Monaco GP 2011 - Monte Carlo

[andartop]

Starting in Q3, Lewis's race was destroyed by the team strategy. We all know that of all the circuit's, Monaco is the one where even a minor incident may lead to a red flag. McLaren have screwed up his qualifying many times over the last 3 years. If I were him, I would start dictating my own strategy to get an early banker lap in in all conditions.
...
However, rather than fuming at the stewards, if I were him I would be fuming within the team. His race was already destroyed on Saturday by the daft strategy call by his engineers.

According to Lewis, it was a decision he agreed with - see previous posts. I wouldn't blame anyone for that, had it worked out it would have given him a great advantage. It didn't. Than he had one single chance to set a time and he blew it. That's possibly why he was so frustrated in the race, as he realised there was no one else to blame for his starting position in a track where starting position counts a lot..

[archiebald]

Starting in Q3, Lewis's race was destroyed by the team strategy. We all know that of all the circuit's, Monaco is the one where even a minor incident may lead to a red flag. McLaren have screwed up his qualifying many times over the last 3 years. If I were him, I would start dictating my own strategy to get an early banker lap in in all conditions.
...
However, rather than fuming at the stewards, if I were him I would be fuming within the team. His race was already destroyed on Saturday by the daft strategy call by his engineers.

According to Lewis, it was a decision he agreed with - see previous posts. I wouldn't blame anyone for that, had it worked out it would have given him a great advantage. It didn't. Than he had one single chance to set a time and he blew it. That's possibly why he was so frustrated in the race, as he realised there was no one else to blame for his starting position in a track where starting position counts a lot..

He didn't say he agreed with it, he said he didn't contest their decision.

The one thing I do blame Lewis for is that this is not the first time McLaren strategy has been hopelessly wrong and caused him to over-race to make up for it.

I just hope he learns to push his own decisions through instead of trusting to the strategists quite as much.

[Dragonfly]

This is ridiculous, the clash with Maldonado is in no way worth the 20 second penalty. First of all Maldonado switches line twice. Apart from that, Maldonado just turns into Hamilton, Hamilton had no where to go. The ironic part even is that when Hamilton moves lines more then once it is immediately noticed, but further it gets noticed on no one. It is really almost looking like they just pick Hamilton 'because he is black'. Anyway, penalties like these really take out the racing aspect, as a driver here I wouldnt even try to overtake, it is 90% sure you will get a penalty for it, ridiculous.

Thats right; but what baffles me is that hamilton had decided to overtake with 4 wheels off the track if your see the video you will understand.

Yep. I wonder why this is not commented at all.

[marcush.]

it waqs very clear that most pitstops were not really good in this race.For whatever reason it seemed to be quite impossible to have the right set of tyres ready to go on the car for many teams.
Then you have to say the strategists seem to be at a loss in predicting what will happen with their decisions in the context of 24 cars.-Apart from Sauber- they really do the do and again managed to get a car into a serious points finish ,well done that was again a masterpiece even though Webber could jump kamui in the end.Very mature from him to save the 5th place instead of fighting it out with webber ..leading to a dnf for sure.
Sutil was really unbelievably lucky in hitting the barrier ,causing the turmoil behind him that led to the RedFlag and being able to get points from that.Justice done for Kimi robbing him of his good finish back then..but really he seems completely unaware of his actions influencing and compromising other people on the track.BTW why was there no yellow flags in the run to rascasse with Sutil on three wheels??

[beelsebob]

it waqs very clear that most pitstops were not really good in this race.For whatever reason it seemed to be quite impossible to have the right set of tyres ready to go on the car for many teams.

Really? To me it was clear that Button's strategy was by far the fastest – he ate 20 seconds out of Vettel in each of the two soft stints he did – easily enough to get track position if the SC hadn't worked out for Vettel.

[zeph]

This is ridiculous, the clash with Maldonado is in no way worth the 20 second penalty. First of all Maldonado switches line twice.

Thats right; but what baffles me is that hamilton had decided to overtake with 4 wheels off the track if your see the video you will understand.

Yep. I wonder why this is not commented at all.

+1. Hamilton was never gonna make that turn.

[beelsebob]

Yep. I wonder why this is not commented at all.

+1. Hamilton was never gonna make that turn.

Go watch again – he was absolutely on line for the apex right up until the moment maldonado turned into him. He was in the same position as he was against Schumacher, so clearly could make the turn like that.

[marcush.]

it waqs very clear that most pitstops were not really good in this race.For whatever reason it seemed to be quite impossible to have the right set of tyres ready to go on the car for many teams.

Really? To me it was clear that Button's strategy was by far the fastest – he ate 20 seconds out of Vettel in each of the two soft stints he did – easily enough to get track position if the SC hadn't worked out for Vettel.

misunderstanding there.I was talking about the pitstops itself ,not strategy.You are completely right with Button .without the SC Vettel and alonso would stand no chance to stay ahead.He drove brilliant and what a pitty he did not get the full reward.
I did not understand why RB did not pit Vettel for a set od supersofts in the last 15 laps,though.They really were so lucky ...rarely sitting out a decision has paid of so well.

