Drivers Worried About Monaco Qualifying
05-17-2006, 08:01 PM
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Drivers Worried About Monaco Qualifying
Drivers Worried About Monaco Qualifying
Written by: RACER staff
London, UK – 5/17/2006 Drivers often have no place to go when an incident happens on the streets of Monte Carlo. (LAT Photo)
Formula 1's new-for-'06 "knockout" qualifying format is set to post its biggest challenge yet on the streets of Monte Carlo, where the Monaco Grand Prix takes place on May 28.
Some drivers are already expressing concerns about the difficulty of finding a clear lap in the tight confinements of the by-the-sea layout, specially during the first knockout session when 22 cars will have to set a fast lap over a period of just 15 minutes. Adding to worries about the competitive aspect are safety concerns, due to the lack of overtaking spots for faster drivers on a "flying" lap to avoid slower traffic.
"The first session is going to be very hard," Williams' Mark Webber admitted. "We have told, there are a few rookies: if you back off at all you really have to look in your mirror after every corner. If you back off, a car will be on top of you that quickly."
BMW's Jacques Villeneuve - the only man punished for blocking during qualifying so far this season, in the highly-publicized incident with Giancarlo Fisichella at the Nurburgring - has a more succinct definition:
"Monaco [qualifying] will be hell," he said. "I hope there are no games going on, because it could be very dangerous, and if something like that happens, it could be massive."
Last year, Villeneuve was involved in a crash during Monaco qualifying provoked by McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya, who had slowed down on the track in an attempt to retaliate an alleged block from Toyota's Ralf Schumacher.
I like the place and the history but it is dated for the speed of the cars and lack of passing,
Written by: RACER staff
London, UK – 5/17/2006 Drivers often have no place to go when an incident happens on the streets of Monte Carlo. (LAT Photo)
Formula 1's new-for-'06 "knockout" qualifying format is set to post its biggest challenge yet on the streets of Monte Carlo, where the Monaco Grand Prix takes place on May 28.
Some drivers are already expressing concerns about the difficulty of finding a clear lap in the tight confinements of the by-the-sea layout, specially during the first knockout session when 22 cars will have to set a fast lap over a period of just 15 minutes. Adding to worries about the competitive aspect are safety concerns, due to the lack of overtaking spots for faster drivers on a "flying" lap to avoid slower traffic.
"The first session is going to be very hard," Williams' Mark Webber admitted. "We have told, there are a few rookies: if you back off at all you really have to look in your mirror after every corner. If you back off, a car will be on top of you that quickly."
BMW's Jacques Villeneuve - the only man punished for blocking during qualifying so far this season, in the highly-publicized incident with Giancarlo Fisichella at the Nurburgring - has a more succinct definition:
"Monaco [qualifying] will be hell," he said. "I hope there are no games going on, because it could be very dangerous, and if something like that happens, it could be massive."
Last year, Villeneuve was involved in a crash during Monaco qualifying provoked by McLaren's Juan Pablo Montoya, who had slowed down on the track in an attempt to retaliate an alleged block from Toyota's Ralf Schumacher.
I like the place and the history but it is dated for the speed of the cars and lack of passing,
