2012 Monaco GP - Monte Carlo

[foxmulder_ms]

I am hoping the following finish order

1)Raikkonen
2)Hamilton
3)Button
4)Webber

[Nando]

Hamilton with a Grand Slam. Pole, Fastest lap, Win.

[Shrieker]

I've been driving round monaco on rfactor for over a week now intermittently with a euro f3 car. Half an hour ago I just went back to the codemasters f1 2010 mod and... It was shocking to say the least. It felt super fast right away and in my first lap I thought " wow, that's gonna be close to the lap record". Turns out I was 4 seconds off the pace lol. I eventually got back into the groove (took some time) and bested my fastest lap from last year by a full second, but I still can't believe how fast the thing felt on the first 2-3 laps. If the real thing has any resemblance with the sim. then I salute and bow down in front of all F1 drivers. It must take massive amounts of balls and skill driving these cars in such a confined space at racing speeds. It has given me a whole different perspective and now can't wait for the weekend to begin !

[sknguy]

...It must take massive amounts of balls and skill driving these cars in such a confined space at racing speeds...

And to make it a little more excitment, sprinkle in a bit of slow traffic along with a bit of clag... err... a lot of clag actually, and then try finding your rhythm. I'd probably look like this for the next couple days.

[SeijaKessen]

Hamilton with a Grand Slam. Pole, Fastest lap, Win.

If by Grand Slam, you mean shunt, I'd agree.

[raymondu999]

Hamilton with a Grand Slam. Pole, Fastest lap, Win.

If by Grand Slam, you mean shunt, I'd agree.

A Grand Slam in F1 means a perfect weekend. The driver starts on pole, never drops below p1 (even in pitstops),wins and takes the fastest lap. I think *could be wrong* I think that amongst today's grid the ones to have one are Schumacher, Vettel and Alonso. I think the others have almost Grand Slams, but not quite. (ie some have taken 2 or 3 of the requirements, but never all 4)

[SeijaKessen]

Hamilton with a Grand Slam. Pole, Fastest lap, Win.

If by Grand Slam, you mean shunt, I'd agree.

A Grand Slam in F1 means a perfect weekend. The driver starts on pole, never drops below p1 (even in pitstops),wins and takes the fastest lap. I think *could be wrong* I think that amongst today's grid the ones to have one are Schumacher, Vettel and Alonso. I think the others have almost Grand Slams, but not quite. (ie some have taken 2 or 3 of the requirements, but never all 4)

I was joking around.

He had quite a grand, slam.

[mx_tifoso]

This thread is full of "win" already.
Thanks for the definition of a grand slam Ray, here I was thinking it was actually a shunt!

Anyways, I can't wait until FP1 at 1am. Great time to be up and watching loud race cars.

[Websta]

I'm not sure why leading every lap is a requirement for the grand slam in F1 given that it is really down to luck in the pit stops. I suppose it goes back to the very old days when passing was more common amongst the top drivers and to not be overtaken on track was more impressive.

[raymondu999]

It's still impressive in a way - it means that despite staying out longer in the pitstop phases, you still weathered off the undercut. And if you pit earlier than the other guy - damn you're good (you made up a pitstop gap in the first stint alone)

It was still somewhat true in the refueling years too. I personally think F1 would have a lot more GCs (Grand Chelems/Grand Slams) won by the field - were it not for preserving engine, tyres, etc. Vettel to my memory had two near shaves - Silverstone/Suzuka 2009 and Singapore 2011. I think Lewis was close in Hungary 2007 and Silverstone 2008. Button came close in Monaco/Turkey 2009, and probably in Suzuka 2011 too. Webber came close in 2009 Nuburgring. Alonso came close in Monza 2010. I think Kimi came close in Melbourne 2007 too.

There's a lot of "almost GC" races.

I think mostly it's just about excellence. There's already a name for getting pole + fastest lap + win - so they needed a higher level for those that DID lead every lap.

What's interesting, though, is that they count the positions off as "leading every lap." You might lead the race, but not the lap, see. If someone was 24s ahead of you in P1 and pitted, he'd probably come across the lap first, and come out JUST behind you. You'd be in P1 on track, you'd be leading the race, but not the lap - yet. If you then pitted on the next lap, he'd break for the start/finish at racing speed and would probably be quicker than you hitting it in the pit limiter, and you wouldn't have lead the lap. Ditto if he overtakes you on his outlap.

[Websta]

I meant the situations where the leader pits and emerges effectively still in the lead as he has like a 5 second gap to some midfielder doing a long opening stint - getting undercut by a driver on a similar strategy would mean that the leader did not dominate the race at all. I remember seeing race leaders pitting with a comfortable 4+ second gap to 2nd/3rd and then regaining the lead a few laps later by comfortably avoiding the undercut. In those situations, the eventual race winner still utterly dominated the race but didn't get the grand chelem. Alonso's slam in Singapore comes to mind when Vettel pitted on the same lap as Alonso - you would usually see the following driver do at least one clean lap before pitting and failing to undercut the leader. In that case, Alonso was just fortunate that Vettel pitted with him, but I suppose the only way a driver can be recognised by not being passed is to lead every lap, even though in a lot of races they are the effective leaders at all times.

Considering your points, to maintain the lead in the refuelling era would come down to a bit more than luck, and the same applies to the rice-paper tyre era we are in now. In that respect, Vettel's GC at the Indian GP is more impressive than a hat-trick.

To bring this back on-topic, Mark Webber lead every lap of the 2010 Monacan GP and dominated the race. Unsurprisingly, after reeling off fastest laps during the race, Webber backed off a bit at the end of the race and Vettel pipped him for fastest lap. I'd like to see that spec Mark Webber this weekend, he was driving like a world champion at that stage in 2010.

[raymondu999]

He dominated Spain 2010 too - and the same thing happened. Had it not been for Vettel taking Silverstone 2010 pole, or Vettel taking Monaco 2010 fastest lap, or Hamilton taking Spain 2010 fastest lap, Mark would've been sitting on 3 GCs that year. Quite impressive really. Even with the car advantage.

[Teechnical]

Lol I remember reading about a Grand Slam on Wikipedia, it was called a 'Grand Chelem'

Would you predict first corner incidents on Sunday?

[elFranZ]

I'm reading there's a strong chance of rain for Friday and Saturday (65% and 56% respectively), while Sunday should be sunny, with 23°C expected.

EDIT: source http://www.ilmeteo.it/meteo-europa/Monte+Carlo

[Teechnical]

I'm reading there's a strong chance of rain for Friday and Saturday (65% and 56% respectively), while Sunday should be sunny, with 23°C expected.

EDIT: source http://www.ilmeteo.it/meteo-europa/Monte+Carlo

No Formula One on Friday's in Monaco, mate.