Official 2023 Monaco Grand Prix Thread ***SPOILERS***

[Piginapoke]

Well, let’s try again at Monaco after the understandable cancellation of Imola. Obviously, Saturday qualifying should be incredible to watch, Sunday’s race will likely be a durge.

Max to win I guess, but Perez is good around street circuits and won last year (insert conspiracy theories here). Most interest will be on Mercedes and Ferrari’s upgrades, at probably the worst circuit to evaluate them. Sometimes you can’t get a break. Alonso has a chance of a podium here, but the car is more suited to fast corners I think.

If you unexpectedly have time on your hands this weekend, Senna’s 1990 lap (with a manual gear change) shows what we’re missing today: https://youtu.be/auXfAHHNSFo

Here’s to a great race.

Date(s): Friday 26 May to Sunday 28 May 2023.

UK Broadcast Timings (and track time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1. Qualifying and the race are shown as highlights on Channel 4.





2022 Race Highlights:

https://youtu.be/sp_ntF4GmSE

Live timing for all sessions available here:

https://www.formula1.com/en/f1-live.html

Lap times, PU component use, technical reports and Stewards' decisions for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.fia.com/documents/championships/fia-fo...

Weather forecast: (currently wet and thunderstorms)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2993458

Tyre options:

Pirelli is bringing its softest compounds, so C3, C4 and C5



2022 Race Result:



Drivers’ Championship:



Constructors’ Championship:

Edited by Piginapoke on Sunday 21st May 11:06

[Nova Gyna]

Thanks, PiaP. Although I think you missed a trick not calling it the Moanaco GP thread.

I’ll predict an Alonso win, with a RB and Merc closely behind.

I have a sneaking suspicion that we might actually find out Chuck LeCluck's hometown this year as well.

Exciting stuff!

[Pflanzgarten]

F1 taking over the TV coverage for the first time too, hopefully it’ll be better but expect panning shots to the crowd and totty on boats.

[Sandpit Steve]

This is a track where the RB aero advantage could be less then anywhere else.

Surely Alonso or Hamilton throw a brand new engine at trying to get the pole?

[Piginapoke]

Sandpit Steve said:

This is a track where the RB aero advantage could be less then anywhere else.

Surely Alonso or Hamilton throw a brand new engine at trying to get the pole?

Alas, I think much of RB's advantage is in the suspension set up, not just aero. Hamilton would need to throw in two engines to get a pole this year!

[PhilAsia]

Piginapoke said:

Sandpit Steve said:

This is a track where the RB aero advantage could be less then anywhere else.

Surely Alonso or Hamilton throw a brand new engine at trying to get the pole?

Alas, I think much of RB's advantage is in the suspension set up, not just aero. Hamilton would need to throw in two engines to get a pole this year!

Thanks PiaP!

Merc update will be a tank. Not sure MB have thought it through though as, with the amount of fuel allowed, I'm not sure the percentage points for wins will be enough to overturn Max' and RBR's advantage.

[Pflanzgarten]

Are Mercedes going to even run the update?

[dxg]

I'm disappointed because I can no longer watch from my yacht for free:

https://youtu.be/4vDOwK4Bg78?t=120

(How would this be enforced? Are they really talking about people leave the yacht?)

[Piginapoke]

Pflanzgarten said:

Are Mercedes going to even run the update?

Yep

[TheDeuce]

Piginapoke said:

Pflanzgarten said:

Are Mercedes going to even run the update?

Yep

Yep. Probably almost pointless here but they have it so...

Unless it's truly transformative in which case I suppose it's possible it could give them a big boost in qualifying vs the RB's that will still be amazing here, but perhaps not as amazing as elsewhere.

Wherever the drama comes from this weekend it's 100% all about qualifying!!

Although the weather is looking very ropey so brace for disrupted running and session ending barrier damage. If it does rains the teams all need to bank a lap early here because it's almost certain someone will bend their car before long.

[Another project]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned leclerc being in with a chance, if he can pull off one of his hero quali laps and put it on pole without binning it he could be in with a chance of a win

[wibble cb]

Loved it last year, though it was very wet!

Mick ushering a quick mid race car re design

[mw88]

Another project said:

I'm surprised no one has mentioned leclerc being in with a chance, if he can pull off one of his hero quali laps and put it on pole without binning it he could be in with a chance of a win

Considering his luck at Monaco, it's probably a safe bet to put a tenner on him ending up in the armco at some point in the weekend.

[Stan the Bat]

Im surprised no-one has mentioned where he's from.

[TheDeuce]

mw88 said:

Another project said:

I'm surprised no one has mentioned leclerc being in with a chance, if he can pull off one of his hero quali laps and put it on pole without binning it he could be in with a chance of a win

Considering his luck at Monaco, it's probably a safe bet to put a tenner on him ending up in the armco at some point in the weekend.

Yea.. He's only ever finished a race here once, and even on that weekend he crashed before hand.

He might actually hold the outright record for the most crashes in the principality amongst his fellow natives.

Nonetheless, good luck at the weekend Charles

[sandman77]

Nova Gyna said:

I have a sneaking suspicion that we might actually find out Chuck LeCluck's hometown this year as well.

Stan the Bat said:

Im surprised no-one has mentioned where he's from.

This “joke” is wearing very thin now.

[TheDeuce]

sandman77 said:

Nova Gyna said:

I have a sneaking suspicion that we might actually find out Chuck LeCluck's hometown this year as well.

Stan the Bat said:

Im surprised no-one has mentioned where he's from.

This “joke” is wearing very thin now.

I agree. But as fast as you can complain about forum members making that joke, the commentators will be back on air banging on about his heritage and kickstarting more of the same jokes.

I'm convinced the poor guy hates the media attention he gets for being a local and it's probably become part of the reason he seems to make mistakes at his home GP.

[Niponeoff]

Qualy and pitstops win Monaco.

Let's hope for a bit of rain to mix things up. But not too much obviously.

[carl_w]

dxg said:

I'm disappointed because I can no longer watch from my yacht for free:

https://youtu.be/4vDOwK4Bg78?t=120

(How would this be enforced? Are they really talking about people leave the yacht?)

Surely the simplest answer would to be hike the berthing fee?

What about the people who watch from their own properties/hire them out to others?

[mk1coopers]

Thanks to PiaP for the thread, as others have said, it will all be about qualifying and then the pits stops in the race, a bit of rain may spice it up, we all know with these massive cars not much overtaking is going to happen.