Like other events, the Monaco Grand Prix remained off the 2020 Formula 1 calendar. We remind you that Covid has prevented the carrying out or repositioning of city tracks, which, unlike permanent circuits, need a lot of time in advance for their organization and above all no uncertainty for the carrying out of the program.
So F1 returns to racing in the Principality of Monaco after two years.
As we all know it is a track where you work at ‘low’ speed but at the same time on millimeters. A circuit where the teams have to make a lot of adjustments to the car. The problem could be finding that edge on Thursday, with very little time available and a lot of traffic.
We must add to this, the missing references that are inherited in the last edition, useful to always update those data that are a basis for the next edition. Although, according to Mercedes, the cancellation of 2020 will not play such an important role, as Monaco is no longer a surprise for the various teams.
The 2020 cars were globally the most heavily laden cars of the hybrid era, consequently also the fastest in the corners, and therefore also in the slow tracks.
The previous races, most recently Barcelona, have shown that for now we have not yet returned to that level , despite the technical forecasts of the teams who have underestimated the effect of the limitations.
Lewis Hamilton with the W10 won in the last edition, resisting the attacks of Max Verstappen then penalized for an unsafe release against Bottas in the pit lane.
The world champions would probably have dominated the 2020 edition perhaps worried only by Max, on the other hand it should be noted that Monte Carlo is a circuit on which in recent years they have always had some more uncertainty, even in seasons archived very early: in 2018 there was Ricciardo’s last victory so far, in 2017 the Ferrari double with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.
Today Montecarlo represents a much awaited and by no means taken for granted event.
Mercedes comes out of Montmelò rather heartened by the progress shown, especially with regard to the correct ability to manage the tires in the race. Red Bull gives the feeling of being able to still have something more in qualifying.
In this case, however, neither wear nor stability at high speeds will be an issue this time. While it will be necessary to evaluate the mechanical behavior on a totally atypical setup.
“On paper I think Red Bull in Monaco should be better than us,” said Shovlin. “In Barcelona we have already driven with our maximum downforce package while Red Bull only used it on Friday but not in the race”.
According to Mercedes, the RB16B has more downforce than the W12. And downforce is the key to victory in Munich’s narrow streets.
Sector 3 in Barcelona should be taken with a grain of salt , but it gave indications about the agility of the cars. Red Bull at the top while Ferrari has consistently shown interesting low speeds on different layouts since the beginning of the season, as the Maranello team should prove to be the third force on this type of track.
But no one in Maranello realistically believes in the podium without ‘other’ problems. They even think Hungary can be a better race. Of course, Monaco has the (zero) overtaking factor on its side, which eliminates the differences in race pace.
No doubt there is some curiosity on the part of rivals about the performance of the SF21. We should also consider the adaptation problems that many drivers, albeit of great experience and ability, are experiencing. To demonstrate that the tests on the track are not entirely replaceable by the simulation.
If you don’t have full feeling with the car yet, Monaco can be a nightmare or you just might not be fast enough.
Speaking of simulation, from the information collected we should expect a Pole time below 1.10.
As usual, Pirelli brings the softer range of compounds to Monte Carlo : C3 / C4 / C5 (which we will also see in Baku) given the very low degree of wear and stress. Minimum pressures returned similar to the values of 2018.
It should be noted that Ferrari will carry out the Pirelli test on the Wet 18-inch 2022 at Paul Ricard on 25/26 May.
Returning to Monaco, this year more than ever it will be a GP with a history of its own. If we want, given the historical period, to return for the first time to a place where a year ago we could not go, moreover emblematic for Formula 1, we should understand it as another small sign for the rebirth for Motorsport.
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