The Formula 1 season goes to many exotic places but none
better for me than Monaco, one of the most spectacular and scenic locations in
the world of sport all year.
While Monaco’s circuit is a feast for the eyes to match any
other, the characteristics are frustrating for many pure racing fans as the
tight, narrow, nature of the course makes overtaking nearly impossible; Thus,
qualifying is everything.
Monaco has been won from pole position nine time in the last
10 years, so one would have to say that with the front row locked out for the
second straight GP, this is Mercedes’ best chance of winning a race so far this
season, reflected by quotes as low as 11/10 for him to win here 30 years after
his father Pepe did. Given the nature of this track he has an obvious chance of
making history but Mercedes’s pronounced tyre issues are always a worry come
raceday – where their pace isn’t anywhere near on the same level of their
qualifying effort – even taking into account the fact that a lot of the
cornering is low speed and for that reason both Rosberg and Hamilton are
avoided.
Sebastian Vettel appeared to be frustrated that he didn’t
reach pole yesterday – he was edged out by less than a tenth yesterday – but
the track position of his Red Bull makes a lot of appeal and while the Red Bull
hasn’t been quite as fast as others this year, the jump start he’ll have on the
rest of the field will be very handy and in a season where the overall gaps in
performance have been minute at times, his grid advantage could well make all
the difference. Team mate Mark Webber, a winner twice here recently, could also
have a big day today but length of the tyres could be all important and Kimi Raikkonen, who has constantly gotten the best out of the Pirelli tyres, could be set for a big race today with the advantage that stopping one less time will give him over several others. 16/1 looks a little big, for all that he’d need some luck; Normally we’d go towards our trusted ‘Lotus Double Points’ finish but Grosjean’s thirteenth may be harder to turn into 10th here around his track.
Mclaren’s struggles in the start to this season have been
well pronounced but they’ve made steady improvement, and both Jenson Button and
Sergio Perez can seal points finishes from ninth and seventh place
respectively.
Advice
2 pts Sebastian Vettel (3/1 general)
1 pt Kimi Raikkonen (16/1 general)
1 pt McLaren double points finish (evens Coral)
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