28/05/2017
NEWS STORY
Having predicted that Kimi Raikkonen would win the Spanish Grand Prix, the Finn subsequently crashing out at the first corner, despite the fact the Finn starts from pole today we will be making no such predictions as we do not want to put the mockers on him... and if you don't know what we mean Google it.
Monaco being Monaco, a good grid position is vital however, when it was suggested yesterday that Kimi might ride shotgun for his teammate today, the Iceman uncharacteristically lost his cool.
"I don't know why people expect that it is something different tomorrow than it's been the last two years," he bristled. "Nothing has changed. Just try to make a stupid story out of nothing."
Yesterday's pole amply demonstrated that Kimi still has it, even though at time he appears to have lost interest to the extent that he needs a gentle nudge.
With Lewis Hamilton starting from the midfield following his "devastating" qualifying session, it isn't that vital that title rival Sebastian Vettel wins, though the German would surely be delighted to extend his comfort cushion as much as possible.
The spanner in the works could come from a number of sources, not least Valtteri Bottas, who has all the makings of 'doing another Sochi', a move that would not only damage Vettel but also those sections of the British media that continue to demand Mercedes concentrates its efforts on Hamilton.
Fourth is Max Verstappen's best qualifying result of the year, however, at what has always been a taboo track for the youngster he might opt to err on the side of caution - not that the Dutch teenager knows the meaning of the word.
Teammate Daniel Ricciardo also has history here, and not having learned its lesson last year, when it effectively cost him the race, Red Bull made another strategic error yesterday hence the Australian starting fifth.
If you are looking for a major upset, then other than a Spa-style pile up at Ste Devote on the first lap, look no further than Toro Rosso.
The Italian team has been strong all weekend and while Daniil Kvyat didn't make it through to Q3, that was more about Stoffel Vandoorne's late crash than the Russian's pace.
Meanwhile, teammate Carlos Sainz continues to impress and starting from sixth today - a result that even caused the Spaniard to say "wow" - he must surely be in for a decent points haul.
Force India's sequence of double-points finishes looks likely to come to an end today, for while Sergio Perez starts from seventh, teammate Esteban Ocon is 16th on the grid, the French youngster not having the best of weekends.
Romain Grosjean starts eighth and should be in for a decent number of points, while teammate Kevin Magnussen, who has expressed frustration at Hamilton claiming that the Briton has no regard for other drivers and is always blocking them, starts just ahead of the Mercedes driver.
While the weather will play no part in today's race, certainly in terms of rain, it is the very nature of the track that might spring the surprises. Even though the field might get through Ste Devote without any issues, there are so many other notorious corners waiting to play their part.
Other than the unforgiving nature of the track nature which punishes any sign of over enthusiasm or liberty taking, traffic is another issue here and having seen the leaders struggle with backmarkers in Spain two weeks ago, today should witness further frustration and possibly a few 'messages for Charlie'.
And then there's the question of tyres.
The Ultrasofts are perfectly capable of lasting the entire race distance. Consequently, with a delta to the supersofts of around 0.7s, drivers will want to sport the red-banded rubber for as little time as possible. Question is, do they opt for a change at the very start or at the very end?
Despite not having driven the car in reality, only on the simulator, Jenson Button's drive to ninth in qualifying was superb, while credit also to Vandoorne who finished tenth and might have been even nearer the front but for that crash.
An overnight change of floor means that Button will start from the pitlane. However, this could work to his advantage as he might not only manage to avoid any first corner mishaps, starting from the pitlane might also influence his tyre strategy.
That said, in another late move, McLaren, needing a replacement diffuser for Vandoorne following his Q2 crash took the Briton's which will hardly have helped his mood.
More than at any other track on the calendar, "could", "should" and "would" count for little, for in this crazy town made famous by its casino, it is often a question of those willing to gamble and those with luck on their side.
Talking of luck, a couple of drivers who could do with a decent roll of the dice today are Lance Stroll and Jolyon Palmer, though in both cases their cars don't seem entirely happy here.
The pitlane opens.
Before the national anthem, a minute's silence is observed in respect of last week's atrocity in Manchester, and other victims of terrorism. Sadly, such is the way of the world this could likely become a regular feature.
As the field prepares to head off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 51 degrees.
All are starting on the ultrasofts bar the Sauber duo who have both opted for the supersofts.
The grid forms. And as Button heads down the pitlane, Fernando Alonso comes over the team radio to wish him good luck.
They're away, and contrary to our fears there are no issues at Ste Devote or any othe subsequent corners. Consequently, at the end of lap 1, it's: Raikkonen, Vettel, Bottas, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Sainz, Perez, Grosjean, Magnussen and Hulkenberg.
