FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2024

The Monaco Grand Prix in modern times always brings about the same debate. Should this race still be in the calendar with modern F1 cars as the race is usually a procession. To counter this argument, this race is backed by those with money and bling, it is the place to be seen. It has history, this is the 81st running of the event. Famously, Alberto Ascari crashed into the harbour in 1955. Less well known, Paul Hawkins also crashed into the harbour in 1965, albeit in a lower class of racing. Senna won 6 times, including when Mansell chased Senna for lap after lap, but couldn't get past. Rain and pitstops add significantly to the race entertainment.

In this year's F1 championship, recent 'news' developments have occurred. After last years non-existent driver shuffling, the beginning of this year kicked off with a bang; Hamilton to Ferrari, and also some discomfort in the Red Bull camp. The fall out is still developing, Sainz still hasn't committed to another team, although many are interested. Others are out of contract, and it looks likely that there will be significant activity going into the 2026 season. Believed to be staying are Albon (Williams) and Alonso (Aston). Pat Symonds has left his position as F1's chief technical officer to join the Andretti Cadillac F1 programme, at a Silverstone base camp, backed by General Motors. Andretti have not been approved to join as an additional team, however it seems likely that they would be allowed to buy a team - if they can find one willing to sell, maybe Renault Alpine? Which brings us to Red Bull. Allegedly, Perez has only been offered a single year extension, which implies his clock is ticking. But also, Mr Aero, Adrian Newey is leaving the team. Retirement is an option, but probably unlikely, he is being courted by many teams, including Mercedes and Ferrari. But since Symonds role in the FIA is now presumably vacant. Maybe Newey is a good fit?

The lap

The track is iconic. From the start line, T1 is Sainte Devote, named after the church, up the hill through Beau Rivage, T2, named after the beach. This is a kink in what is otherwise a straight, the cars go straight, while the barriers get closer on one side and then the other. Top of the hill, into the sweeping left hander, Massenet, T3. Then a flick right through Casino, T4, swerve to miss the bump down to Mirabeau Haute right hander, T5, run out available. Down the hill to the tight 1st gear Grand Hotel Hairpin, T6, formerly Lowes or Station. Through the double left of Mirabeau Bas, T7 and Portier, T8, taking lots of kerbs before entering the unique Tunnel, T9. Exit from the tunnel into the Nouvelle Chicane, T10 and T11, before charging down to Tabac, T12, skimming the barriers through Louis Chiron, T13, into the Piscine (Pool), T14 and trying to carry as much speed as possible though the exit chicane, T15 and T16, prior to the dash to the right handers of La Rascasse, T17 and Anthony Noghes, T18 and kink left T19, hitting the loud pedal to cross the line. All in about 1 minute 12s.

Practice Sessions

Out on track was chaotic, these cars are big on a narrow track. Fast cars coming across slow cars was scary. For the most part the slow cars, usually setting up for a quick lap, did an excellent job of keeping out of the way, sometimes parking up while being overtaken. The trackside Armco was covered in an advertising vinyl, which turned into a tatty mess as the F1 cars leant on the barriers, particularly at Tabac before the swimming pool complex.

It became evident that a lot of tyre management was happening, trying to preserve tyres for qualifying and the race. The Red Bull were running low and still, but had trouble on the bumpy track, Verstappen complaining that "it was jumping around like a kangaroo" and Perez with some much vibration "I can't see the apex" at turn 3, Massenet. The McLarens, Ferraris and Mercedes were a little softer and were rewarded with proper pace.

To get a good time required luck, a clear track was rare, and maximising the track width, using kerbs with zero margin to the barriers. It took bravery to play the risk and reward game well.

Cars were clipping the walls, often without damage, but occasionally, too much liberty was taken.

Red flags for Zhou in FP1, understeering into the barrier at St Devote, and Bottas in FP3 when he broke his front suspension at the exit of the pool.

Top 3 in the practice sessions were Hamilton, Piastri and Russell for FP1, Leclerc, Hamilton and Alonso for FP2, with Leclerc, Verstappen and Hamilton in FP3.

One thing which was very evident, slow cars in the tunnel were very dangerous. In the F2 qualifying, a massive crash in the tunnel was narrowly avoided when a slow car hugged the inside line. The fast car was unable to see the slower car until the last moment. Reactions and a flick of the wheel saved the day. But something must be done to stop slow cars from hugging the inside line in the tunnel.

