“MAJESTIC MONACO DELIVERS THE MAGIC – VETTEL HOLDS ON TO SECURE A FAMOUS VICTORY”
MONACO
PRE-RACE
In the pit-lane, a gentle breeze stirs the red-and-white flags. The sun has just crested the surrounding enclave of mountains. In the harbour, super yachts ride the gentle swell, and ease against their mooring lines. The streets are quiet, not much activity. This tranquil scene will soon be changed: for today is a very special day – it is race day! The highlight of a week’s preparation for the Formula 1 teams, for the race organisers – a fair amount more preparation. In a few hours time these streets will come alive, in a few hours time adoring fans will line every possible vantage point, in a few hours time 24 drivers will battle it out on the streets of the Principality to see who will be crowned King of Monaco for the day. Today, F1 owns the streets of Monaco!
Saturday’s qualifying delivered its usual amount of twists and turns – with a few surprises here and there on the timesheets. The most significant event was however not who took pole position (and Sebastian Vettel once again put in a blinder of a hot lap to secure pole), but the dramatic crash of Sergio Perez. The rookie driver, who has done nothing but impress in his first season in Formula 1, had a massive “off”. Perez was exiting the tunnel during qualifying, he got on the wrong line (a puff of test testament to this fact), then hit a bump in the road: the car first side-swiped the Armco barrier then continued and hit the safety barriers: a side impact at high-speed. The Monaco Marshalls were very efficient in their handling of the accident.
Nobody likes to see a driver injured in a big accident, but due to the very nature of racing, these things happen – it goes with the territory. Perez suffered concussion and a sprained thumb. If you consider that his car was a total write-off, then you will appreciate the safety measures that go into designing a modern Formula 1 car: the “monocoque” or safety cell in which the driver sits is designed to protect, whilst the rest of the car is designed to disintegrate and absorb the force of a heavy impact. The incident happened with roughly 2:30mins left on the clock for qualifying, there was a long delay – and once proceedings resumed – the mood was sombre. Those who had left it too late to put in a good fast lap were left further down the timesheets.
START
Dozens of mechanics rush to and fro from the confines of the garages and pit lane (carting along their equipment) to the grid – where the drivers calmly wait – some choosing to stand outside their cars, other choosing to sit in their cars. The beautiful “Tag Heuer” Grid Girls stand, one in each grid position, with their boards proudly displayed – denoting the driver’s grid position number and also his nationality. Those fans that are close enough to the grid, strain to catch a glance of their favourite driver. All around there is an electric atmosphere of excitement and pre-race tension in the air… can’t they just start the race already? The cars are now ready, the drivers are ready and the stewards are satisfied that all is in order. The five minute warning buzzer has come and gone – and the mechanics have cleared the grid. Vettel leads the pack around the narrow streets of this famous circuit – weaving and doing burnouts – accelerating quickly then decelerating quickly – to generate heat in the tyres and the ceramic brakes. Behind him, the other drivers are doing the same. Finally, Vettel is back in his pole-position grid slot – for the leader it always seems like an eternity whilst the balance of the field forms up behind him. Charlie Whiting is content, and the five red light sequence begins… not much stirs on the grid and surrounds – all eyes focused on 24 machines that are about to scream down the tarmac into “Saint Devote” (Turn 1). In a brief instant of time the lights flicker out: We are racing in Monaco!
RACE
Lap 1
Vettel makes a good start, behind him Button gets away cleanly, and Alonso is quick – moving to cover the racing line.
Schumacher makes contact with Petrov at Loews Hairpin.
There is furious jostling for position as the drivers weave their cars through the narrow streets.
The Order after 5 Laps is as follows:
Vettel leads, followed by Button (@4,344s), Alonso (@1,293s), Webber (@1,575s), Rosberg (@3,260s), Massa (0,504s), Maldonado, Petrov, Schumacher and Hamilton.
Lap 7
Hamilton is chasing Schumacher.
Lap 10
Hamilton takes Schumacher – good move.
Alonso sets the fastest lap: 1:19:262
Lap 12
Barichello takes Schumacher – another great move.
Lap 13
Schumacher pits for a new nose cone – rejoins 21st.
