Ste Devote, Casino Square, Grand Hotel, Rascasse...

Not all race venues thrill you. Some are dull and lack atmosphere but not so Monaco, despite the fact that the race itself can be something of a yawn(conversely qualifying is electrifying however). I thoroughly enjoyed my first Grand Prix there last year and am eagerly looking forward to the action on the track this time.

Anyone lucky enough to have a paddock pass cannot fail to be impressed by the freedom we get to walk the inside of the circuit while the cars are racing, and to do so within feet of them as they scream by. Going into the tunnel last year was unforgettable - I can't go back(I'm already deaf as it is) - but here is a superb picture of Lewis in the MP4-22 by Darren Heath, using a time delay which perfectly captures the shuddering fury of a modern Formula One car in that place(a great candidate for your desktop, maybe).

Another classic spot is at swimming pool where the cars twitch and slide right in front of you. Absolutely amazing. Last year I particularly remember watching Fernando during running on Thursday, swishing and sliding the back end through this section, just doing it on feel and instinct. There is nowhere where the car and the driver seem more as one than on this, the ultimate street circuit. Monaco is a true classic where you can walk the racing line within minutes of the action finishing and where the whole town is taken over by the Grand Prix for five days. Where else can you walk(stagger) out of your hotel and just amble down the hill to the track on a beautiful sunny morning, stopping for a cappucino and the papers on the way?

So what about this year? The general view is that Monaco is a McLaren stronghold but the performance changes in the McLaren and the Ferrari this season may blur this edge or even reverse it. However, this could well be the weekend when Lewis imposes himself. He loves Monaco and some experienced judges - among them Sir Stirling Moss - are expecting his natural skills plus a fast(enough) car will give him a great chance for pole. But who knows? Heikki is proving a sublime qualifier and Felipe is a on roll right now after his excellent win in Turkey. Others to look out for this weekend will be Robert(so long as he can avoid the barriers), Fernando(who has won for the last two years at Monaco and could wrestle the R28 into contention), Mark Webber(who is looking for a fifth consecutive points finish and is described by his team as "in the form of his life") and maybe Nico and/or Sebastian Vettel will show their class. And let's not forget Adrian Sutil a record holder in Formula 3 at Monte Carlo who loves the place.

Looking through some of the technical briefings from the teams, it is striking the degree to which Monaco makes unique demands on the cars and drivers. Essentially they run a "Monaco car" which is unlike any of the others they send to circuits all year. Because there are no super-high speed sections, the set-up is all about maximising mechanical grip and downforce to get through the twists and turns on a slippy and bumpy surface, while minimising drag is not so critical. Apart from the unique aero configuration, the main modifications include increased ride heights(5-7mm above the norm), softer suspension settings, additional steering lock(the first-gear 30mph hairpin at Grand Hotel is the tightest of the year) and purpose built front suspension arrangements to facilitate this.

There has been an interesting debate about the impact of the loss of electronic driver aids and how this will affect drivers at Monte Carlo where there is no margin for error. Ross Brawn has speculated we may see more incident as a result. Last year Kimi made an unforced error during qualifying when he stuffed it into the barriers at Swimming Pool and Lewis ran into Ste Devote on cold tyres. Will we see more of this? I hope for Felipe's sake, that if there are a lot of "driver error" type incidents, he will not be among them.

Pic of Nouvelle Chicane/Ed Gorman The Times(click on pic to enlarge)

Comments

[Kathryn S]

Ed,

I consider last year's post, "On the trackside in the tunnel," the best, most evocative piece I've ever read about F1--it seems to perfectly capture the essence of the drive. I have read it multiple times and I get a certain thrill of understanding each time I do. It, in a way I don't exactly understand, encapsulates what I love about F1 racing...it's not the drivers or the cars or the teams...it's the sensation. I shall never stand where you did, but your words have put me closer than I could ever otherwise be. For that I thank you very much.

[BBARRERO]

The race itself can be something of a yawn? I have to disagree a bit, Ed.

Do you remember 1982, 1984 or 1996? I hope we'll have an exciting race this Sunday. This is the only track where you can expect the unexpected.

And for a prediction, I'll bet on Lewis or Heikki. But it would be interesting if Fernando could do a good qualification.

Of course, the swimming pool you're talking about must be the most expensive in the whole planet.

[IDR]

Great pic!

It's a pity the yellow helmet... I would prefer the silver one!

As you say, this race is unpredictable, so lets see what happen.

