Monaco GP 2009 - Monte Carlo

[Scotracer]

Hello,

Could you explain me what 'DDD' is?

Double-Deck Diffuser. The thing which Brawn, Williams and Toyota had exclusive use of at the beginning of the year

[WhiteBlue]

The Thursday practise is quite obvious when you remember that they have to shut down the whole city traffic for most of the weekend. To extend this to three days would be a real killer during a business day. So instead they do this Thurstday shutdown which is relatively short making Thurstday effectively a pedestrian holiday. They do regular business on Friday and then go into shut down again on Saturday for the week end.

There is also a big difference between Monaco and all other races. Monaco pays no race fee. The cost for shutting down the city and building the track (actually over a period of six weeks) is so high that they negotiated an exception long time ago. Now with the extremely high FOM fees it appears like a bargain.

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I'm expecting some banzai low fuel attempts on pole...half the field will be scampering on low fuel and the others will be heavy 1 stoppers.

Yes but I think that is more likely to come from the midfield. Expect Alonso, maybe the Toyota's or the Williams to be light. I have no doubt we will have safety cars this year so the big boys will want to hedge their bets on fuel.

They will no doubt try and qualify with a much fuel as they dare to safe guard against all eventualities. The last thing they want is a saftey car and need fuel and loose track position

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Probably worth taking a short pole. Who do you think will be the first driver into the barrier this year?

Betting would have to be centred around Bourdais, Piquet and Nakajima but there could be some ring ins. Lewis is known to test his luck at times and the Ferrari's have not been pretty this year.

My bet is another incident at the swimmimg pool when someone looses the rear! Dejavu Ralf Schumachers last year at Toyota!

[gridwalker]

I'd go for Nakajima : there's something about his driving style that makes me think he prefers using ultra-powerful magnets as ballast

[Giblet]

Bourdais is far more experienced with tight fields in road courses. He has a wonderkdi for a teammate and everyone thinks he sucks.

Even though when Vettel won his first race, and Seb B was left on the start line due to problems beyond his control, he set the fastest lap of the race, beating his teammate who won the race.

Don't expect him to smash out unless it's not his fault, like the last race.

[ernos5]

Mclaren to have diamonds in helmets for Monaco GP...

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/05/ ... ovalainen/

i don't get the point of this, they will probably still be towards the rear of the field. Okay last year Hamilton was a real race winner contender, but why this year?

[djos]

Mclaren to have diamonds in helmets for Monaco GP...

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/05/ ... ovalainen/

i don't get the point of this, they will probably still be towards the rear of the field. Okay last year Hamilton was a real race winner contender, but why this year?

Lol, remember when Jaguar put a huge diamond in the nose of Webber & the other drivers car (cant remember who it was, Mark has destroyed so many team mates) and in a crash one of them was lost. =D>

I bet someone did well out of finding it!

[Motley]

Mclaren to have diamonds in helmets for Monaco GP...

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/05/ ... ovalainen/

i don't get the point of this, they will probably still be towards the rear of the field. Okay last year Hamilton was a real race winner contender, but why this year?

Steinmetz and Mclaren do it at Monaco every year, back in 2006 Kimi had a diamond encrusted steering wheel and the 2006 Mclaren never won a race...

[gridwalker]

Mclaren to have diamonds in helmets for Monaco GP...

http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/05/ ... ovalainen/

i don't get the point of this, they will probably still be towards the rear of the field. Okay last year Hamilton was a real race winner contender, but why this year?

I remember some people on these boards being a bit annoyed by Hamilton displaying his MBE on the side of his car during testing (I don't actually know if it is still there) ... I wonder what the response would be if he had it written on his helmet in diamonds!!

Admittedly, the plan is to have a number 1 inlaid in diamonds to celebrate his championship win, but I'm sure that'll be little consolation for the season that he's having

[ben_watkins]

I'm really surprised to see that McLaren are running KERS at Monaco..

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/75320

Why would anyone in their right mind want to haul an extra 30kg of KERS device around a track which is really traction limited? There is no real oportunity to use it, apart from the tunnel perhaps?

Anyone shed any light on it?

[freedom_honda]

And the uphill section after T1. It is interesting that Ferrari and McLaren think that KERS would be faster around Monaco while BMW and Renault's simulation showed that Non-KERS would be faster.

[scarbs]

It might be the case that Monaco requires a less forward biased weight distribution to create maximum traction. Thus the penalty of KERS is less pronounced.

Symonds said that the track is traction limited, I doubt that is the case. The start\finish straight and tunnel section are flat out and have been for several years, Some teams have been running lesser rear wing levels to maintain lap times, as the aero map is peakier than it used to be.

Plus we have slicks this adding yet more mechanical grip..

Lastly, even if KERs adds nothing in terms of ultimate lap time, then its strategic use in the race to defend (or attack) would always be beneficial.

I think running KERS is not the mad idea that the media appear to be presenting.

[PNSD]

I personally think it can be quite useful exiting the tunnel...

weve seen overtaking can happened, if the other driver is willing, but then give the attacker KERS, and i just think he will have enough to out brake someone into the chicane...

[ESPImperium]

Front wings will come off this race, its for shure. Dont see much coming here development wise. I see BMW Sauber and Red Bull with something, but i think most people are waiting off till Turkey and a purpose built race track.

There will be 3 big incedents in the race, as per Monaco normal, with arround another 6 talking points.

Best idea for strategy could well be a three stopper, but most will go with a 2 stopper as there isnt gonna be the massive gap between tyres there has been so far this year.

Looking forward to it, just a damnd pitty im working, as id like to have seen my fist live Monaco GP for arround a good 6-7 years, as ive just been recording it.