Hamilton has passed Vandoorne for 12th, while Kvyat dropped two places at the start.
Wehrlein and Button both pit, the German for ultras and the Briton for supers.
Out front Raikkonen is setting a blistering pace, posting a 17.914. In third, Bottas is already 2.1s down on Vettel.
Lap 4 sees another fastest lap from Raikkonen, the Finn posting 17.072. Hamilton is harrying Kvyat.
The stewards are investigating Wehrlein for an unsafe release following an incident with Button at their stops.
As Vettel goes quickest (17.044), Hamilton claims "it's hard to get close to these guys". He is told: "Our race comes later".
Lap 9 sees Vettel go quickest (16.421) as he maintains a 2.2s gap to his teammate and 3.5s over Bottas.
"I think he's starting to get deg already..." says Button of Wehrlein, though the German is only 9 laps into his run with the ultras. The Briton, like Ericsson, is still on supers.
Wehrlein is handed a 5s time penalty for the pit incident, the second successive race in which he has been penalised.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monaco, here.
As Bottas falls 6.1s behind Vettel, the Ferrari drivers trade fastest sector times to relieve the boredom.
As smoke begins to billow from Hulkenberg's car he is told he has a "major gearbox problem". He eventually parks the car at T9 but only after dropping oil on this most tricky of circuits.
Perez pits at the end of lap 16, possibly anticipating a VSC as a result of that oil from Hulkenberg's car. Interestingly, the Mexican has damage to his front wing and as a result takes a new nose section. He rejoins in 16th on the supers.
Lap 20 sees a PB from Bottas (16.448), but the Red Bulls also posts PBs.
After 20 laps, it's: Raikkonen, Vettel, Bottas, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Sainz, Grosjean, Magnussen and Kvyat.
"Does the car seem okay?" asks Hamilton. "Grip is poor, handling is all over the place."
"I nearly hit the wall," says Ericsson, "it's so difficult to drive this car, no grip."
Meanwhile, Raikkonen is unhappy that Button, first of the backmarkers, is holding him back not heeding the blue flags. "Come on, how close do I have to get!?" he asks.
All of which has allowed Bottas to close to within 1.8s of Vettel.
As the backmarkers make way, Raikkonen is told to "get back in the groove".
A mighty save by Verstappen in the Swimming Pool, the Red Bull driver almost coming to grief at a track that has never been kind to him.
"I had a big spike of engine braking in Turn 6," says Kvyat, who is still holding Hamilton at bay.
At the end of lap 32 Verstappen is told "box, opposite of Bottas". With the Finn not stopping, Verstappen duly pits.
As Verstappen rejoins in 6th, Bottas is told to push.
Next time around, Bottas pits, rejoining just ahead of Verstappen despite the Red Bull driver's best efforts.
Raikkonen pits at the end of lap 34, the Finn rejoining in third (behind Button) as Ricciardo posts a new fastest lap (16.117).
Perez is told his temperatures are critical. "We have to do something," he is told.
Next time around Ricciardo posts another fastest lap (16.093), the Australian 4.9s down on race leader Vettel.
"You're doing a good job, mate," Ricciardo is told, "good pace, keep it up."
Ericsson pits at the end of lap 36, releasing Vettel and Ricciardo, as does Kvyat, thereby releasing Hamilton.
Vettel responds to Ricciardo with a 15.587 as Sainz pits from fourth. Magnussen also pits.
Ricciardo pits at the end of lap 38, rejoining just behind Raikkonen but ahead of Bottas and Verstappen. Job done! Massa also pits.
Vettel pits next time around, the world championship leader rejoining still leading, just 0.9s ahead of Raikkonen.
Told that Ricciardo has used the overcut to his advantage and is now ahead, Verstappen lets the expletive flow. Basically, the youngster acknowledges that it is a disaster.
Ocon is advised he has as left-rear puncture. "I didn't touch anything," he wails.
Hamilton is now up to sixth, just ahead of Vandoorne, but both have yet to stop.
Stroll pits at the end of lap 42, rejoining in 15th, just behind his Williams teammate.
"WTF is the Force India doing?" asks Ricciardo as Ocon exits the pits just ahead of him.
Vandoorne pits at the end of lap 43, rejoining in 10th, which give you some idea of the fate that awaits Hamilton.
An unexpected second stop for Magnussen drops the Dane out of the points.
At the end of lap 46 Hamilton pits, the Briton rejoining in seventh.
After 46 laps, and with the pit stops done, Vettel leads Raikkonen by 8.5s, Ricciardo is a further 4.7s behind, ahead of Bottas (+ 7.8), Verstappen (+ 1.2), Sainz (+ 17.4) and Hamilton (+ 9.4).