Have a nice travel to Montecarlo and waiting for some of your usual colorful comments from the backstage of the Principate.

[David Hodge]

I approach this year's race with a sense of excitement. I have been looking at the weather forecast and there is a chance of rain. And with driver aids removed, there is the spectacle of the cream rising to the top. Monaco somewhat levels the performance playing field so it is not inconceivable that somebody with Fernando's skill could put an (in effect underperforming) Renault in a very high grid position without running low fuel. Pole position could be any one of about six people I think. Take your pick from Fernando, Lewis, Felipe, Kimi, Heikki and Robert. Expect some out of position qualifications as well. Red Bull? Then if it is wet and there is some attrition... Sebastien Bourdais? The guy was on for good points in Australia until his car broke.

I won't be in the tunnel. But I will be in front of the box.

[D]

^
A great writer can learn about motor racing.

But those who know all about motor racing can't learn how to be a great writer.

Ed's article last year was a masterpiece.

[Kate C-J]

Yes, I'm looking forward to some classic Ed Gorman observations as well. You clearly love it there. Let's have some of your photos too; always worth a look. The cappucino sounds very relaxed; surely it's all high-tension and expressos at dawn? Have fun.

[javiervivaespania]

I want this weekend to be Magic, a group of days that can capture the misticism of F1 and the galloping of our Champion to rescue the magnificence of the motor sport from the hands of evil Mosley. Only He can defeat him.

[IDR]

Ed,

In this moment, you have 3 threads on the air:

Max for those who love politics

This one for Travel&Entretaining Lovers

Top-10 Greatest Drivers nostalgics F1 aficionados

And all of them working nicely!

Congratulations... what's next?

[Ed Gorman]

To IDR. The answer to your question is this: SLEEP

[Nickie D]

I have spent the last hour (or thereabouts) reading through some of the old posts from last year. They really are some great writing that really capture what is great about F1 and why people love it. They remind me why I fell for this this blog the first time I read it. Great job Ed for providing people with a blog as good as this one.

And hopefully 'the crap photographer' will surface again at this GP.

[D]

^
Ed >

It worries me, and I'm sure others here too, that months prior to the last twelve are now disappearing off the bottom of the list in the Archives.

Is there a way to remedy this and restore the index in full?

To many, these Archives are not only a testimony to your talent but a work of reference and much enjoyment.

I'm sure there must be a way to preserve it for us all.

[Gary M]

I think we will probably see Hamilton on poll position come Sunday and therefore favourite for the win. It is more a question of whether he can soak up the pressure and deliver the goods. Monaco and Canada represent the turning point for his season, in that I mean I think he really does need to win both races in order to lay down a serious challenge for the WC.

I can understand Ed's point about sometimes it being a boring race, but that is more to do with the lack of serious overtaking places than anything else. Of course it can be done but takes a driver with enough experience and balls to do it. This year I think we have got plenty of both in the lower order of the grid.

This has always seemed to be a track that rewards experience, and while much does depend on how the Ferrari's fair in qualifying as well as Heikki I think this could be the race we see a new face on the podium for this season. Maybe Alonso? If they can get that Renault to perform anywhere near as good as Alonso's ego then why not. We also have Button, Couthard, Rubens and Webber who's experience on this track may be worth a few tenths.

I think and hope we are in for a fantastic race, Keep these great articles coming Ed and enjoy your weekend in Monaco.

P.S. Unfortunately I will not be there now, I had to decline Mr Irvine's invitation to join him on his yacht. My local steakhouse are doing 2x Rib Eyes for $20 on Sunday lunchtime and that is far too good an offer to give up. Maybe next year.

[Weasel]

Aaah yes - motor racing - great, I had almost forgotten.....

[Anon]

To D: You can get the full archives by actually clicking: "Archives" (surprise, surprise!)

Should we post our race predshere? In any case, I'll post y rough draft and somethoughts:

BMW- should be good. Little straights.

Alonso- if he can pull best of the pack in TUrkey, hell probably do really well here.

Ferrari= they will be better than people think.

McLaren- first Heikki win comig soon?

Heifeld- he can turn the tables on Kubica here, maybe take a win.

Hamilton
Kubica
Raikkonen
Heidfeld
Massa
Kovalainen
Alonso
Barichello

But plenty of the top six drivers will fail. MEchsanical errors and track errors will be great. Honda will be good ee because they are ths slowest onstraights.

