."
He also talked of a rhythm echoing what many previous winners (and losers) have said here. However, before finding that rhythm he has to get through Ste Devote - named in honour of Saint Devota, patron saint of Monaco and, as from last Thursday, patron saint of the over enthusiastic.
Always a tricky corner, this year it, along with Mirabeau, has been catching out more and more drivers, and whatever the weather gods might have in store for us we expect Ste Devote to claim many more before the day is done.
Nico Rosberg admits that other than passing his teammate into Ste Devote, his best chance of overtaking him is during the pit stop... however, as that is likely to be one stop (as in 2014) this further diminishes his hopes. Of course, there is also the chance of a Safety Car (or two) during the race but catching a rival here is one thing, passing quite another. Go ask Nigel Mansell.
In terms of the weather, while rain is the great leveller, Sebastian Vettel will be hoping for the sun to come out and play, his Ferrari suffering in yesterday's cooler conditions. Teammate Kimi Raikkonen is sure to be on his radio complaining whatever the weather... his mood not helped by the traffic he is sure to encounter today.
Whilst the big shock this weekend has been Williams, the FW37 unable to generate sufficient heat into its tyres, the big surprise has been Red Bull, the Austrian team benefitting from the fact that engine grunt isn't a major factor here.
An excellent performance from Sergio Perez sees the Mexican starting from seventh, whilst teammate Nico Hulkenberg continues his descent into hell... or Formula E as it's known around here.
If he can keep out of trouble and hold off the opposition, Perez could leave Monaco with a decent points haul.
Another driver who deserves some credit is Pastor Maldonado, the Venezuelan having a chequered history here. Fact is, you cannot help but like the guy. He has talent - not as much as he thinks he has - but tends to let the red mist take control. Let's hope he can open his points account today.
Just when it was looking so good for Toro Rosso, Carlos Sainz made the mistake of not heading to the FIA weighbridge when requested, consequently he will start from the pitlane.
Watching the Spaniard's attempts to progress through the field should prove interesting however, let's hope we get to witness the efforts of his teammate Max Verstappen.
We know the Toro Rosso is good, we also know, from the Red Bulls, that the Renault's lack of grunt won't hamper the Faenza boys, so here's hoping they can leave here with some serious points.
Also, let's not forget, neither has driven here in any category before this weekend, though that didn't wash with team boss Franz Tost yesterday who is said to have been angry that the pair didn't achieve more.
Irony of ironies, Jenson Button, who was 'robbed' on the opportunity of making it to Q3 by Nico Rosberg's mistake at the close of Q2, will still start from tenth on the grid as a result of Romain Grosjean's gearbox penalty.
McLaren had been mighty confident coming into this weekend and perhaps, just perhaps, Button's wealth of experience can pay off. Teammate, Fernando Alonso, shouldn't be written off either, not on a track where engines are not the deciding factor.
Sauber faces another long afternoon, the Swiss team's mood not helped by the continued 'bigging up' of 'customer cars' being the solution to F1's ills, whilst Manor does its best on what is a highly poignant weekend for the team... memories of 2014's joy (and subsequent tragedy) still painfully fresh. If there are such things as fairy tales in F1...
While conditions are currently fine, we know from experience that Monaco enjoys its own unique micro-climate and things can (and do) change very quickly. Consequently, it would be most unwise to think that the weather gods won't want to play a part today. Indeed, even the cloud cover is bad news for teams such as Ferrari and Williams.
Monaco is one of the more straightforward race strategies of the year, as wear and degradation is so low. However, with the possibility of rain showers and a high incidence of safety cars, one never knows. Theoretically the ideal strategy is to start on the supersofts (options), change to the soft (prime) around lap 27, then run to the finish.
In the 'you couldn't make it up department', at a time Eurocare is launching an all-out assault on F1 for its relationship with alcohol, the Lotus' are sporting a decal that reads 'Dope', apparently it refers to a movie.
The pitlane opens. One by one the drivers make their way to the grid.
As the drivers return to their cars after the national anthem, the air temperature is 19 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 37 degrees. It is bright and sunny. Race Control however, claims there is a 30% chance of rain.
Stevens is told that it is hotter than in any previous session this weekend. Not much difference to Manor but good news for Ferrari.
The field heads off on the warm-up lap, all on options bar Hulkenberg, Alonso, Bottas and the Manors.
Sainz is told: "The target is to go as fast as possible and overtake as many cars as possible." That's him told.
They're away. Great starts from all and the field gets through Ste Devote with no problems. Kvyat getting the jump on his Red Bull teammate.
At Mirabeau it's all over for Hulkenberg who is pushed into the barriers by Alonso. Elsewhere, Massa radios to say he is "finished". It appears he tangled with Maldonado.
At the end of lap 1, it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel, Kvyat, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Perez, Maldonado, Verstappen and Button.
