Monaco GP 2023: Sky Sports F1 pundits predict four-team battle for pole and Fernando Alonso to end win drought.
Will Red Bull's 100 per cent win record in 2023 come to an end at the Monaco GP? Sky Sports F1's Simon Lazenby thinks four teams are in contention for pole position on Saturday; Ted Kravitz tips Fernando Alonso for win on Sunday.
25/05/23 7:10pm
Sky Sports

The Monaco GP this weekend looks set to have the first four-team battle at the front of the 2023 season, according to the Sky Sports F1 pundits. Red Bull have dominated the year so far, winning all five grands prix plus the Baku Sprint, but Formula 1's arrival in Monte Carlo may see that about to change.

The unique characteristics of the historic Circuit de Monaco's narrow streets can see the form book go out the window, and this year may be no different as Red Bull's straight-line speed advantage is somewhat negated while Aston Martin and Ferrari can capitalise on their strength in slow-speed corners.

‘EL PLAN: Ted Kravitz tips Fernando Alonso for win on Sunday’;

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12...nd-win-drought


'It's not our strongest circuit' – Perez and Verstappen admit Red Bull could 'struggle' to 'show our strengths' at Monaco
25 May 2023
Formula One - Official Site

Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez admit Red Bull could “struggle” at the Monaco Grand Prix on a circuit that is not their “strongest”. Red Bull have won all five races this season – with Verstappen and Perez sitting first and second respectively in the drivers' championship – but both racers are wary of what might be in Monte Carlo despite that dominance.

Red Bull have won the last two races in Monaco with Verstappen taking victory in the Principality back in 2021, while Perez held off both the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, as well as his team mate to take the win last year. However, despite their recent success in Monaco and their impressive start to the season, Perez is not so sure that Red Bull will have it all their own way this weekend, with the Mexican expecting a difficult battle with their rivals.

“We certainly know it’s not our strongest circuit,” admitted Perez, who has finished on the podium twice in Monte Carlo. “We will struggle a bit to show our strengths, but it’s still Monaco.”

'It's not our strongest circuit';

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...E9gt0UBI1.html


Marko makes BOLD claim over Verstappen and Perez rivalry ahead of Monaco GP
Thursday 25 May 2023 20:12
Matthew Hobkinson


Helmut Marko has claimed that Sergio Perez is on the same level as Max Verstappen when the Mexican “is having a good day” ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend. And heading into this weekend’s race at Monaco, Marko believes that Perez can go level on wins with Verstappen if he performs to the best of his abilities.

“Perez has improved,” he told Formel1.de’s YouTube channel. “He has become more consistent. However, nevertheless, throughout the season, Max is the faster one. And that was evident in Miami as well. In sector one, I believe, he took half a second off Perez. And that was in just four corners, and it remained consistent throughout the practice sessions and proved itself in the race as well…”

“In Jeddah, I think it was, he was suffering from a severe flu and simply wasn't in the physical condition to challenge Perez. And when Perez is having a good day, he's on the same level as Max, and it always comes down to minor details that make the difference.”

‘Marko makes BOLD claim’;

https://www.gpfans.com/en/f1-news/10...lmut-marko-f1/


Aston Martin with ‘Great Hopes’ to Fight for Monaco Grand Prix Victory – Mike Krack
May 25, 2023
By Paul Hensby
The Checkered Flag

Mike Krack says the Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant Formula 1 Team are going for the win this weekend, with the Monaco Grand Prix potentially offering the Silverstone-based team their best chance of the season so far to beat Oracle Red Bull Racing. “It would be nice to say yes and do it,” Krack is quoted as saying by Motorsport.com. “We all have great hopes here for Monaco with our two drivers, we have a great car. In the simulator they were all quite excited.”

“But we must not forget the competition. It is true that there are not so many straights here. It’s also true that we have not seen a Red Bull or Ferrari or Mercedes in high downforce configuration, because we did not have a maximum downforce track so far. So I think it would be easy to say, ‘Ah we going to be easily at the front.’ I don’t think it will be that easy. I think we will have to be 100% at all times.”

‘EL PLAN: Great Hopes’

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2...ry-mike-krack/


Lewis Hamilton ‘excited’ to try Mercedes F1 upgrades at Monaco GP after being “lost” in 2022
25 May 2023
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Lewis Hamilton says he is “so excited” to finally try out Mercedes’ long-awaited F1 upgrades after admitting the team “were a little bit lost” in how to solve their issues. Hamilton, who admitted he has been “counting the days” until the upgrades arrive, hopes they will enable Mercedes to cut their vast performance deficit to pace-setters Red Bull.

“The upgrade, it will be difficult to see how it works at this kind of track but I’m hopeful that it puts us a little bit closer to these guys,” the seven-time world champion said on Thursday. I don’t think we will be fighting for a win necessarily, but hopefully we will be more in the fight.”

Hamilton praised the hard work of his team behind the scenes to produce the upgrades after Mercedes U-turned on their controversial decision to keep the faith in their unique sidepod approach over the winter.

‘W14 Upgrade - “So excited”!’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/102679...ter-being-lost