(Pit Lane time: 35,084s. Pit-stop time: 13,6s).
Rosberg (5th position) is holding up a long train of cars.
Vettel still leads, followed by Button and Alonso.
Lap 15
Massa takes Rosberg for 5th position – a brave move.
Lap 16
Button pits – from 2nd – rejoins 4th.
(Pit Lane time: 25,280s. Pit-stop time: 4,0s).
Rosberg pits – rejoins 18th.
(Pit Lane time: 21,5s. Pit-stop time: 3,7s).
Vettel pits – from 1st – rejoins 2nd.
(Pit Lane time: 24,2s. Pit-stop time: 6,9s).
A slowish stop: the mechanics were still removing the tyre blankets when he came in.
Webber pits – from 4th – rejoins 14th.
(Pit Lane time: 37,735s. Pit-stop time: 15,5s).
A very slow stop.
Lap 17
Alonso now leads the race.
Alonso pits – from 1st – rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 25,352s. Pit-stop time: 4,1s).
Lap 18
Button sets the new fastest lap: 1:19:072
Lap 19
Button sets another fastest lap: 1:18:091
The Order after 20 Laps is as follows:
Button leads, followed by Vettel, Alonso, Massa, Maldonado, Petrov, Hamilton, Barichello, Di Resta and Kobeyashi.
At this stage of the race Button is looking good for a possible win, but there is a long way to go yet.
Lap 23
Hamilton pits – from 7th – rejoins 13th.
(Pit Lane time: 31,455s. Pit-stop time: 9,7s).
Lap 25
Di Resta makes contact at the hairpin with a Torro Rosso car.
He incurs a Drive through Penalty for his efforts.
Lap 26
Maldonado pits – from 5th – rejoins 13th.
(Pit Lane time: 26,468s. Pit-stop time: 4,5s).
Lap 27
Massa pits – from 4th – rejoins 9th.
(Pit Lane time: 26,615s. Pit-stop time: 5,3s).
The Order after 28 Laps is as follows:
Button leads, followed by Vettel (@14,140s), Alonso (@2,367s), Petrov, Barichello, Kobeyashi, Sutil, Heidfeld, Buemi and Webber.
Lap 29
Petrov pits – from 4th – rejoins 13th.
Lap 30
Schumacher takes his team mate, Rosberg, at the hairpin.
Brilliant move.
Lap 33
Glock retires his Virgin car and parks at the side of the track.
Barichello pits – from 5th – rejoins 13th.
(Pit Lane time: 25,921s. Pit-stop time: 4,3s).
Button pits – from 1st – rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 26,421s. Pit-stop time: 5,4s).
Lap 34
Hamilton has been hunting down Massa for a few laps now, there is a slight contact at the hairpin, followed by another contact in the mid-section of the tunnel: Massa crashes heavily shortly after the tunnel exit.
The Safety Car is immediately deployed.
Heidfeld pits.
Buemi pits.
Lap 35
Alonso pits – from 3rd – rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 31,382s. Pit-stop time: 9,5s).
Schumacher retires his car – at the pit lane entrance – it appears as though the Mercedes-GP car lost drive – marshals quickly push it out of the way.
The Order on Lap 36, behind the Safety Car, is as follows:
Vettel, Button, Alonso, Sutil, Kobeyashi, Webber, Hamilton, Maldonado, Petrov and Heidfeld.
Lap 38
The Safety Car comes in and we are racing again.
Lap 43
Hamilton is given a Drive through Penalty for causing an avoidable collision.
Lap 44
Hamilton serves his Drive through Penalty.
The Order after 44 Laps is as follows:
Vettel leads, followed by Button, Alonso, Sutil, Kobeyashi, Webber, Maldonado, Petrov, Hamilton and Heidfeld.
Lap 48
Trulli pits.
Button pits – from 2nd – rejoins 3rd.
(Pit Lane time: 24,670s. Pit-stop time: 3,5s).
Lap 50
Upfront, Vettel leads, followed by Alonso (@5,898s) and Button (@14,168s).
At this stage of the race, it would appear as though the winner will come from one of the top 3.