Race Day

Race day? I believe so, even though its technically a qualifying session. It is widely acknowledged that qualifying at Monaco is the most critical of the season. Typically, there is little opportunity to progress in the race.

Q3 was chaotic. So many cars on track, and difficult to get a time. Top 3, Russell, Piastri and Hamilton. Surprise losers were Perez and Alonso. The Ferraris held back a set of tyres.

Q2 was topped by Norris, Verstappen and Piastri. The Senna tribute-coloured McLarens were looking like the real deal.

Q3 for the race win? After the first batch of laps, times had fallen into the 1:10s, with Hamilton, Leclerc and Piastri showing. Everyone went back to the pits for fresh boots. With 5 minutes to go, Albon, Sainz, Verstappen and Hamilton went out early hoping for clean runs. Verstappen clipped the wall at Sainte Devote, backing out of his quick lap attempt. When the flag came down, and the laps were complete, Leclerc's 1:10.270 gave him pole position, from Piastri, Sainz, Norris, Russell, Verstappen and Hamilton. So is that our race result?

Race Day 2

A parade, or an opportunity to progress?

Lights out and everyone got through Sainte Devote, but not entirely without incident. Sainz picked up a puncture by leaning on Piastri. The front runners blasted up the hill through Beau Rivage. Sainz stopped at Casino. At the back, Perez was slow out of Sainte Devote, he had to lift to avoid running into the back of another car. Magnussen had dived up the inside of Hass teammate Hulkenberg and was keen to see the move stick. Up the hill, Magnussen has a front wheel overlap on Perez's rear. The barrier at Beau Rivage started to squeeze from the left, Magnussen didn't back out, and Perez didn't give him any room. Perez rear is clipped and he is sent spinning down the track knocking 3 wheels off the car. Not much left of the Red Bull. Hulkenberg has a ringside seat, but despite burying the throttle to squeeze past, got clipped by Perez's spinning tub. The cars slide for 300m before coming to a standstill. Everyone started to climb out.

Meanwhile, the leaders where through the tunnel. In the midfield, Ocon dived up the inside of teammate Gasly at Portier. However, front, and rear wheels came into contact, Ocon was sent up into the air. It's fair to say, Gasly wasn't too happy about it.

Lap 1, red flag. Sainz managed to struggle back to the pits.

For the restart, Sainz discovered he was in luck. The restart was in starting grid order, less those who had dropped out. For me, I had truly become an FF1 neutral with 3 of my 6 slots out of the race on lap 1. Everyone apart from Sargeant switched tyre compound, to comply with the 2 tyre type rule. The question became, "could you get to the end of the race on one set of tyres?" Those that had started on mediums, now on hards, were quite happy. Hamilton had gone the other way and wasn't happy.

What followed was a procession and demonstration of tyre management. Laptimes were 10s off qualifying pace. Leclerc, led from the front, on hards, as were Piastri, Sainz and Norris. The next batch on mediums, led by Russell, then Verstappen and Hamilton. It became tyre tactic and gap management. At one point, it looked like Norris in P4 was very close to a free pitstop over Russell. At the tail of the race, Hamilton given the opportunity for a free pitstop which he duly took. This released Verstappen to do the same. Unfortunately for Russell, traffic slowed him and he couldn't stop without being undercut by Verstappen. Russell had been loving his mediums all race and managed to retain running order to the end.

3rd time lucky

Leclerc finally won in Monaco, his home Grand Prix. At last, he had converted his 3rd Monaco pole position into a win. Ferrari celebrations ended up with Charles and Fred swimming in the harbour.

Piastri claimed 2nd. He has been shining in recent performances and the McLarens are truly bringing the fight to the top of the field.

Sainz in 3rd, so lucky after his first lap puncture. The red flag and restart saved his day.

As it turned out, the race result matched the first 10 in qualifying. So race day really is on a Saturday in Monaco. But the good news, Red Bull's domination era does genuinely appear to be coming to an end. Other teams, most notably Ferrari and McLaren are putting them under pressure. Even The Mercedes is starting to show proper progress. Whether this continues to the faster tracks ahead, we will soon see.

Next race, Canada in 2 weeks.