Monaco Grand Prix 2012, Monte Carlo - Race 6/20

[tummelv]

I've no confidence in McLaren not shooting themselves in the foot all season long.

Yup, same here.

If Mclaren hadn't done so many screwups this season Hamilton would almost certainly be leading the drivers championship and Mclaren probably leading constructors. He's been fantastically consistent and has a car consistently capable of front row in qualy, although it does dropoff a little in the races. Still, leading from the front is half the battle and to an extent you can dictate the pace of the race which helps so much.

 

[Skeeter]

Yep, compare it with last years first 5 races

Vettel, in what was widely regarded as the fastest car, qualifyed:

1st, 1st, 1st, 1st, 2nd.

Hamilton this year in what is also considered the fastest car has qualified:

1st, 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 1st,

So hardly any difference. But in 2011 Vettel was storming away to commanding championship lead, while this year Hamilton is in 3rd. The situation is very similar (fast car and great qualifying driver), but McLaren have failed to capitalise on it at all. In fact they have just made a complete hash of it.

 

[sunama]

Its a long season. McLaren have 2 very good drivers. Don't count them out.
Also, don't discount Button. His form right now is not good, so basically, he is getting his bad patch out of the way, early in the season. I'm sure he will come good as the season progresses.

This year is arguably the closest year of any year, that I can remember, in terms of absolute car performance, so the championship can have a dramatic swing, after only a single race.

 

[Skeeter]

I've not counted out the drivers. I've counted out the team.

The best driver in the world can't make up for a team hell bent on screwing everything up.

 

[tummelv]

Yeah, Mclaren's only saving grace is that RBR hasn't ran away with the pts like last year so their screwups haven't wrecked the season yet.

However, as the season progresses and the tyres become less of a lottery they cannot afford to be conceding 20-30 pts every race to RBR.

Having said that, we may very well find Ferrari suprise at Monaco and at least with Alonso, become the team to beat. Really excited for Monaco qualy.

 

[sunama]

I've not counted out the drivers. I've counted out the team.

The best driver in the world can't make up for a team hell bent on screwing everything up.

McLaren aren't hell bent on making a hash. I think they have just been unlucky in some instances.

They will make more mistakes than other teams, but not a massive amount.

Overall, they have the best car (in qualifying at least), so this should give their drivers a fighting chance (even when you factor in the strategical errors).

 

[tummelv]

Yup, if Lewis isn't on pole tomorrow I will be very suprised.

edit:

1. Lewis
2. Grosjean
3. Alonso

imo

 

[englishpremier]

I put alonso to win the Drivers championship and RBR to win the constructors in the link skeeter posted.

Whose everyone else picking?

Alonso for the title if Ferrari can imrpove the car a little more

Evil Lotus to win the constructors.

 

[Irish_Tom]

I've not counted out the drivers. I've counted out the team.

The best driver in the world can't make up for a team hell bent on screwing everything up.

Absolutely — Vettel was a machine last year but so was the team and the car:

• Consistent driver
• Reliable car
• Consistent team

McLaren this year are missing the last one...

 

[Setroc]

A lot of comparisons are being made between the McLaren and last year's RBR, which is pretty accurate for qualifying, but I think the biggest difference is race pace rather than team mistakes. Last year, RBR could have had a cross-threaded wheel nut at every pit stop and probably still won both championships. That was the nature of their dominance.

 

[englishpremier]

We haven't seen great race pace from the McLarens

 

[JeditOjanen]

A suspicious white plastic box has been found in the Monaco paddock and destroyed with a controlled explosion. It's Bruno Senna I feel sorry for - he'd only just got his car put back together.

 

[Skeeter]

A suspicious white plastic box has been found in the Monaco paddock and destroyed with a controlled explosion. Further investigations revealed it to be a HRT. Nobody was hurt, or even mildly concerned.

 

[mctiny]

if only

 

[gord]

We haven't seen great race pace from the McLarens

We haven't seen much from anyone. P1 at Monaco is mainly driver familiarisation and initial setup. P2 was disrupted by rain.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

We haven't seen great race pace from the McLarens

Hamilton had pretty decent race pace in the last race? Race pace seems to be very random with all of the teams though.

 

[englishpremier]

We haven't seen much from anyone. P1 at Monaco is mainly driver familiarisation and initial setup. P2 was disrupted by rain.

lol

During the season so far.

Once fat with fuel they haven't been that fast compared to their competitors.

Hence JA on his website and some of the BBC guys begin to talk about the Merc being thirsty

 

[Flibster]

Oh utter deep joy.

Comments appearing online that Dany Bahar has been suspended as the CEO of Group Lotus.

So the Lotus press release a couple of weeks ago may well have been written by him. Although it was already proven to be partially guff as Syen Zainal had resigned a couple of months ago, but had to work his notice.

Oh, I do hope it's true. Couldn't happen to a more deserving chap.

[edit]

IT IS TRUE!

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/business/group_lotus_boss_dany_bahar_suspended_1_1389607

Oh happy days!

 

[cainer]

im looking forward to monaco this year, qualifying well is vital so it makes for a great weekend on TV
just watching practice 2 on iplayer atm

 

[Outcast]

If you get bored with Monaco there's always...

Damn... Just read the date.. It's already happened