[beelsebob]

it waqs very clear that most pitstops were not really good in this race.For whatever reason it seemed to be quite impossible to have the right set of tyres ready to go on the car for many teams.

Really? To me it was clear that Button's strategy was by far the fastest – he ate 20 seconds out of Vettel in each of the two soft stints he did – easily enough to get track position if the SC hadn't worked out for Vettel.

misunderstanding there.I was talking about the pitstops itself ,not strategy.You are completely right with Button .without the SC Vettel and alonso would stand no chance to stay ahead.He drove brilliant and what a pitty he did not get the full reward.
I did not understand why RB did not pit Vettel for a set od supersofts in the last 15 laps,though.They really were so lucky ...rarely sitting out a decision has paid of so well.

I can understand their decision – they had a choice of pitting for supersofts and getting a guaranteed 3rd, or trying to make the softs last and either (a) stay out ahead and win or (b) have them go off the cliff, have to pit, and still come out 3rd.

As an aside - I'm pretty sure that RBR went into this race thinking "the championship is essentially won, lets go all out for getting Vettel a win he's missing from his list."

[Mandrake]

I did not understand why RB did not pit Vettel for a set od supersofts in the last 15 laps,though.They really were so lucky ...rarely sitting out a decision has paid of so well.

I was thinking the same. I knew that if he pitted again, he'd have to do it together with Button to not lose track position. As Vettel continued driving, the only way to win the race was to drive to the end. The tires would have lasted, so I'm not sure we were robbed of anything. Button ate the gap at 1-5 - 2secs per lap, but when he was near there was no way he could pass Vettel. Neither could Alonso.

Post race Vettel said he was fully aware of that and only had to make sure to be far enough in front at the key positions on the track.

Had he pitted for the super softs, he might have closed the gap, but he wouldn't have been able to pass, unless he pulls a Hamilton on both Alonso and Button

[beelsebob]

I did not understand why RB did not pit Vettel for a set od supersofts in the last 15 laps,though.They really were so lucky ...rarely sitting out a decision has paid of so well.

I was thinking the same. I knew that if he pitted again, he'd have to do it together with Button to not lose track position. As Vettel continued driving, the only way to win the race was to drive to the end. The tires would have lasted, so I'm not sure we were robbed of anything. Button ate the gap at 1-5 - 2secs per lap, but when he was near there was no way he could pass Vettel. Neither could Alonso.

Right, but as we know, these tyres have a "cliff" where lap times suddenly get 5 seconds a lap slower. Vettel was nearing it.

Had he pitted for the super softs, he might have closed the gap, but he wouldn't have been able to pass, unless he pulls a Hamilton on both Alonso and Button

Agreed.

[marcush.]

the scenario was clear :Alonso was already attacking Vettel .So both of them were on their way ruining their tyres . in the next laps.Alonso was not going to not try.
So at some point you just outdrag the front runner .And that would have been the moment for Button.
But Vetteel diving into the pits for supersofts would have given him a massive advantage in the dying moments with some 2or 3 seconds over Button .Nothing absolutely nothing to do against especially when Button is not the guy to kick you out.

to me they messed it up and got lucky out of it.

[vall]

I did not understand why RB did not pit Vettel for a set od supersofts in the last 15 laps,though.They really were so lucky ...rarely sitting out a decision has paid of so well.

I was thinking the same. I knew that if he pitted again, he'd have to do it together with Button to not lose track position. As Vettel continued driving, the only way to win the race was to drive to the end. The tires would have lasted, so I'm not sure we were robbed of anything. Button ate the gap at 1-5 - 2secs per lap, but when he was near there was no way he could pass Vettel. Neither could Alonso.

Post race Vettel said he was fully aware of that and only had to make sure to be far enough in front at the key positions on the track.

Had he pitted for the super softs, he might have closed the gap, but he wouldn't have been able to pass, unless he pulls a Hamilton on both Alonso and Button

you mean to take them out

[andrew]

Imola belongs on the GP calander but F1 is a business more than a sport. Which one will make more money? In an ideal world Imola, however this is not an ideal world.

yes, but it is not going to happen. As for Monaco, I would not replace it, not much overtaking but always exciting races. And it is unforgiving, the slightest mistake is heavily punished. You go a bit wide and oou hit the barrier. You screw up something, get stuck behind a slower car and you are done.

I have changed my opinion to an extent on the Monaco GP. This years race was for me the race of the season. It had it all - action, comedy, drama, pathos and temper tantrums!

And don't forget, if you get stuck behind someone you can always drive into them!

[HampusA]

Having Vettel to pit in the latter part would have been downright stupid.
alonso and button would be able to finish the race infront of vettel no matter how fresh tires he would have had.

He had no choice but to stay out and hope to fend off buton and alonso.