In fact Hulkenberg gets back to the pits and takes on a new front wing, Massa also pits but it is a long, long stop for the Brazilian.
The stewards are looking into the Hulkenberg/Alonso incident.
At the end of lap 3, Hamilton leads by 1.7s with Vettel a further 1.2sd down the road. Maldonado is unhappy with his brakes after his previous clash. "They are OK," he is told. "They are not OK," he replies.
Sainz, who started from the pitlane, is already up to 16th.
Verstappen is told to put pressure on Maldonado, his team telling the Dutch teenager that the Lotus driver has a problem.
As Alonso is handed a 5-second penalty for the collision with Hulkenberg, Verstappen is all over Maldonado. A great move at Ste Devote sees Verstappen take 8th as Button also closes in.
Maldonado is in all sorts of trouble, his fly-by-wire braking clearly not working. He overshoots the Nouvelle Chicane. He subsequently pits... and retires.
Out front, after 6 laps, Hamilton leads by 2.4s, with Vettel the same distance behind Rosberg.
As a pierce of debris is removed from the track, Sainz cuts the corner at the Nouvelle Chicane. Elsewhere, a new fastest lap from Hamilton (20.187), as the Briton finds his rhythm.
"Your front-left brake is a bit on the warm side, try to manage it," Hamilton is advised.
After just 10 laps the field is pretty evenly strung-out, the biggest gaps being between (seventh placed) Perez and Verstappen and (fifteenth placed) Sainz and Stevens.
On lap 13 Vettel, currently 1.9s down on Rosberg, goes quickest in S1. Elsewhere, Sainz pits.
"What can I do to save these brakes?" asks Hamilton, "I'm having to drive so slow right now." He is told that things are currently OK.
Bottas and Ericsson both pit at the end of lap 14.
Hulkenberg complains that Merhi has braked late and missed the chicane.
Down in eighth, Verstappen goes quickest in S1. As Hulkenberg passes Merhi and sets off after Stevens.
"We're not pulling the gap to Vettel as quickly as we need," Hamilton is told.
Grosjean pits from 12th at the end of lap 17, as Vettel closes to within 1.1s of Rosberg who is now 3.3s down on the leader.
The leaders are already lapping the backmarkers, Vettel having trouble passing the Manors.
Asked about the state of his tyres, Raikkonen says they are OK but that he doesn't see the point in getting "too close to the car in front (Ricciardo)".
Nasr pits and rejoins ahead of Grosjean, who had attempted to under-cut him.
As Rosberg is told to close the gap to Hamilton, the race leader is told that his brakes are "coming under control".
A new fastest lap for Hamilton on lap 21, the Briton stopping the clock at 19.869.
Hamilton continues to set a blistering pace, posting a string of fastest laps. He extends the gap to 4.4, with Vettel now a further 1.7s down.
Further down the field, Sainz is all over Ericsson as they battle for 14th. Verstappen currently 8th, 1.9s down on Perez.
"Angry traffic ahead for #LH44 with squabbling backmarkers to negotiate this time round..." tweets Mercedes.
Having weaved his way through a whole train of cars - Hulkenberg, Sainz and Ericsson - Hamilton admits: "I lost a lot of time in that traffic". However, Rosberg and Vettel have the same problem.
Ricciardo claims that his rears are going off. As Vettel closes to within 0.9s of Rosberg, the Australian is 10.8s down on the Ferrari.
At the end of lap 29 Verstappen pits, as does Kvyat, as Raikkonen closes to within 0.8s of Ricciardo.
It's a dreadful stop for Verstappen who exits in thirteenth after problems with the wheel-gun on the right-rear.
Hamilton now leads by 8.5s as the gap between Rosberg and Vettel has also widened. Raikkonen really putting the pressure on Ricciardo.
At the end of lap 32, Hulkenberg makes his second stop of the day. Alonso also pits, the Spaniard also serving his 5-second penalty. He rejoins in 9th.
Don't want to put the mockers on McLaren, but both drivers currently in the points.
As Raikkonen harries Ricciardo, Rosberg goes quickest in S1.
"I'm struggling a lot with the rears," complains the Captain. A lap later, at the end of lap 35, he pits, rejoining in eighth ahead of his McLaren teammate.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 36, as does Ricciardo. The German rejoins in fourth, ahead of Kvyat and Ricciardo as Perez also pits. This promotes Raikkonen to third, 17.7s down on Rosberg.
Rosberg pits next time around, as does Raikkonen, who set a blistering pace on his in-lap. Rosberg rejoins just ahead of Vettel, whilst Raikkonen is ahead of Ricciardo. Phew!
Hamilton pits next time around - end of lap 38 - rejoining still leading, albeit 8.2 ahead of his teammate who posts a new fastest lap (19.716).
After 39 laps, with all the cars having made one stop, it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel, Kvyat, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Perez, Button, Alonso, Nasr, Grosjean, Bottas, Verstappen, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Ericsson, Massa, Merhi and Stevens.