Hamilton pits – from 9th – rejoins 9th.
(Pit Lane time: 29,977s. Pit-stop time: 5,6s).
Lap 51
Button sets the new fastest lap: 1:17:894
Lap 52
On a real charge now, Button sets another fastest lap: 1:17:498
Lap 55
Rosberg pits.
(Pit Lane time: 25,114s. Pit-stop time: 4,0s).
Maldonado pits – from 8th – rejoins 8th.
Lap 56
Webber pits – from 7th – rejoins 7th.
The Order after 57 Laps is as follows:
Vettel leads, followed by Alonso (@1,203s), Button (@6,117), Sutil, Kobeyashi, Petrov, Webber, Maldonado, Hamilton and Heidfeld.
At this stage of the race the result is not a foregone conclusion, any one of the top 3 could still take it. Vettel’s tyres are beginning to fade, Alonso is putting pressure on him, and Button is still in close attendance.
Lap 58
Alonso is now looking for a way past Vettel: the pair reach speeds of 270km/h+ in the DRS zone.
Lap 67
Kobeyashi takes Sutil for 4th position.
Lap 68
Webber pulls off a great move to take Sutil for 5th position.
The Order after 69 Laps is as follows:
Vettel leads from Alonso, Button, Kobeyashi, Webber, Sutil, Hamilton, Petrov, Heidfeld and Barichello.
Lap 69
As the leading trio catch a slow train of backmarkers, there is a major crash: Sutil, Petrov and Alguersuari all make contact and Petrov crashes heavily.
The Safety Car is deployed.
Lap 70
Sutil pits.
Vettel still leads, followed by Alonso, Button, Kobeyashi, Webber and Maldonado.
Lap 72
The race is Red Flagged: cars are to hold position, no overtaking, and form up (stop) on the grid in their current positions; to give the marshals a chance to clear all the wreckage.
The McLaren-Mercedes mechanics work feverishly on Hamilton’s rear wing – under the watchful eye of an F. I. A. steward.
Lap 72
Racing is to resume, the cars will perform a rolling start behind the Safety Car.
Lap 73
The Safety Car leaves the track and we are racing again.
Vettel makes a good start, closely followed by Alonso and Button.
Lap 74
Hamilton drives into Maldonado, and ends what has been a superb drive from Maldonado.
(Once more, car No.3 is under investigation by the race stewards for causing an avoidable collision).
Lap 77
Alonso sets the new fastest lap: 1:16:471
Webber takes Kobeyashi – brilliant move.
Lap 78
Vettel takes the win!
2. Alonso
3. Button
4. Webber
5. Kobeyashi
6. Hamilton
7. Sutil
8. Heidfeld
9. Barichello
10. Buemi
Retired:18/24 cars finished the race.
(Maldonado, Petrov, Alguersuari, Massa, Schumacher and Glock)
SUMMARY
It has been a thrilling, action-packed Grand Prix de Monaco. Vettel cruises into the Parc Ferme and gives the crowd a triple salute as he stands victorious; after a race that lasted 2hrs 09mins 38:373secs. Alonso and Button congratulate the winner, as team members cheer on the top 3.
The podium ceremony is a grand affair: H. R. H. Prince Albert II presents the 1st place trophy to Sebastian Vettel, Charlene Wittstock presents the 2nd place trophy to Fernando Alonso and Charlotte Casaraghi presents the 3rd place trophy to Jenson Button. Christian Horner represents the winning constructor: RBR-Renault.
The trophies are intricately designed replicas of the circuit: superb. Once the drivers have left the royal box, the Mumm Champagne flows! A jubilant Vettel sprays anyone in his path as the crowd cheers him on. This is Formula 1!
NEXT STOP
Monaco certainly lived up to expectation and delivered.
Next, the teams have to pack it all up and head to Canada, for the Grand Prix du Canada – the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit (12th June 2011). A different proposition to Monaco, this is a fast track with some tricky corners.
Written by Mark Batchelder, Road and Race’s F1 Connoisseur
What an exciting race, there were even plenty over takes at Monaco of all places!
Action packed, as always from Monaco. Great race breakdown Mark.