What about Japan 2010? Button strategy was designed to hold up the Red Bull's so Lewis could catch up - but when got a gearbox issue, the strategy failed and Button was finally able to pit. Ron Dennis used team orders to help Hakkinen and Hamilton.
Back on topic, I can imagine some drivers who have a bad qualifying will try to mimic Vettel's strategy from last year. Ferrari are more competitive but still have traction issues so I don't think they'll be able to win the race or even finish on the podium. Sauber were really strong in Spain - Perez qualifying 6th and Kobayashi finishing 5th. I think they had more to show - Perez's pace after his puncture was on par with Alonso and Maldonado. Perez got into Q3 last year and won the 2010 GP2 race, beating "Monaco specialst" Maldonado, who finished second. So I think he has an small outside chance of victory. Most likely though, will be Hamilton taking an easy pole and win.
So right, haha I have gone for Grosjean. High downforce, low speed corners and high traction. To make it 6 out of 6, I voted Romain He has the raw speed.
Didnât they forget to unbung Buttonâs car in 2010 leading to a DNF after 3 laps? So 2011 wouldâve be the first time they both finished the race since being team mates. From what I recall, another management balls up by the team lead to Hamilton not posting a time in Q3 which lead to him starting 9th/10th? Earlier on in qualifying he was on track to get a front row slot at the least, he finished 6th? *there were a few âriskyâ moves made in his progress up the field but move up he did. Button starting from 2nd finished 3rd, I think the time difference was around 40secs, not bad considering Button wouldnât have been held up too much because at the very least heâd be going around at the leaders pace, where Hamilton would not doubt have been held up by cars going much slower.
When mathematics show only one realistic potential Champion, of course they will consider team orders. My apologies for including this caveat in my previous post. As above – with the addition that in Hamilton's first year, Alonso was also getting team orders to help in equal measure! The problem was that he didn't want 'equal measure', and kicked up a major fuss for feeling he was not getting the pfreferential treatment he'd expected.
There was a red flag 12 laps from the end, and a saftey car. What do you expect the gap to be?, it was actually 20-25 seconds but Hamilton took two cars out of the race with his "risky" moves and got a time penalty. Jenson meanwhile lost the race on pit strategy after having a huge lead destroyed by the saftey car and his tyre advantage by the aforementioned red flag.
Would ahve won it aswell if the last saftye car hadn't have come out and who knows what would have happened if it hadn't have been red flagged? Anyway ifs & buts. I've gone for Kimi, traction and tyre management with a great drive required! 6 from 6 would be good aswell!
no one can say whether he would've won it or not, as I recall Pirelli said his tyres were fine, which means he probably wouldn't have had to pit, and I couldn't see either Alonso or Button getting passed him unless he did. The safety car may have helped Vettel out, but it is by far from a certainty that anyone other than Vettel would win, he was clearly looking after his tyres well, while the 2 chasing cars would've been burning theirs up.
You are right AG i forgot Button pitted the lap before. I will say though that seeing new tyres on Vettel and Alonso's cars was one of the most dissapointing moments of the season. I read Vettel would be been on the edge of the cliff in the dying laps. Denied what would have been a fantastic end to the race. What ifs from a year ago in the end though and i was only trying to defend what was an unlucky yet very good drive from Jenson. On to this year and its hard to tell. Hamilton deserves something and has been driving very well, while Buttons had a tough run and will be looking to bounce back, Williams & Lotus were very stong in sector 3 in Spain. New found pace from Ferrari. Red bull are a mystery to me. If i had to call it, Lewis vs Kimi for the win and a sixth winner.
No surprise but I've gone for Pastor because he's got the momentum, he's naturally good in Monaco and Williams played a flawless strategy last time out so why not this. I just hope they can get it all together after the fire, I reckon Bruno could do well too. I'd like to see Lewis win too, it's overdue.
There is a predicted weather update linked in the OP. Looks sunny so far, Sunday will be updated tomorrow
Kobayashi reckons Sauber can get a podium. I'm not so sure, I think that Sauber is good on the prime tyres but not so good on the softer ones... which of course is what we see this weekend.
The back of Alonso's Monaco helmet: please log in to view this image http://twitter.com/#!/alo_oficial/status/203200388453769216/photo/1
