Track: Monte Carlo street circuit
Laps: 78
Race start: 2000 HRS SIN
Free practice takes place on Thursday for the jewel in Formula
1's crown. The streets are tight, narrow and twisty. Run-off areas
are almost non-existent, and the utmost finesse, commitment and
concentration are required. Here is a circuit where a driver's
skill shows much better.
The average speed here is the slowest on the F1 calendar.
Maximum downforce and lots of mechanical grip (coming from the
suspension's use of the tyres) are the key while aero efficiency
and engine power are not priorities. Gearboxes take a massive
bashing as they go through 3000 gear changes over the course of the
race. Overtaking is almost impossible on the narrow streets but the
attrition is often high.
Brawn's Jenson Button goes into this race in the lead with 41
points out of a maximum of 45, and he is 14 points ahead of his
closest challenger and teammate Rubens Barrichello. The talk in the
paddock lately revolves around the inability of the teams and the
FIA to agree on a voluntary budget cap for 2010. Some teams have
issued quit threats with the deadline for next season's entries
looming next Friday. This morning, Ferrari failed to get a court
injunction to stop the new rules. Meanwhile, several new start-ups
and teams from junior formulae have expressed serious interest in
taking the quiting parties' place.
Stay tuned while the drama on and off the track unfolds!