Alonso will get podium if he can out rac or out-survive 4 of the top six.

If Lewis fails, which is quite probable considering e is struggling with traction control, Kubica should take his first win. Do it soon please! I want BMW to get into this championship instead of staying with one-point victories oer Malaysia. WIN!

I really hope Alonso's car doesn't break on this track. it's his best chance at a podium.

Rain predicted, Fernando, Heikki, and Kimi would benefit from this. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have torrentious rain on Sunday? A sreet track with no traction ontrol ut rain! THen maye I could believe in an Alonso win.

Don't count on Vettel, he has a five-plac penalty. He will probably have to retire on the first lap. People will hve to make optimitic lunges in the start and vettel wil be in the far back, s byebye.

It is interesting that if all top six drivers secure the first six positions, the best result the worst top six driver can hope fr is six, which is quite a bad result.So it is a lottery- these predictins I have made take in no account of DNFs. All I'm sayingis that two-three of the top six will fail. I hope I am wrong and that four fail and Alonso gets third behind Kubica and Nick.

[teamwork-toronto-ON]

Well, beside all the glamour and slow speed, i love this race to watch "crashing-boy" touching the barriers!!

i have bets going on, how many times he will do it? . . .
i can't wait!!!! . . i'm lovin' it!

Monaco, here he comes!!! .. ;-)

[Jason]

In the last couple of seasons, much has been made of the emergence of new driving talent. All of us who love this sport should also acknowledge the emergence of new writing talent. Ed Gorman may be a newcomer to F1, but he has become a "must read" for anyone who follows this sport. Well done!

[Bojan]

Ed, nice to get back to what really counts - racing. Your enjoyable story from the trackside (2007) reminded me of the exceptional sensations that you can't get anywhere else in the world. Well, maybe Valencia and Singapur will come a bit close to Monaco, although I doubt their streets will be so narrow and the engine sound reverberating so impressively as in the Principality.

For me Monaco is a pure concentrate of F1 - the sounds, vicinity of the cars/track, risks, glamour... It doesn't really matter that the speeds are a bit lower becaus the spectacle and the suspense until the last corner is at least on par with any other GP.

Don't know if nowaddays you may still walk to the inside of the Grand hotel hairpin, but that is yet another impressive place to be and watch how guys struggle the car around that unnaturally tight bend.

Wish I was there...

[Alex]

This race has all the ingredients of a classic, added to which, the threat of rain that could, in TC less 2008, give us a real crash fest.

What race strategies will work well against the predictably many safety car periods ? I guess short fuelling is not too clever as an unpassable train flies past and, critically, you still cannot refuel during SC periods.

I cannot wait....

[Kate C-J]

D, is Ed paying you to be so complimentary?

[Augusto Baena]

Weather forecasts say it might rain. Even if it doesn't, lack of aids should increase the number of accidents... which will mean high chances of safety cars... which, together with the no-pit-under-SC rule, long stints will be discouraged.

I guess the logical strategy should be to short-fuel to qulify light and pit early to avoiding the SC to ruin your race. Obviously, you can always do the exact opposite as a risky bet to win (i.e. long fuel, pit late and cross fingers no safety cars in those critical laps in which your opponents have already pitted and you haven't). I guess this could be a good strategy for the "second" driver in each top-team, for example, Kovalainen, or for lead drivers outside the top-4 (depending on BMW's performance on Thursday): Kubica, Heidfeld or Alonso.

On the other hand, if there is unstable weather, risking on tyre choice (wet vs dry) can pay-off or ruin your chances.

It's a close call, but my guess is the following:
- 1) Kimi has already won here and has no remarkable weaknesses. I think Ferrari has improved on slower tracks and McLaren has stepped back in general performace, so Ferrari will likely be the car to beat again. I bet for him.
- 2) Lewis likes the track and is fast. Last year, in my opinion, was so lucky he finished the race after banging the guards six times. On the other hand, he is not still a very good race manager (strategist).
-3) Massa: Impredictable. He can fly like a butterfly or sink like a lead balloon. The topic would be he is too error-prone to win here, but who knows
-4) Kovalainen: still to demonstrate why he is driving that car. He could qualify well and give us a surprise
-5) Kubica / Heidfeld : last year BMW wasn't a match for McLaren in this track. I wonder how they perform this year.
-6) Fernando Alonso will have it very difficult, despite all the hype. He likes the track (twice winner), but Renault's lack of traction is critical here. Unless there is an eventful race and he can profit from it and some luck, I don't see him winning

