Well, we learned (as if we didn’t know before) that the round the houses event at Monaco is quite frankly, quite silly. Today’s F1 cars that can top 330 kph and a circuit with walls all the way round does not make any sense. With all the incredible regulations regarding run-off areas if nothing else, Monaco would not get an F1 license.
The race began in the rain with all the cars on full wets for the initial laps (seven of them) behind the safety car. After the green light, Ricciardo streaked away leaving the Mercedes duo of Rosberg and Hamilton in his wake.
Rosberg was holding Hamilton up and when he did get through he chased after Ricciardo, but despite some clever tyre choices by Mercedes, Red Bull and Ricciardo had him covered – until the fateful final tyre change.
“Running around like headless chooks!” Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) will never forget his Aussie roots when describing the chaos when he came into the pits for new rubber and the team had the wrong tyres ready and had to scurry back into the garage. In one fell swoop losing the race for their driver. Ricciardo lamented angrily afterwards, “Two races in a row, two races in a row (referring to his lost win in Spain with wrong strategy from the pit wall). “That’s all I can say. We were quick in the wet, we had a comfortable lead.” Ricciardo’s day will come, but that was one day that slipped away.
With most of the interest being the see-saw battle between Ricciardo and Hamilton, the rest of the field did not get the TV coverage they deserved, but stand-outs were Perez in the Force India to gain the last podium and Alonso who dragged his unwilling McLaren into fifth, which was four places better than Button, his team mate.
Ferrari did not have the race they wanted with Raikkonen driving over his own front wing after understeering into the fence and retiring, and Vettel still running but unable to catch Perez.
Hulkenberg (Force India) expressed the hope before the race, that he might actually get to see a checkered flag. That he did, but it was noticed that he was three places behind team mate Perez. Hulkenberg was the coming man a few years ago. It would now appear that rather than coming, he is going.
Rosberg in the second Mercedes showed he does not have webbed feet and turned in a lack-luster performance. Another race like that and the three pointed star will be pointing Nico towards the great outdoors, and a driver running from headless chooks could take his seat.
A meritorious drive for Carlos Sainz in the Toro Rosso. As opposed to his team mate, he did not decide to move the fences all by himself and was rewarded with an eighth position.
Race results:
Hamilton Mercedes
Ricciardo Red Bull
Perez Force India
Vettel Ferrari
Alonso McLaren
Hulkenberg Force India
Rosberg Mercedes
Sainz Toro Rosso
Button McLaren
Massa Williams
There are old drivers and there are bold drivers – but there are no old bold drivers! This adage was again proven to be correct as the new young bold drivers took it in turn to attack the unforgiving fences at Monaco.
The ‘dishonor’ list:
Jolyon Palmer
Max Verstappen
Daniil Kvyat
Felipe Nasr
Marcus Ericsson
Kevin Magnussen
Remember the adage, “Age, experience and animal cunning beats youth and enthusiasm any day!”
Finally, motor racing has been able to stand on its own feet for many years. It does not need the Justin Biebers of this world and other so-called celebrities. I would much rather have Martin Brundle interviewing some engineers and designers than the rather desperate interviews he has been doing lately. In fact, Martin Brundle is better in the commentary box. Forget the grid walk.
The next meeting is in Canada with the telecast starting 1 a.m. Thai time.
