2014 Monaco Grand Prix

[Edax]

Rosberg's starts this year have not actually been bad, he's just been starting on the dusty side of the track (due to Hamilton always taking pole).

Yes, this persistent dusty patch around his starting position
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1wJ0efWQQc

[siskue2005]

It could all go wrong for Nico if he gets traffic while he is undercutting
Anything can happen at Monaco, it is going to be fun

[siskue2005]

The run upto the first corner is really small ...frankly any half decent start from Nico can cover the line into first corner

[PhilS13]

I know, I just find it amusing no one tried fresh ones on their first attempt.

Pretty sure everyone did their first Q3 attempt on brand new set except Alonso. I remember thinking why do they not keep the new sets for the ultimate attempt then I remembered everyone has an extra bonus set for Q3. Both attempts were on brand new except for Alonso who didn't have two new sets available.

No, they were all on scrubbed tires from q2.

I rechecked and official F1 app says new tires for top 6 first attempts excluding Kimi(not Alonso) who had only his bonus set left. Unless you have better source I'll stick with new tires for all.

[johnsonwax]

I don't think it was intentional by Nico. That said, it was stupid of Lewis go to out last. It's too likely that one of the cars in front of him will cause a yellow. He should have gone out early since he knew he needed that hot lap. Anyway, that's Monaco for you.

I want nothing more than a Lewis win here, but he better get his --- together or it's going to be 2011 all over again, and two DNFs will not go over well with the bosses at Mercedes.

[Phillyred]

Good thing Hamilton helped work on Rosberg's starts at the last testing session!! I wonder how hard the team will let them race each other in the opening 5-10 laps? I'm afraid Hamilton may eat up his rears by being extremely aggressive in trying to over-take leading to a compromised pit-stop strategy. If Lewis manages to win this race away from Nico without any major incidents (safety car, DNF etc) I think it will bring a rest to the HAM vs ROS debate... At least for one Sunday..

[johnsonwax]

It'll be interesting to see how Lewis handles being behind if that's what happens in turn 1. We've not seen that yet. My guess (if he can keep cool) is to sit behind Nico, save his tires/fuel, and jump him at the first pit. The risk is that if the pit is on a yellow (very likely), he's going to have to give Nico a gap so he isn't held up and then he's forced to pass on track. Team orders will probably tell them to keep position until after the first pit (which Lewis may or may not listen to).

OTOH, Lewis is the kind of driver that will gamble that Nico will be more concerned about causing a DNF than he is, force the issue somewhere and hope that Nico backs out before he does. I don't think that's going to work, though...

[Anon123]

I don't think it was intentional by Nico. That said, it was stupid of Lewis go to out last. It's too likely that one of the cars in front of him will cause a yellow. He should have gone out early since he knew he needed that hot lap. Anyway, that's Monaco for you.

I want nothing more than a Lewis win here, but he better get his --- together or it's going to be 2011 all over again, and two DNFs will not go over well with the bosses at Mercedes.

2011 all over again... based on what? he's had 1 DNF so far which had nothing to do with him.

[kooleracer]

Look wear he locks-up....farcical

[johnsonwax]

2011 all over again... based on what? he's had 1 DNF so far which had nothing to do with him.

2011 Monaco. He was pissed off. He admitted as much because of the qualifying penalty for cutting the chicane. In the race he snowplowed Massa. Got a drive-through. He punted Pastor. Got a 20s penalty. He was his own worst enemy that race.

I imagine he's similarly pissed of at his teammate for causing the yellow, which was totally unnecessary - there was no rush for Nico to get the car back. He's in a different place this year than in 2011, but if he carries this anger into the race tomorrow, we know what that looks like.

[Anon123]

http://giant.gfycat.com/SnappyEquatorialBabirusa.gif
Look wear he locks-up....farcical

It baffles me how he got away with it, it looks like he's swerving to induce a lock up which doesn't work and at the last moment he gets one.

2011 all over again... based on what? he's had 1 DNF so far which had nothing to do with him.

I imagine he's similarly pissed of at his teammate for causing the yellow, which was totally unnecessary - there was no rush for Nico to get the car back. He's in a different place this year than in 2011, but if he carries this anger into the race tomorrow, we know what that looks like.

I think it will depend on how Nico races, if Nico's rough he probably won't take it well.

[NathanOlder]

Ok, so tomorrow, they will be on the best stratagies possible. Lets say they are scheduled to pit on lap 18 and 19. Obviously Nico will pick lap 18 to cover Lewis off.
So what happens if on 17 Lewis Radio's in, "Im getting some vibrations, i think i have a tyre problem, I need to pit this lap" and then comes in. Gets the undercut and passes Nico.

What would happen ? Any ideas ?

[FoxHound]

Looks legit to me. At point of entry he was carrying too much speed and had 2 choices, career into the barriers or take the slip road.

At this level you can take the risk knowing whether you risk crashing or not. It was high stakes and he fluffed it on a corner he had an insurance policy.

If he was being untoward, hand him an Oscar for superb acting behind the wheel.
Bottom line, they race tomorrow and it will be even more spicy!

[AnthonyG]

http://giant.gfycat.com/SnappyEquatorialBabirusa.gif
Look wear he locks-up....farcical

It looks as if he made a small error (turn in slightly too soon) corrected it and started braking, braking isn't as he expected, he's straightening wheels to continu braking, doesn't work wel enough and he decides to go straight.

[johnsonwax]

Man, tomorrow is a recipe for disaster. Lewis (pissed off) next to Nico. Seb next to Daniel. Kimi next to Fernando. 20% chance of rain during the race. Team orders will be out the window. Turn 1 will be a zoo. They'll be scrambling in the event that rain comes, and if it does come, that'll be a whole new disaster.

It's going to be awesome, and there will be many heated meetings afterward (as I'm sure is happening in Mercedes right now - I'm sure the team is not happy with Nico holding up Lewis in that manner. Beat him on track.)