2011 Monaco Grand Prix Thread (Official)

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Originally Posted by Rollo

Monaco is tight and difficult but the fact remains that it is the closest set of conditions that the cars get to what normal people experience on a day to day basis.

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That's the thing for Monaco for me. Having walked and been around the circuit in a road car myself I find it astonishing that racing drivers can do one lap, let alone more, in a F1 car without bouncing off the kerbs or barriers at every turn.

It may not provide us with the most exciting race of the year, although it is capable of that, but watch the speed & commitment of the drivers through the swimming pool complex for example and you know that you're watching something spectacular and exceptional.

As for races needing overtaking:

[youtube]-O8yn5gb25c[/youtube]

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Originally Posted by AndyL

The debut of the red- and white-banded tyres does give another element of uncertainty... but based on what we've seen so far, the super-softs will probably last no worse than the others but be 1s a lap quicker ;)

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Dammit I was just getting used to "knife and butter", now I've got to remember it's "bread and jam" this weekend!

Strange suggestion, but anyone who doesn't like monaco just because there's never much overtaking I point in the direction of Formula One games. Have a go at a few laps round the place, and you'll understand why Monaco is so special.

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Originally Posted by Mark

DRS won't be a big factor, but drivers doing their mandatory 12 stops per race might well be.

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:D
Given that they only have 7 sets of tires for the whole race there will be some very very slow laps in this race.

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Originally Posted by Dave B

Dammit I was just getting used to "knife and butter", now I've got to remember it's "bread and jam" this weekend!

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Great mnemonics! Do you have one for the wets and inters?

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Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

As for races needing overtaking:

[youtube]-O8yn5gb25c[/youtube]

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What? Those stupid engineers back in the day, how couldn't they realize that they should have had DRS in order to have great racing?!
I can't believe it that it took them 20 years to find the 'holly grail' of racing! :p

I think Renault and Mercedes could have a strong weekend. But Renault will be missing Kubica, who has been a real ace around that street circuit. I think also Ferrari may have one of its strongest races of 2011 so far. Then again McLaren could struggle with its long wheelbase like they did last year.

As much as I like to see passes being made on a legitimate basis, the procession of Monaco is still exciting to watch. With the short lived tires I expect to see some epic battles for time and strategy at the front of the pack.

Thing is around Monaco, if one driver loses his tyres the cars in the train behind, can lose 4 or 5 seconds a lap, opening gaps quickly for cars ahead.

Making the race a real tactical battle.

After all you cannot pit too early and get held up, as you have no chance of breezing past others on fresh tyres and the undercut as they call it, will be wiped out.

So at all times after stops the drivers will need clear air. I think it could be crazy.

By the way, anyone reckon we could be in for another 1996. With uncertainty over tyres and people stuck in crawling traffic jams and marbles meaning any mistake could mean your eating barrier.

Put all this in and the drivers will have to be supreme to keep it out of the walls.

4 Cars finished the 1996 races on track after the 78 laps. Lets see if we have another low finishing number.

If I remember rightly too last year only 12 finished the race, probably the lowest total of finishers in 2010.