Regards

Augusto Baena

[colin grayson]

wouldn't recommend the spot just behind the armco at the approach to the swimming pool Ed ; last time I was there it was for a support race , and someone lost control and piled in at high speed , fortunately not tipping up sufficiently to come over the top

funny thing was both I and an equally white faced marshall tried to run , pure instinct and quite useless of course ; even if I could [ which I can't ] I wouldn't stand there again ; boy , do those marshalls earn their honorarium !

on the other hand , the bulldozer on a low loader in mexico accident ....well , another time maybe

[P]

I am sorry but I think LH is going to crash out of Sunday's race - losing control in one of those tight curves and hitting the barriers. ML are going to wish they still had TC.

This, I hope will give Heikki a good chance to catch up with LH because he has been plagued by bad luck in the last couple of races. Otherwise he has been consistently faster than LH in the last 2-3 races.

[IDR]

@KATE C-J

He should, definitively, Ed should pay something to D!

[Felipe]

People always talk about bad luck. I think you create your luck. Why is it that overall the best drivers are lucky and others are unlucky? Good drivers are lucky, not so good drivers are unlucky. Maybe that's Heikki's problem, though to soon to tell.

[Gary M]

So on the day that "we" voted Ayrton Senna as the best F1 driver ever we have someone hoping that Lewis Hamilton crashes during the race.

There must be a rather large rock somewhere with space for you to crawl back under P.

[Felipe]

By the way, I'm not having a go at Heikki. I have a soft spot for him. I think he's finding his feet, but it annoys me when people talk about lucky teams, drivers, people... you create your luck. So I also believe you create your bad luck... when it happens once, ok, unlucky... but when you are consistently unlucky, something's wrong. Unfortunately for me, the Spanish national team is always unlucky at football. But there's a lot more to it than just bad luck.

[IDR]

@GARY M

2xRib eye for $20 next weekend…

Then, as you are saving some money for your Sunday Lunch, may I recommend you an excellent wine (Australian, of course):

2003 Schulz Shiraz Marcus Old Vine is a mature red, that combines perfectly with red meats.

Enjoy your meal, because you will not enjoy your dinner! F Alonso is going to give you a bitter dessert!

Umm, err, I have been tasting three different Australian wines for making my choice, so I’m not quite sure if it was Fernando, Kimi, Kova, Felipe or even myself…

[Zoe]

Hey Ed,

Marco Andretti has just came out with his belief that McLaren sabotaged his dad:

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/racing/indycar/news/story?id=3406937

Along with saying that the team really wanted Mika (who was paid less than Michael) in the car, Marco also says on how it was Ayrton that told the team to give Michael the same car as him at Monza (Michael came 3rd and was then replaced with Mika).

Now I know Marco was only six at the time but these are still pretty big accusations to come out with. McLaren haven't responded to it yet.

What's your opinion Ed (and others)?

[Demian]

Ed,
I recommend that you buy (and use) Etymotic High Fidelity Earplugs. I use those because I'm a musician and I need to hear what I play, but only at a lower volume. It's like turning down the volume of your ears, you can still hear sound, but quieter. In a loud enviroment as a F1 race you should seriously think about protecting your hearing, really.
Here you have the link http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx
(Note: I'm in no way related to Etymotic, nor do I receive something for the recommendation.)

[D]

^
Kate >

I'm glad you raised that question. I keep sending off invoices to him but they come back marked "Gone Away" from places like Malaysia, Bahrain and Turkey with food stains on them and the stamps missing.

Could you have a word with him about that?

PS. The way the £ is at the moment, I'd prefer to be paid in € or Swiss Francs, if that's OK. Cash would be fine.

[Gary M]

@ IDR

Always a Shiraz in Aus, the only grape they seem to be able to grow well out here. ;-)

I promise to have a look for your suggestion this weekend and if I find it on a list will give it a go.

Cheers!

[Kathryn S]

@Gary M,

"I am sorry but I think LH is going to crash out of Sunday's race" is what P wrote. As I recall Lewis did throw his car into the barrier last year during one of the free practice sessions, so this statement would not necessarily be wishful thinking, but a prediction based on past history. I know you and I don't speak quite the same English, but I believe thinking and hoping are still quite different concepts for both of us. I don't recall you objecting when all were "thinking" and predicting Massa was going to be throwing his Ferrari off the track earlier in the season.

[D]

^
Zoe >

Those comments certainly surprised me.

