Monaco GP 2009 - Monte Carlo

[Roland Ehnström]

I have a feeling Trulli will do well here, he's always been fast in Monaco hasn't he, and the Toyota looks driveble enough in the twisty bits.

[wesley123]

This is the circuit where the DDD teams will kick ass, the teams who dont remove kers here are behind for the rest of the weekend. Kers only works above 100, but most of the circuit is just apst it and the balance here is very important, so those kilos in balast would gain more then kers. The balast can be placed lower so a lower CG is possible.

People will try to take the pole position as this is a good way out, the only one who didnt win monaco from pole was ralf schumacher i bleieve, so pole gives a high chance of winning. I see the williams pulling up good laps with their more advanced DDD's, so no mistakes here might give williams a win, although brawn has a huge chance too. Toyota felt back so they cant fight for it.
If RBR has their DDD ready they can really fight for the win, and this time it isnt vettel but webber, he has alot more of experience and i see vettel making a mistake here.

[Ray]

I sincerely hope it doesn't rain. With no traction control there is no speed, and if I wanted to watch slow cars around a road course I'd watch NASCAR.

I bet there is going to be alot of rubber off line in Monaco. ALOT.

[vasia]

Toyota did not run their new aero package during the Spanish race, so understandably they fell back a bit during the race compared to the rest of the front runners. Spain also is not a track that Toyota has ever been really strong at. Further, we don't really know what Trulli's pace would have been due to his crash, but Trulli seemed confident.

Toyota is likely to run their new aero package in Monaco, giving them a performance boost. Also Trulli has always been typically strong at Monaco, and Monaco is a 'stop and go' circuit like Bahrain, which should suit the Toyota car quite well.

If the RB5 does not have the new diffuser, I don't think it will be as strong in Monaco. Brawn will obviously be strong, McLaren should do well and possibly BMW, Renault or Williams might do a bit better. Ferrari I don't think will do as well as they did here in Spain.

[djones]

Button will win again in my opinion.

The car is very fast, he is on top of his game and his smooth style will mean no errors.

The RB will be fast but dont rule out the Brawn for top spot.

[ESPImperium]

DDD Teams will do well, Trulli will do well as now that DC has gone he could be called the new resedent Monaco specialist in the paddock.

I can see Toyota, Red Bull, Brawn and Force India going well here.

KERS Will not be ran by anyone, exept Mclaren i feel.

Everyoine but Kubica, Both STRs, Toyotas and Rossberg will run with new engines. Both McLarens will run with their 3nd new engine each, the rest will move onto Engine number 4. Trulli will have effectivly a new engine as he wont have the distance that he could have encurred as he crashed on Lap 1 at Barca.

Thats what my data is suggesting for me.

First Monaco in a good long while we wont see Monaco specific aero packages at. Altho i can see a good few aero upgrades;

* Red Bull/STR continuing with their front end upgrades, both poponing their DDD for one more race.
* BMW Sauber with more aero upgrades and a DDD.
* Ferarri will have their DDD, also a few more little add ons here and there.
* Toyota with their new front wing that was tested at Barca in FP1 & 2, also with their Red Bull eske Shark Fin.
* Force India bringing their upgrade allong.
* Brawn more or less as spec as they i feel will wait till Turkey.
* Williams, as per Brawn.
* Renault with a little tweek here and there.

Thats what im reading between the lines at the moment.

Wether will be a factor. Tyres will be the Super Soft and Softs.

And as its Monaco, there will be massive fuel saving opertunities here, meaning that average consumption of fuel will be greatly reduced, meaning that they guys futher back on the grid will be more inclined to one stop, id say that will be from arround 8th back.

[sticky667]

webber has alot more of experience and i see vettel making a mistake here.

opps. that was monza... brain fart. it was lewis last yr.


but i do believe the RB is much better on faster circuits compared to the others, brawn, williams, toyota, force india, etc.

[megz]

...Weather will be a factor. Tyres will be the Super Soft and Softs....

Aren't tyres ment to skip a step? I.e. Super Softs and Mediums for Monaco?

[axle]

...Weather will be a factor. Tyres will be the Super Soft and Softs....

Aren't tyres ment to skip a step? I.e. Super Softs and Mediums for Monaco?

I believe ESP is correct - Bridgestone made an exception to the rule for Monaco, as the Mediums would have been laughable.

This exception is why I think McLaren should also make a special tub sans KERS.

[Shaddock]

Do the McLarens need extra ballast up front from ripping KERS out? McLarens cars of recent years have been weight biased towards the front tyres to exploit their greater potential, in comparison to say Ferrari rearward design philosophy. The drivers haven't been complaining of balance issues, so maybe extra ballast up front isn’t required. KERS won’t be of much use around Monaco, but it may not be of much of a hindrance either.

[roost89]

I'm expecting the Red Bulls to be up the top, even though they have a longer wheelbase, they've got rather good mechanical grip compared to the rest. If they bring their DDD then it'll be better, if not. Then the rest of the aero-upgrade will be of worth none-the-less.

I can imagine Brawn being up there as well. I can see Williams doing well here as well as Ferrari and Toyota. Strangely, I also see McLaren being up there, however tyres wear will become their biggest issue (as always it seems).

Top 3 teams.

Dry:
Brawn
Red Bull
Want Williams however reality says Ferrari

Rain:
Red Bull (greater mechanical grip)
Brawn
STR (Buemi can put it up there)

Couldn't the drivers get an advantage of KERS through the tunnel? I suspect it'll depend on how much grip they can get.

[Richard]

Couldn't the drivers get an advantage of KERS through the tunnel? I suspect it'll depend on how much grip they can get.

I think they need to have enough grip to stop at the end of the tunnel as well.. Ask Kimi

[roost89]

Couldn't the drivers get an advantage of KERS through the tunnel? I suspect it'll depend on how much grip they can get.

I think they need to have enough grip to stop at the end of the tunnel as well.. Ask Kimi

good point!

[DaveKillens]

Of all the circuits, KERS will be least effective at Monaco. Not that Mclaren will tear theirs out, they will keep it functional as a matter of principle. (we ran KERS all year, thus we are the logical choice to be the sole supplier for spec KERS)
So far, the Brawn and Red Bull have risen above the pack, and are presently the teams to beat. Any one of their drivers is very capable of winning. But since Monaco has minimal passing opportunities, track position is critical. Trulli anyone? He is very capable of qualifying on the pole, and at Monaco, the Trulli train just might be a long line.
Notwithstanding speculation, whoever starts up front has the best chance of winning. Qualifying is everything at Monaco.
Emotionally, I'd love to see Webber win at Monaco. My left brain tells me it will be Trulli.

[PNSD]

For me, other than a championship win, a Monaco win for Button would be special, and for me nothing would beat it this season.

Competition will be tight.

Like mentioned both Trulli and Webber have ran well here in the past and as we all know Qualifying is crucial. Both of which are very good one-lappers. At this moment i'd say it's too difficult to predict. One of the other best things about Monaco is practice thursday, F1 comes a day earlier