Monaco Grand Prix – Race

There are a couple of changes from the provisional grid (see my notes from Qualifying) but I’ll put everything behind the cut so as not to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen the race yet.

Provisional grid was: JB, KR, RB, SV, FM, NR, HK, MW, FA, KN, SBu, NP, GF, SBo, AS, LH, NH, RK, JT, TG …however, LH has a new gearbox so the associated penalty puts him at the back of the grid, and TG will start from the pit lane.

JB leads everyone away on the formation lap, although KR beats him off the line, trying to make a point
They’re very strung out – JB needs to slow down a bit and let them bunch up
LH is a long way back – is he deliberately slow or having problems?

01/78: RB ahead of KR before Turn 1
RK cut the chicane

02: JB, RB, KR, SV, FM, NR, HK, MW

03: Based on pre-race weights, JB is expected to pit 1 lap before RB

04: TG cuts a chicane

05/78: JB, RB, KR, SV, FM, NR, HK, MW

06: LH still down in P17
FM has a look at SV coming out of the tunnel but SV keeps P4

07: FM still all over the Red Bull’s gearbox
FM has another go coming out of the tunnel – cuts the chicane – has to let SV regain P4 – NR sneaks past too

09: BBC report SV’s tyres have gone away, which is why he’s backing everyone up
NR looking to pass SV

10/78: JB, RB, KR, SV, FM, NR, HK, MW
Pit-car radio warns RB to look after his tyres – “they may be fragile”
NR, FM & KR all pass SV

11: SV pits
SBu & NP in the escape road at Ste Devote – NP rejoins circuit
Replay shows SBu locked up and pushed NP into the tyre wall
LH pits

12: Marshals remove SBu’s car
NP pits – retires

13: KR has caught RB and is pushing for P2

14: BBC say some drivers are reporting the super-soft tyres are going off very quickly – some say they’re dangerous

15/78: RB still holding off KR
KR pits from P3 – front wing adjustment too – rejoins in P7, ahead of FA
Brawn mechanics in the pit lane
SV out of the car at Ste Devotte

16: RB pits from P2

17: JB pits from P1 – rejoins ahead of FM

18: NR pits from P1

20/78: JB, FM, HK, MW, RB, KR, FA

21: FM pits

22: HK pits

23: MW pits – rejoins in P6

25/78: JB, RB, KR, FA, FM, MW, NR, HK; retirements: SBu, NP, SV

27: JB has a 19.9sec lead over his teammate

29: FA finally pits – rejoins down in P11

30/78: JB, RB, KR, FM, MW, NR, HK; retirements: SBu, NP, SV

31: RK pits and it wheeled into the garage

33: Pit-car for KR tells him to pick up his pace
FM cuts the chicane

34: Ferrari warn FM not to cut the chicane so much

35/78: JB, RB, KR, FM, MW, NR, HK, SBo; retirements: SBu, NP, SV, RK

37: JB laps LH

39/78 = half distance

40/78: JB, RB, KR, FM, MW, NR, HK, SBo; retirements: SBu, NP, SV, RK

41: FM cuts the chicane again

42: Pit-car for FM tells him they’ve “had another warning from the FIA – don’t cut the chicane”

45/78: JB, RB, KR, FM, MW, NR, HK, SBo; retirements: SBu, NP, SV, RK

46: KR cuts the chicane

48: LH still down in P15, last but one of those still running

50/78: JB, RB, KR, FM, MW, NR, HK, SBo; retirements: SBu, NP, SV, RK
RB pits from P2

51: JB pits from P1 – rejoins alongside KR – marshal incorrectly waves a blue flag

53: HK has put his McLaren in the wall
Replay shows he took too much kerb into the swimming pool, lost the tail, broke the nose cone on the outside wall, slides backwards into another barrier

55: LH pits – new nose cone – broken front end plate

56: FM pits – has to take the super-soft tyres

60/78: JB, RB, KR, FM, NR, MW, FA, SBo; retirements: SBu, NP, SV, RK, HK

65: BBC interview HK; says it’s impossible to pass on the track (not exactly news!)

67: JB’s lead 12.6secs over teammate RB
FA pits – front jack man almost didn’t move away from the car before the lollipop was lifted

68: Super-soft tyres seem to be holding up better than they did earlier in the race – Ferrari won’t suffer as much as Brawn did

69: FM closing in on teammate KR

70/78: JB, RB, KR, FM, MW, NR, FA, SBo; retirements: SBu, NP, SV, RK, HK
LH up to P13

72: KN pits for a splash & dash

75/78: JB, RB, KR, FM, MW, NR, FA, SBo; retirements: SBu, NP, SV, RK, HK

Final lap: JB has a comfortable lead over his teammate
KN in the tyre wall at Mirabeau
JB takes the chequered flag – 5th victory in 6 races
RB gets P2, followed by KR, FM, MW, KR, FA, SBo, GF, TG (+1 lap), NH, LH, JT, AS, KN
DNFs: HK, RK, SV, NP, SBu.

Whoops – JB pulled into the pit lane – he was supposed to drive round to the main straight but instead he went into parc ferme
JB’s out of the car and running round the circuit to get to the podium 🙂
He’s finally made it; RB & KR had parked there

Interviews:
JB: running along the main straight makes you realise how long it is 🙂 Surprised to see other teams starting on the prime tyre.
RB: had a great weekend; seat belts worked loose in the 2nd stint so he changed the brake balance
KR: track was slippery on his side of the grid; lost time behind RB

Next race: Turkey in 2 weeks.