From what I saw in 1993, Michael A did a pretty good job of sabotaging himself. Quite frequently on the first lap.

(For example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-22hDvx3R5U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBWBWKg_vqY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhjsMXuPbb0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqjADo3FW_k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YTSXISdXM8 - final minute of clip)

(Watch out for Mika - blue top, white pants - in the last one, too... )

He did all the pre-season testing that year, while Ayrton lay on the beach negotiating his contract with Ron by telephone from Brazil. McL couldn't work out why their car was so slow until Ayrton finally arrived and immediately knocked two seconds off its times.

There are a good few gravel traps I still call after Michael Andretti. (Not to mention that bacon burger with avocado!)

I hope young Marco hasn't got a chip on his shoulder and that he listens more to his granddad than to papa. Mario rates Marco very highly indeed and says he "belongs' in Formula One.

^
Gary >

I've always found IDR's wine recommendations to be superb. Trust him.

I'm on my way out the door right now in search of some of that 2003 Schulz Shiraz Marcus Old Vine. Probably best to drink it AFTER the race, though - I suspect it has considerable clout.

I, for one, would be delighted to toast a Fernando victory with it on Sunday.

(If Heikki wins it, we'll need a third bottle!)

[Richard]

Refresh your memories - 1992 Monaco - Senna with a fight on his hands - final 3 laps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4eOdZekw5I

[Tim]

Zoe - I suspect McLaren haven't responded because Marco Andretti's allegations really don't merit a response.

Michael Andretti was a very talented driver, deservedly successful in CART and a proven driver in his own right, rather than as just son of Mario. People often speak in hushed tones of the 1991 Indy 500 and Rick Mears' passing Michael on the outside into Turn 1. A real heart in the mouth moment, certainly, but Andretti had pulled off exactly the same move on Mears one lap earlier. It was stunning.

Michael's move to F1 in 1993 as a McLaren driver was always going to be an interesting one. Why did he fail? I think there are a number of reasons.

Firstly, Andretti refused to relocate to Europe and wanted instead to commute across the Atlantic. This can hardly have helped his closeness with the team or the whole context of F1 - racing in Europe is very different to racing in the USA. It also meant that Michael wasn't available to test the car at the drop of a hat - unlike Mika Hakkinen, the team's test driver. It meant that Andretti had a lot less seat time than he should have done and wasn't especially well prepared.

Secondly, a new rule for 1993 was a limit on qualifying laps. Pre-1993, all drivers (except those who failed to pre-qualify) were able to run the whole qualifying session, putting in as many laps as they wished. For the 1993, drivers were restricted to 12 laps in each session, including in/out laps - which meant three runs of four laps or four runs of three laps. If I remember rightly, there were also restrictions on free practice and the number of sets of tyres available. This can only have served to hinder Michael's learning about the car and a series of unfamiliar circuits.

Thirdly, by 1993 McLaren were simply not the force they'd been in previous years. The team had been paying Ayrton Senna a considerable salary and this diverted significant investment away from chassis development. Partly due to this, McLaren were way behind Williams in terms of electronics, traction control, semi-automatic gearboxes, active suspension, et al. Malfunctioning active suspension could make a car handle in a most evil way - see the 1993 Portugese GP when a Ferrari turned sharp left into the wall exiting the pits because its active suspension reset itself. This could explain Andretti's car doing odd things mid-corner.

Also, Honda had withdrawn from F1 at the end of 1992 and McLaren were forced to do a deal for customer Ford HB engines. What was worse was that Benetton, as the factory Ford team, had exclusive use of the latest Ford engines - so McLaren didn't even have the best Ford engine. Whereas Senna was partly able to overcome some of the car's shortcomings, the less experienced, less well prepared Andretti struggled.

Fourthly, the team's relationship with Senna was coming to an end. An intensely competitive driver, Ayrton felt that McLaren were no longer able to offer him the car his talent deserved and had already tried and failed to engineer a move to Williams (saying he'd drive for free, but being veto-ed by Alain Prost). Senna began 1993 on a race by race contract as he negotiated behind the scenes. This can't have helped the internal workings of the team, must have been a huge distraction and can hardly have helped Michael to settle in.

Fifthly, F1 is the technical peak of motor racing. In CART, most teams bought off the shelf chassis (with the exception of Penske) and teams with better resources developed some of their own parts. But there was nothing like the development race that we see in F1. Teams produce new components continuously throughout the year and the cars end the year in a very different state. Sometimes there aren't enough of the new parts to go round so one driver gets them first. Senna was the unquestioned number one driver at McLaren, but I don't think that proves any sort of conspiracy - it's just how F1 works.

