Brawn defends Monaco

[Robem64]

http://www.f1i.com/news/305643-brawn-wrong-judge-monaco-criteria-others.html

[John S]

Yeah I know he's got to tow the party line for Liberty but I think he's got a point.

We all know it's pretty near impossible to overtake round Monaco unless the driver in front makes a mistake or the car/driver behind is so much better they can take lines to compromise the other car. 

Most of the thrills, if you can call it that, come from:- shunts and incidents - cars getting together - engine/car failures - running out of fuel; rather than clean overtakes and wheel to wheel racing.

The big difference I saw between this years race and the much vaunted Senna/Mansell last quarter duel in 92 is the inability of the car following to get close enough to even look like a threat.
Now is this the result of the aero wash or lack of motivation from the driver following, especially since the lead car was apparently so wounded?

Just for the record Mansell failed to jump Senna but it did seem a nail biter until the end though, unlike the last race.
Perhaps Max starting at the back robbed us of fireworks at the front end - just a thought. 

[cosworth151]

Very few races of the last several years have had a battle for the lead. Generally, one or two cars run away into the distance and leave others to battle for the lower positions. As John said, it's more a function of the cars and not the tracks.

[Calman]

Yes, Ross has a point, while speaking "for the team" at the same time!

For all the negativity from the drivers, it's not like it's some great surprise now is it? .... the only difference this year = aero, faster cars and wider cars, otherwise, the lack of opportunities has always been the same!!

I hope something is seriously exercised in the next year or two, or we will be talking about boring races, cars that can't overtake on narrow tracks and can't get close enough to overtake on every other track, while ruining the tyres at the same time ... for the next 10 years.

All the best,
Cal

[Scott]

Hamilton seems to think he has a post driver career as track designer.  Good luck with that. 

Like the article and others have said, changing the layout in Monaco is not very realistic.

[Andy B]

Do we need an F1 parade on the calendar?

[lkjohnson1950]

It's mostly the cars. I watched the Monaco historic races and there was plenty of passing. I know there are vastly different driver skill levels and car potentials in historic events, but plenty of racers were 'having a go' up and down the fields. But, if I were Lewis, and I just finished a race where the leader was down 160 bhp and 2nd was also having problems I'd be a bit embarrassed that I didn't appear to make any serious attempts to pass. I do think that changes made to the circuit over the last 40+ years have made passing more difficult by removing at least 2 good opportunities. Personally I was far more interested in Monaco than Spain. I could not believe Daniel could nurse that car and hold off Seb for 3/4ths of the race, or that Max could come up through the field without crashing.

[cosworth151]

Lewis never complained about boring races when it was him running away from the rest. I wonder why.

[Calman]

Lewis never complained about boring races when it was him running away from the rest. I wonder why.

Indeed, it's amazing how different a driver's outlook can become, depending on where they finish in a race or where they sit on the championship table!!

All the best,
Cal