Monte Carlo this weekend lads, tight and twisting.. it favoured the McLarens last year, can they repeat it this time?

Can we get a perfect 30 for the third race in a row? 

Entries close at 1200 BST Saturday

Raikonnen
Hamilton
Kovalainen

Yes thats about as risky as it gets, but I think if anyone can do the monaco usual of putting an average car onto the podium, it'll fred in the Renault.

Hamilton
Kovalainen
Raikkonen

todayshorse wrote on May 19^th, 2008 at 11:42am:

the biggest problem with how Hamilton drove last year was the fact that he pushed hard the whole race, hit the walls on numerous occasions and still couldn't match Alonso's pace even when Fred was backing off. This was also the race where tensions started between fred and lewis because despite being told to back off Lewis kept pushing and ignored his teams orders. This is where I lost my interest in him as a driver, the team aswell as everyone else could see he was trying to push too hard and as evidenced by his wall collisions came close to wrecking it several times. They needed to bring both cars home safely and he could have thrown it away for no reason.
This years Mclaren has a longer wheel base and the Ferrari has a shorter wheel base, they are about the same now thus evening the advantage out in that respect. The biggest plus Mclaren has is the heating in the tyres, so they should aim to lock out the front row no matter what. Even if it means they have to pit a few laps earlier. It'll take the ferrari's at least 3 to 4 laps more than the mclarens to get their tyres up to temp, that will give mclaren 4 laps to build up the advantage they need to overcome the lack of fuel. The first stop should be used again to keep track position and keep an eye on the ferrari's. Kimi especially does his work before the second stop to pass the guy he's chasing afterwards. Mclaren should see that and as such have the guy infront of Kimi slow him down enough to allow the guy out front the chance to run off for a fairly easy victory.
That's just a personal point of view as to how I'm sure the macca guys would like it to work out in an ideal world.
I'd expect them to go harder tyres twice then softs to finish with, the ferrari's will probably go soft option twice then finish on the hard tyres.
Personally if I were the strategy guy at ferrari, I'd split the runs, soft hard then soft to keep up with the pace to begin, get the longer middle phase out the way on the harder tyres so they can push hard at the end of the stint, and then use the softs again to finish so as to keep the presure on if they are still behind that way aim to push possibly Lewis into making a mistake.

Interesting point of view Craig!

Whatever the wrongs and rights as to what happened at monaco last year, the way Hamilton took that car through the 'swimming pool' complex was simply breathtaking to watch. I like to see someone get hold of the car by the scruff of the neck and give it a damn good thrashing, rather than tootle around.

Yes he stuffed it in practice or qualifying (i cant remember which) but i dont think hes 'overdriving' like some suggest - its just the way he drives. I cant fault the bloke for 'giving it a go' and id fully expect fred to be quicker last year given the circumstances. That Hamilton ran him pretty close was not too bad an acheivement considering it was his first time there in an F1 car..

He drove similar at the last GP, the way he was going into turn one was quite somthing. Light on fuel or whatever, i dont care, it was great to watch

We were sat on the exit of becketts at the British gp last year, and despite Hamiltons 'go for pole' set up and strategy, it was massively satisfying to see him and him alone  come through that section with the back end dancing all over. You could visibly see it, and it was fantastic.  Certainly not every lap, i caught it maybe two or three times - and yes, he didnt win, and yes, he went the wrong way on set up, but it was still good to watch

I cant wait for practice to begin now they have no T/C - it should be spectacular!

I suppose its like prost v mansell - prost never looked spectacular, mansell always (usualy!) looked committed, spectacular and 'giving it some' and i know which i preferred - despite 'le proffessuers' greater sucess.

Hamilton
Raikonnen
Kovalainen

Hamilton
Kovalainen
Rosberg

My Ferrari Voodoo must start working sometime

Matt

Hamilton
Kimi
Kovi