It has to be remembered that Ayrton Senna was at the very peak of his powers by this point. The Brazilian was quicker than Andretti but only by around the margin he'd enjoyed over Gerhard Berger the previous year. And Ayrton was driving out of his skin that year to try to beat Prost.

I think Michael did a reasonable job in the circumstances - but of course it looked so much worse compared to one of the greatest drivers of all time. His car's almost magnetic attraction to Karl Wendlinger's Sauber didn't help. Alleging that McLaren were purposefully sabotaging his car is something I would find very difficult to believe. When Hakkinen took over the race seat he was closer to Senna, but he'd had more time in the car, knew the tracks and the team, and was hungry after months on the sidelines.

My reading of the situation was that, by 1993, McLaren were coming to the end of a competitive cycle while Senna was as fast and motivated as he'd ever been. Andretti was probably given equipment that was on a par with his team mate's - but suffered from not enough seat time. Relocating to the UK before the season started would also have helped.

I wouldn't argue that Michael would have emulated his father and become a world champion (not least because of what happened to McLaren over the next few years - Woking's finest had to wait until 1997 until winning another GP). But he was unfairly maligned as a no hoper.

When Michael returned to CART in 1994 he won his first race back in the new and unproven Reynard. A worthy response.

[Gary M]

@ KATHRYN S

"I know you and I don't speak quite the same English, but I believe thinking and hoping are still quite different concepts for both of us."

You seem to be using the old trick of only quoting part of a comment to back up your defence of P. Not sure why at all you would want to defend something you never wrote.

If you wanted to be fair you would have quoted the whole post because immediately after he wrote that he thinks Lewis will crash into the barrier he said..

"This, I hope will give Heikki a good chance to catch up with LH "

I was not issue with someone thinking Lewis would crash but certainly do have a problem with someone who hopes he does.

Don't twist things around only quoting part of a comment, It was very clear what that particular comment meant. I have no idea why you feel the need to defend him anyway.

[Kathryn S]

@Gary M

First off, I will concede that P’s comments may be interpreted as you have stated…I don’t have an inside line to how P was thinking when he commented. I will, however, point out that you choose to put your spin on his comment first…I was merely offering an alternative to your viewpoint using the words P had used him or herself.

I must say it’s pretty ironic when you use a partial quote from P to chastise me for using partial quotes. “This, I hope will give Heikki a good chance to catch up with LH because he has been plagued by bad luck in the last couple of races. Otherwise he has been consistently faster than LH in the last 2-3 races.” As an alternative to your stark negative interpretation, I would put forth that perhaps P is a fan of Heikki’s and after some great potential performances in the last several races he has seen him lose out to some bad luck. He doesn’t hope Lewis crashes, but if he does, he hopes Heikki can benefit. Dare I say the full quote more clearly puts P’s hopes on Heikki doing well than on Lewis crashing out.

My urge to defend may just be the mirror image of your urge to attack…neither right nor wrong, merely different.

[FURIO]

600th GP for Frank Williams.
My deep respect to a man who is a living legend in motor sports. I am a Ferrari fan but I always felt deep admiration and respect for Frank Williams. I wish Nico can make it to the podium tomorrow, maybe win. It would be the perfect way to celebrate this achievement.

Lewis' performances in F1 so far have been so brilliant to make me think his career will be full of successes. But I would drop any comparison with Senna. It just makes no sense. Lewis is (and will be) great on his own. Senna was in a different age of F1, and he was a quite diferent kind of person, so why would you compare the two?

Sorry for my english; I hope it is at least understandable ...

[Nigel K]

Belatedly; Ed, very much enjoy the writing, hope you enjoy the raceday as much. Monaco is indeed special. Here's to a non-red car result.

Perhaps you should come over and see the other fantastic street circuit in full FIA use annually - Macau. Same amazing sensation to toddle out of the hotel for breakfast, straight onto the apex of a corner you walked [or perhaps staggered] across the previous night, now a pinpoint of noise through which a full pack of racing cars are hurtling at full chat. Sadly, the circuit and Macau GP weekend peaks at Formula 3 level these days, and the supporting touring car race and racing bikes race are usually more spectacular but the atmosphere, friendliness, food and general bonhomie make it just as special as ever.