Just a quick question i should know but i don't. Why is the practice always on a Thursday? I'm just guessing here but it might have something to do with the roads. If anyone could tell me i would appreciate it. Many thanks
I think partly because they have a ball the drivers have to go to, and partly so the roads can be opened on the Friday? The bit about the roads has always confused me. Apparently it takes about 6 weeks to set up the circuit, 8 weeks in the case of Albert Park. However, the Australians always complain that it causes a major disruption and traffic issues, yet Monaco don't seem to have this? Anyone able to offer a decent explanation for this?
I thought it was something religious, isn't Monte Carlo mainly Catholic or something? and that is their day of rest. I didn't really understand why they couldn't practice because traditionally Sunday is a day of rest in Britain but we still go racing. The thing I want to know is why they only have a week before it, it's the worst one to only have a week between because the teams have to be there a day earlier.
I don't think Friday's their day of rest. I don't think it's a day of rest in any religion! I think Monaco, like France, is officially atheist, even though the majority of the people are Catholic.
Ah right. I suppose it doesn't disturb anyone tearing round an abandoned airfield, but all hell would break loose if they went screaming through Westminster on a Sunday.
That would be class, to host a race going through various monuments! Screeching around the tomb of the unknown soldier...
It's some poor excuse but you know what this county's like....They just cant be botherd to buy triple glazing like a normal person would.
Monaco practice is Thursday to allow streets to be open on the Friday but I did not know this was due to a bank holiday: the only people I've ever seen working in Monaco have been the croupiers!
Abs is nearer the mark than I thought, according to Wikipedia: "... the event was traditionally held on the week of Ascension Day," which is forty days after Easter. There's also no mention of a bank holiday there, so that's another myth busted. Just seems to be a rest day for the GP weekend. I don't think it's an issue for the teams to get equipment from another European race to Monte Carlo by the Tuesday after the preceding race. From Twitter photos it looks like most of the pit lane is already set up and waiting for the cars.
they have a rest day to allow more time for betting on the race outcome - since the first 2 sessions of testing are complete !!!
Traditionally, the Moncaco GP has always been held on the weekend of Ascension Day (the Thursday that falls forty days after Easter day, or a week before Pentecost). The dates of adjacent Grands Prix are therefore always shuffled to fit around the Monaco event. But the thursday practice is, I believe, for the more pragmatic reason of allowing the roads to re-open on the Friday, so that the shops and businesses are not closed for three consecutive days. Edit: Oops! Missed genjirrumatio's post a couple back. Sorry Genji.