Monaco GP: Pre-Race Feature - Rosberg takes his 4th pole

After a two week layoff, we are in Monaco for the second race of the European leg of the 2013 Formula 1 season. The Monaco Grand Prix, held on a narrow course laid out in the streets of Monaco, with many elevation changes and tight corners as well as a tunnel, is one of the most demanding tracks in F1. Monaco is also the most famous and glamorous events of F1. The historic circuit winds up through Casino Square and blasts down through the echoing tunnel, out along the harbor side and the ranks of swaying super-yachts. It’s the one every driver wants to win and it’s one even the rich and famous are afraid to miss.

The circuit in detail

Only race to hold Thursday practice sessions, the Mercedes drivers were sitting on top after the second practice session. Hamilton was touted to shine with his Mercedes while Webber was also a favorite, given his hunger for winning in Monaco. As the rain graced Saturday morning, drivers struggled to stick to the track as P3 was full of crashes. Massa had a big shunt approaching Ste Devote, with the team saying it was just driver error, and Adrian Sutil spun his Force India into the barriers at Massenet. Grosjean, meanwhile, managed to damage his car twice in a session. First, he hit the inside barrier on the turn-in to the chicane, puncturing a rear tyre and then, at the end of the session, crashing at the Sainte Devote corner. He had a similar accident in the second practice session. The entire Saturday morning had been wet and it still looked gloomy with minutes to go for Q1. As the Ferrari and Lotus engineers struggled to get the cars back in shape, drivers lined up for Q1 of Monaco GP.

Massa losing control and inflicting heavy damage on his car

Caterham was first to head out, followed by the Toro Rosso and the rest. Bianchi was the first casualty of the evening; he exited the pits with smoke coming out of his car and eventually stopped half way down the track. Yellow flags were out and his car was lifted up and out of the track. Many drivers were struggling with the wet conditions as they made their trips to the escape roads, somehow managing to keep off the close running barriers. Webber and Hamilton dominated the initial runs. As the times kept tumbling out from 1:30s to 1:23s, Maldonado topped the charts with consistency.Qualifying Session 1:

Lotus managed to put Grosjean on the track with just 4 minutes remaining for Q1 to end. Grosjean topped the time on his first flying lap and was all set for Q2. Massa couldn’t get his car out on the track. A gearbox change means he will be at the mercy of st­­­­­ewards and has to try hard to start the race tomorrow. Di Resta messed up with his tyre strategy and was eliminated along with Charles Pic, Esteban Gutierrez, Max Chilton, Jules Bianchi and Felipe Massa. The Caterham of Van der Garde was into Q2 for the first time this season.

Qualifying Session 2:

With the rains not giving any respite to the drivers, Q2 was underway with damp track and slight drizzle. It was Hulkenburg’s time to shine as he brazed around the track with fastest sector times. Known for making the best of wet conditions, he looked all set to enter Q3. Teams tried different strategies, with some putting up slicks while others choosing the intermediates. Eventually, all the drivers put on a fresh set of supersofts as they headed out on the track that was fast drying out. Alonso was seen pushing hard, managing a meager sixth.

It appeared like the rain will make its presence felt again but it eased off and was only spitting. The track was slippery but warm enough for it to dry out if there was no more rain. The impressive Sauber of Hulkenberg failed to make the cut as Nico locked up heavily and messed up his flying lap. Kimi finished second while Sutil scrapped through in tenth. Riccardo, Grosjean, Bottas, Van der Garde also failed to make it to Q3. Maldonado, who finished first in Q1 was last in Q2.

Qualifying Session 3:

The track was drying up fast and Raikkonen was the first to set up a time. His time of 1:20s was crushed by Hamilton who went into 1:14s, followed closely by others. After initial timed laps drivers dived back to the pits for a new set of tyres. Vettel was the last to leave the pits and managed to sneak out just in time to put in 2 flying laps. McLaren was still struggling and their only efforts were to make it as high as possible in the top 10, never having a shot at the pole. The excitement was at its peak in the last 5 minutes with all 10 cars out on the track. Alonso was struggling with his front tyres as he finished his first lap and looked furious and frustrated.

Meanwhile, the two Mercedes’ were fighting for the top spot and Rosberg was the ultimate winner, out qualifying Hamilton by little less than a tenth of a second. The Red Bulls had one last shot at challenging the Mercedes One-Two. But both Vettel and Webber made mistakes and pulled out on their laps. Kimi too gave up on his lap and finished fifth. Vettel, Webber, Kimi and Alonso complete the first three rows for tomorrow race followed by Perez, Sutil, Button and Verge.

Final words:

Considering that the qualifying itself is considered more exciting than the race, it has a strong influence on the race here at Monaco. Mercedes have been advantageous in the cooler conditions and would hope for the same at the race. As far as the tyres are concerned, teams will try and make it a tidy one stop race. It would be interesting to see who will come out on top in the first corner as Hamilton is surely going to have a run at the top spot. We don’t have to wait much longer as the race begins in less than 24 hours!