Monaco specialists

[jens]

The so-called drivers circuit hosts the next Grand Prix and I guess that it's time to discuss about "Monaco specialists" - drivers, who more or less manage to shine every year and put their machinery up higher than expected. Five such names spring to mind immediately that I suppose we should follow carefully next weekend: Räikkönen, Trulli, Fisichella, Coulthard, Webber. Even if on other circuits they haven't been able to be competitive, then at Monaco they have succeeded.

Räikkönen: Qualified crap McLaren up to fifth in 2004, was truly dominant in 2005 and looked even faster than Alonso last year in arguably an inferior car. I suppose that he is one of the favourites and this is the circuit, where it's quite likely to see him as Ferrari's number one. But team-mate Massa is a bit of unknown quantity though - last year ruined his chances in qualifying and for the whole race we didn't see that how quick he really can be. He was 5th in 2004, but mainly thanks to retirements.

Trulli: There has been discussion about his Monaco drives in another topics. When he was driving for Prost, then I think his Monaco races were the first ones, where I really noticed him. Before that I just knew, that there is a guy named Trulli in F1 and I basically knew nothing more, but when drivers were racing at Monaco, then I wondered that how did he manage to put this car that high up.

Fisichella: I think he has been a bit unlucky in his Renault years at Monaco. In 2005 he was running 3rd before tyres worn off. Last year he got penalized after quali, which dropped him to P10 and after that he got stuck behind someone for most of the race in spite of passing 3 drivers on track. But at the end of the race, when he was in free water, he managed to keep Schumacher's speed quite well, who was the fastest at that time! He has finished on podium for twice. He has also shone in crap cars. In 2001 he qualified 10th in that hopeless Benetton and could have scored points if he hadn't hit the wall at Ste Devote. And in 2003 he qualified 12th in an awful Jordan and finished 10th only because there were no losses among the top teams.

Coulthard: In 90s he really managed nothing special at Monaco. He got one second place in '96, but largely thanks to retirements and got beaten by Panis in an inferior car in the process. His Monaco reputation comes mainly during from years 2000-2002. Then he was out of pace in 2003-2004 again only to start shining in Red Bull.

Webber: His Monaco reputation derives probably mainly from last year, when he managed to drive truly an incredible race, which was maybe even the most outstanding performance of his career. But also in Jaguar in 2003 he was driving 9th as best of the rest behind top teams until retirement. And it's also worth mentioning that the only podium place of his career has been achieved at Monaco.

What about others? Heidfeld has also been quick, but as he is so consistent, then he hasn't shone at Monaco more than on other circuits. But nonetheless the best result of his career is also achieved at Monaco plus finished 7th in a crap Jordan back in 2004. Alonso hasn't been poor at Monaco, but he hasn't managed to shine either. Probably he'll make another solid race.

It's tough to rate youngsters, but what about them?
Hamilton won GP2 race last year there - may that be some kind of a sign? Liuzzi finished 10th last year, which marked a decent result - may he achieve something similar again?

In the past the driver skills used to come out more than they do now. In 1991 Stefano Modena qualified in an incredible second only to retire from the same position. In 1996 many were amused by Schumacher's pole in an inferior car. In 1998 Fisichella (Q3, R2) and Salo (Q8, R4) were quite outstanding. In 2000 Trulli qualified 2nd and Alesi 7th in a crap Prost, alas both had to retire from the same positions. In 2000-2001 Irvine scored his best positions at Monaco: 4th and 3rd. But it seems that after the permission of traction control the number of outstanding performances has reduced and the strength of teams/cars have been quite similar to other circuits unless Monaco has been a very suitable circuit for a team that usually wasn't that good on other tracks like Renault in 2004. Webber's performance was quite unbelievable last year, but we also can't ignore that the circuit really suited Williams-Cosworth: Rosberg was running 6th during the first stint and probably would have gone faster if he hadn't been stuck behind Barrichello.

So what can we expect from this year's race? Probably the best cars like Ferrari and McLaren will be in the front again. But what might happen behind them? May that bunch of 'specialists' - JT, GF, MW, DC - interfere BMWs? Ibid last years have shown that cars with powerful engines have been very competitive (like Williams-Cosworth in 2006 or Williams-BMW in 2005) and as arguably BMW has one of the best engines at the moment, then may they interfere McLaren and Ferrari? How can last year's revelation Williams compete this year with new engine supplier?

What are your thoughts? Will anyone, who hasn't managed to shine so far this year, surprise us? And the answer may be either a team or a driver.

[ioan]

I say Heidfeld will be strong, he's simply that good a racer.
DC will be good too based on previous years and also on his recent form.
I don't know about Kimi and Felipe though.

And of course Hamilton and Kubica might give us a surprise.

[Storm]

Heidfeld could be really good there..Also I have feeling Kimi might do well (if the car holds up )

Alonso needs a good result (better than Hamilton and Massa for sure)

Have to keep an eye on Trulli, he did qualify higher up in Barcelona and Monaco is a place where he can really go quick and get the car higher up th grid and stay there inspite of not having a quick car.

[cinnamon33]

Massa has never shone in Monaco, but this year that might change looking at his actual form.

I agree with ioan, that Hamilton and Kubica might surprise us all in Monaco.

I think Kimi will shine there once again.

[F1boat]

Raikkonen and Hamilton are favourites to win the race ahead of Alonso, I think. If Massa proves me wrong and wins again, I don't know, I'll will be even more amazed by him.

[NoahsGirl]

I do have a feeling in my water that Hamilton will win the Monaco GP. As the general rule at Monaco is expect the unexpected - who knows what will happen!

[GridGirl]

I think ITV said during the race on Sunday that Hamilton has never lost a race at Monaco. It would be an awesome race and record if he won but I think a ferrari will win.

Coulthard will score points, and both Williams might actually finish.

[futuretiger9]

Trulli should be reasonably high up in qualifying, due to his finesse and delicacy. The race will be a different story for him.

I would expect DC to produce another strong showing. He always goes well at Monaco, and Red Bull appear to be making some progress.

[rohanweb]

I bet, Lewis Hamilton will win the Monaco race at the principality as he has so far been in the front-row like quali's and never lost a race there before, I believe he is a serious contender for a win...and what about DC ? I love to see on the podium once more

[blakebeatty]

It would be a monumental first win on a resume