Paul Henman formula1 Monaco Grand Prix – Qualifying

Monaco Grand Prix – Qualifying

Hot on the heels of the Spanish GP, the circus is in Monaco for what will be a procession as usual.

In post-race news:

  • GAS and ALB received penalties but the result was unchanged
  • It transpired that NOR had been suffering from tonsillitis all weekend [F1]
  • VET had a bag stolen but it contained his earbuds so he tried to track it down [BBC]
  • “Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone has been arrested in Brazil for illegally carrying a gun while boarding a private plane to Switzerland.” [BBC]
    “He paid 6,000 Brazilian reals (£998) and the gun was confiscated.”
  • There are rumours that Monaco may not be on the 2023 calendar [gpblog]
    “F1 wants more concessions from Monaco to keep race on calendar” [racefans]
    With the addition of Las Vegas and the return of China and Qatar, something’s got to be removed to make room in the schedule.
    I know I’m not the only one who would be happy to see Monaco dropped.

Free Practice:

  1. FP1: LEC (1:14.531), PER, SAI, VER, NOR, GAS, RIC, RUS, VET, HAM
    LEC and VER had to use the runoff at Turn 1 (Sainte Devote)
    HAM reported his Mercedes was bouncing, a combination of their ongoing porpoising problem and the bumpy circuit
    HAM and MAG cut across the swimming pool chicane
    SCH had a transmission issue in his Haas, blocking the pit lane entrance
    ALB tapped the wall coming out of the tunnel but avoided anything more serious
    BOT failed to set a time due to a gearbox issue
  2. FP2: LEC (1:12.656), SAI, PER, VER, NOR, RUS, GAS, ALO, VET, TSU (HAM P12)
    RIC fought his McLaren but tagged the armco barrier with his front-left and became a passenger as it slid almost nose-on into the tecpro barrier at the swimming pool chicane [video]
    Red flag so marshals can clean up RIC’s car and debris
    VET almost tapped the barrier at the same place as RIC, but at the last moment he kept the Aston Martin’s wheel away from the wall
    NOR and STR had to use the runoff at Turn 1
    TSU complained about the traffic, but then was nearly rear-ended by MAG
    After FP2: TSU was reprimanded by the stewards for impeding MAG; this is TSU’s 4th reprimand of the season and he will receive an automatic 10-place grid penalty if he collects another reprimand this year [racefans]
  3. FP3: PER (1:12.476), LEC, SAI, VER, GAS, NOR, HAM, MAG, RUS, ALO
    VET had a close call with SAI as he was unsighted until nearly hitting the slow-moving Ferrari
    STR clipped the wall at the swimming pool; damaged his front wing but is able to get back to the pits
    RUS almost rear-ended PER as the Red Bull blocked a quick lap
    After FP3: SAI was also given his 3rd reprimand, so he’s one away from a grid penalty too [pitpass]

Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
Air temperature 26°C; track 48°C
The drivers want a large gap when they start their flying lap, but there just isn’t room at Monaco
MAG 1:17.061
SCH 1:16.997
NOR 1:15.800
HAM 1:15.391
(RUS P4)
PER 1:14.369
VER 1:14.295
Radio from RUS, “I have no grip what so ever”
LEC P3 – lots of traffic
ALO 1:14.148
PER 1:13.292
(VER P2)
SAI P2 with identical time to PER
GAS navigating around a lot of slow moving cars as those drivers look for a gap
LEC 1:12.939
(VER P2)
LEC 1:12.569
(SAI P2)
5mins left of Q1; bottom 5 are ALB, VET, ZHO, LAT, BOT
ALB P9, relegating STR to P16
STR P11, TSU P16
LAT P16
VET P12, OCO P16
(RUS P3)
TSU has hit the barrier
Red flag – Q1 suspended
Hmmm, TSU clipped the armco and damaged his rear-left but there’s no visible debris or damage to the barriers
Sounds like a marshal threw out a red flag and so race control had to red flag the session
There’s 2:25 left of Q1; bottom 5 are RIC, OCO, LAT, TSU, ZHO
Long queue at the pit exit, waiting for the green light
Q1 restarts but they’re slow getting away because they all want to leave a gap
Only the top 6 remain in the pits
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are RIC, OCO, LAT, TSU, ZHO
A few of them didn’t cross the line in time for another flying lap
LAT P18
NOR P4, OCO P16
RIC P9, STR P16
OCO P4, GAS P16
TSU P9, ALB P16
Back of the grid: ALB, GAS, STR, LAT, ZHO

Qualifying session 2
VER is at the head of the queue, followed by SAI and PER
VER 1:12.551
SAI 1:12.074
PER 1:12.059
(LEC P3)
(HAM P5)
Radio from HAM, “Rears are too hot”
(VER faster but still P4)
LEC 1:11.864
LEC into the pit lane but missed the weighbridge; pushing him back is taking time
5mins left of Q2; bottom 5 are MAG, BOT, TSU, RIC, SCH
HAM pushing hard, fighting the Mercedes; abandons the lap
RIC P10, VET P11
TSU P7, RIC P11
(HAM P7)
Chequered flag; bottom 5 are MAG, RIC, SCH, VET, BOT
VET P8, TSU P11
BOT P12
Middle of the grid: TSU, BOT, MAG, RIC, SCH

Qualifying session 3
Top 10 shootout is between LEC, PER, SAI, VER, NOR, OCO, HAM, VET, RUS and ALO
The Alpine pair of OCO and ALO remain in the pits
LEC 1:11.376
SAI P2
HAM P3
NOR P3
VER P3
RUS P6 – time deleted
PER P3
VET P7
Order after first run: LEC, SAI, PER, VER, NOR, HAM, VET, RUS, OCO, ALO
RUS P7
ALO P5
OCO P10
5mins left; order: LEC, SAI, PER, VER, ALO, NOR, HAM, RUS, VET, OCO
NOR P5
Radio from LEC, unhappy with his track position
RUS P6
PER lost the rear and into the barrier at Portier (Turn 8)
SAI slides into PER, blocking the track
Red flag; Q3 suspended, but with only a few seconds left it won’t restart
Was that ALO in a different barrier?
Front of the grid: LEC, SAI, PER, VER, NOR, RUS, ALO, HAM, VET, OCO

VET storms through his garage; what’s the child having a tantrum about now?
SAI said he braked when he saw the yellow flag in T8 and lost the rear, which is why he hit PER
Will SAI be reprimanded for not slowing sooner?

Provisional grid: LEC, SAI, PER, VER, NOR, RUS, ALO, HAM, VET, OCO, TSU, BOT, MAG, RIC, SCH, ALB, GAS, STR, LAT, ZHO
85% of Monaco races have been won by someone in the top 3, but there might be rain tomorrow.

[2022 calendar and line-up]

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