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monaco, here.
Clearly fired up, Verstappen closes the gap to Bottas as Grosjean is advised that Ocon and Magnussen both picked up punctures in the left-hand side of T1.
Ricciardo is advised that he is quicker than Raikkonen, the Finn seemingly deflated after 'losing' the lead. And who can blame him.
Told the gap to Wehrlein (11s), Button replies it would be more interesting if he were chasing down eighth or ninth.
Bottas is warned that a raised manhole cover is the cause of punctures at T1.
Hamilton asks about his pace. "Very good, you're the fastest man out there."
Raikkonen is now 12.2s down on his teammate, and, more importantly, just 1.9s ahead of Ricciardo.
More drivers are warned about T1 but it is unclear if the issue is a manhole of the actual track surface breaking up.
Out comes the Safety Car as the cameras cut to a car which is on its side against the barriers at Portier. It is Wehrlein.
Verstappen pits as the medical car is deployed.
We all hold our breaths as the positioning of the car means we can't see if Wehrlein is OK. Also, the positioning of the car means the driver can't get out.
"Pascal can you hear me?" asks his engineer. After an agonising pause, he replies: "Yes I'm ok. But I would be better if I could jump out."
As he finally climbs from the car there is applause from the crowd.
Replay has shown that he collided with Button having appeared not to have seen the Briton on the inside at the corner.
As the drivers ask if Wehrlein is OK, Vettel leads the field behind the Safety Car.
Stroll complains that he's losing "a lot of brake temperature" and is concerned he'll crash at the re-start.
More misery for Sauber as Ericsson goes into the barriers as he attempts to un-lap himself behind the Safety Car.
If nothing else, let's hope all this has reflated Mr Raikkonen.
The Safety Car is withdrawn at the end of lap 66, leaving 12 laps remaining.
At the re-start Bottas locks-up but holds position, further round Ricciardo brushes the barrier at T1. Moments later, Vandoorne hits the same barrier after being force wide by Perez and on to the marbles, his day's work done. Verstappen is all over Bottas.
"You can push like an animal," Magnussen is told as he pursues Massa.
Kvyat passes Perez to take ninth.
The stewards are to investigate the Button/Wehrlein incident.
"If you're comfortable, strat 6," Bottas is told. "Does it look comfortable?" he replies.
The race is over for Kvyat who was barged into by Perez at Rascasse. The Mexican subsequently pits.
The stewards will investigate the Perez/Kvyat incident.
At the time of the clash, Perez had argues with his crew for calling on him to make adjustments. "Guys you want me to crash!? I need two hundred percent focus."
Having pitted, and on fresh rubber, Perez posts a new fastest lap (15.017). Next time around he posts 14.820.
"The battle's not over, I'll just take these points," says a clearly weary Hamilton.
As Vettel takes the flag, Ferrari's first Monaco victory since 2001, he is told "you deserve that one, you deserve that one". Hmm, it will be interesting to see if Kimi agrees.
"The two laps with the old tyres I was giving everything I had," says the German.
As they climb from their cars, the reactions of the two Ferrari drivers couldn't be more different, while Vettel is understandably euphoric, Raikkonen is just as understandably unhappy.
Carrying out the podium interviews is Nico Rosberg, who must be euphoric that he isn't handing the trophy to his former teammate who finished a distant seventh.
In the ante-room, As Vettel and Ricciardo trade tales, Raikkonen is tucked in a corner, silent.
On the podium emotions are very much mixed, while Vettel and Ricciardo are grinning from ear to ear, Raikkonen stares dead ahead, unblinking.
Following Das Deutschlandlied there is a rather raucous rendition of Fratelli d'Italia, but throughout Kimi's expression is set in stone.
The interviews take place back on the grid, with Nico Rosberg the master of ceremonies.
"It was a very intense race," says Vettel. "I had to be patient. The tyres started to slide in the first stint and it was quite uncomfortable, but then I had a couple of laps where the tyres were really good. I was able to use that window to come out ahead."
"It's still second place," says Raikkonen of his best result of the year thus far, "but it doesn't feel awfully good. That's how it goes sometimes." "I know," admits Rosberg, "I've been there."
"I didn't enjoy that," admits Ricciardo, his mood a whole lot different to twelve months ago. "These tyres, when you get a safety car, is like driving on ice. But I was able to hold it."
To confirm, Vettel wins, ahead of Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Bottas, Verstappen, Sainz, Hamilton, Grosjean, Massa and Magnussen.
Palmer is eleventh, ahead of Ocon, Perez, Stroll and Kvyat, with Vandoorne, Ericsson, Button, Wehrlein and Hulkenberg all non-classified.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Monaco, here.