Raikkonen gets it all wrong at the chicane, allowing Ricciardo to close in.
As he extends his lead to 8.6s, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (18.676).
Oh dear. It's all over for Alonso who heads into the escape road at Ste Devote after locking-up and promptly parks.
"What happened, what happened," asks Button, in reference to his teammate's retirement, now thought to be gearbox related. "We don't think it affects us," he is told. Can he actually cross his fingers as he's driving?
Verstappen is now upping the pressure on Bottas, however, the Dutchman subsequently pits, switching back to the options, and rejoins behind his own teammate.
After 48 laps (30 to go), Hamilton leads Rosberg by 11.2s, Rosberg is 1.2s down on the German. Kvyat is fourth, 12.4s down on Vettel and 3.9s ahead of Raikkonen. Ricciardo is falling back as Verstappen (13th) posts a PB (19.674).
Perez is told to save fuel at all braking points.
In eleventh, and under pressure from Sainz, Bottas wants to pit for fresh rubber but he's told that if he does so he'll lose all hope of a points finish. The Finn says he is "losing the rears more and more".
He's off again, Raikkonen is effing a blinding as he gets held up by Sainz. The Spaniard allows the Finn by at Rascasse, with Verstappen taking full advantage and following the Ferrari through.
Verstappen uses Vettel as his blue flag free-ride in his pursuit of Grosjean. "I'll try and stick with Vettel in order to get the blue flags," he says.
As Vettel closes in on Grosjean, the Frenchman is warned. The German makes his move at the hairpin, the Lotus driver allows the Ferrari through but manages to hold off the cheeky Dutch youngster.
Oh dear, Verstappen gets it all wrong at Ste Devote and spears into the barriers. The Virtual Safety Car is deployed... for the first time ever. Moments later the Actual Safety Car is deployed.
Verstappen is out of the car and other than looking a little shaken appears fine. He clipped the rear of the Lotus as he attempted to pass on the inside into the notorious first corner.
Perez, Button and Massa pit, with Hamilton following their example. Rosberg and Vettel continue.
Behind the Safety Car, Rosberg is leading as Hamilton appears to pass Vettel when he shouldn't have. Ricciardo and Nasr also pitted.
As the Toro Rosso is winched to safety, with 13 laps remaining, Hamilton is third, admittedly on fresh rubber. Before the Verstappen incident Hamilton was 21s in the lead.
"What's happened guys," asks Hamilton of his crew. "We're reviewing the video," replies the Mercedes crew. "I was in front," insists Vettel. And so he was.
As the Safety Cr continues to head the field and the laps count down, the back markers are allowed to overtake the Safety Car. A ludicrous situation.
As Rosberg is asked about the state of progress at Ste Devote, Hamilton is asked if he was actually ahead of Vettel. "I was alongside Sebastian," he insists.
Vettel is unhappy about the long delay with the Safety Car.
The Safety Car pulls off at the end of lap 70. Game on.
Hamilton is all over Vettel, with Kvyat all over the Mercedes. Meanwhile, Rosberg opens a 2s gap.
As Hamilton harries Vettel memories of Senna and Mansell flood back.
Something has upset Raikkonen. "Did you see what he did, that's not very nice!" Indeed, replay shows Ricciardo appearing to push the Finn out of the way at Mirabeau, Alonso-style.
Having found a second wind, Ricciardo passes Kvyat at the chicane to take fourth.
The Stewards are to investigate the Ricciardo/Raikkonen incident.
As Hamilton tries every trick in the book, Rosberg extends his lead to 4.3s.
Ricciardo posts a new fastest lap (18.063) as he closes to within 0.9s of Hamilton. "You need to get stuck into these guys," he is told.
"Please stop talking to me, please," urges Hamilton as he is given some updates.
The stewards will take no further action re the incident involving Ricciardo and Raikkonen.
Rosberg takes the flag, with Vettel holding on to second and Hamilton third. Unable to pass any of the cars ahead, Ricciardo hands his position back to teammate Kvyat. Raikkonen is sixth, ahead of Perez, Button, Nasr and Sainz.
Hamilton stops on track (Portier) bringing back memories of the time Senna did likewise, heading back to his apartment after crashing out as he too headed to certain victory.
Having won his third successive Monaco Grand Prix, Rosberg is understandably delighted, but it is wholly wrong to get too carried away, Lewis is the moral winner here, Mercedes is the loser.
At a time all and sundry are launching surveys, asking what the fans want to see - whilst also harvesting thousands of all-important email addresses - today's race goes some way to answering the question. What fans want is uncertainty, drama and racing. Today, even though the opening 60 laps were fairly processional, we got a bit of everything.
Also, contrary to what Bernie Ecclestone might think, the Cara Delevingnes of this world aren't what F1 needs... its days like today.
Check out our Race gallery, here.