MS Monaco Strategy?

[slicktoast]

Considering his lowly lineup postion for Q1 what strategies would you employ for Q1, Q2 and the race(fuel-load, fuel stops etc.) for MS?

[Knowlesy]

Well for Q1, strategy isn't an issue. Everyone is on pretty much empty tanks.

For Q2 and the race? Well, that all depends on Q1.

[ralf fan]

It depends what mood the BS's are in... if the BS's are having a good day in qually then it doesnt matter what he does with the strategy i think he has a good enough performance on the older tyres to win (provided they dont explode).... if they arent then it's going to be an uphill struggle...

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

Nobody can afford to be anything but flat out in Q1 these days. Quali 2 should be interesting all round, I expect it'll be one of the most competitive sessions of the season.

[Bleu]

I think he will try one-stop race this time, but many others can do the same. Monaco race distance is about 260 kilometres, and even at last race MS's car was filled over half of that distance (not over half of usual distance though)

[Kicking-back]

I expect his early Q1 slot and the lack of one-lap bite from Bridgestone will make it difficult for him to qualify near the front - and there's little point in going low fuel at Monaco's Q2.

[Dani Filth]

we know the car is fast .. see Fastest laps etc ..
so maybe qualify with low fuel .. try get in front . so that he doesn't lose time warming up the tyres .. he lost 40 seconds at Barcelona . a pitstop in a little less ..

[Marbot]

The Bridgestones take a long time to start working right,even on low fuel the other cars won't be too far away.So there's little point going for a short first stint.He'd be better off playing the waiting game again,with a full tank of fuel.But if others do the same and he's mid-grid,he'll be playing catch-up all afternoon.

[Hugh Jarce]

Do you think he may try and preserve his tyres by going round on three wheels like last year?

[Seton Fanatic]

Q1 isn't an issue, as others have mentioned. Go as fast as you can, and see where you end up. With track position being critical, I'd be saying to Michael: "Right, you're P1, let's fuel you for 30 laps for a longish first stint." "If we end up P3 or P4, it won't be such a loss, with the Ferrari's speed after everyone has refuelled". A lot will depend on tyres, again.

[Marbot]

Originally Posted by Seton Fanatic

Q1 isn't an issue, as others have mentioned. Go as fast as you can, and see where you end up. With track position being critical, I'd be saying to Michael: "Right, you're P1, let's fuel you for 30 laps for a longish first stint." "If we end up P3 or P4, it won't be such a loss, with the Ferrari's speed after everyone has refuelled". A lot will depend on tyres, again.

He'll be lucky to be top six IMO.

[Gt_R]

It's simple. Run Michael heavy, and pray hard.

Bridgestone struggles to put speed into 1-lap qualifyings.. the tyres just don't get up to grips fast enough. Michael would be lucky to even qualify top 6 in first quals.

Fuelled up, and with the same BS, MS would find it hard to stay within the top 8.

And the race strategy is running heavy hoping that slower cars pit early, and that it doesn't obstruct the gap to the front runners. But that is unlikely...i forsee some cars qualify fast, but having a slow race pace which will hold Michael up even as his BS gets faster.... which meant at most a couple of positions gain through pit strategy.

Ferrari may get into the points...but podium finishes are very unlikely.

[luke]

IMHO it will be similar to the last two years since the new rules have come in where you have to qualify with race fuel, and both those years with putting much heavier fuel on he has worked his way up to the front, however it maybe is worth being held up in the earlier stages.

[Kicking-back]

Michelin have won the past three Monaco Grands Prix.

[Sodemo]

I think Michael should go for a long first stint, just fill the car to the brim, and just pray for saftey cars, which being Monaco, there is a good chance of...

Just checked the weather forcast, doesn't look too rosey, rain all week, with a cloudy friday.

Don't forget practice is on Thursday...

[BootsOntheSide]

Running heavy is definitely the way to go, and a long safety car period, or a safety car usage more than a few laps into the race would play right into his hands. Even tehn it may onyl be a podium rather than a win. Interesting note from KB there - essentially every race this year is Michelin V Michael, and this track may suit Michelin more.

[Knowlesy]

He's lucky in a way that the BAR's aren't there, that is at least two cars out of his way.

If the form guide so far this season remains the same, Michael will be way down in Q1 bar something heroic. I'd expect him to be behind both McLarens, both Toyotas, Both Renaults, maybe a Red Bull, maybe his teammate, at least one Williams and perhaps a Sauber. OK, that'd be a pretty drastic event to be behind all those cars, but it is possible given his qualifying 1 slot and his tyres, provided Bridgestone haven't got some new constructions.

[Marbot]

In order to do well in the race i think we'll see both Ferraris in the wrong half of the grid on Sunday.Both cars have got poor 1st qually slots,which have to be run on new tyres,not one of BSs strengths unfortunately.So they'll have to do something interesting in 2nd qually,unfortunately i think we will see a good majority of the teams 1 stopping(dependent on weather,safety cars etc)so not a good race in prospect for the Scuderia i wouldn't have thought.

[Valve Bounce]

I guess SchM will use the same tactics as he used at Imola. It will be very difficult for him to get on the front row as he has to come out early for Q1. However, he might get up high enough on the grid not to be held up too much from the leader. I would expect him to be close to getting a podium, if he doesn't get held up too badly by a slow runner.