Could Michael have won?

[Adam43]

This was prompted by jj2728's post in another thread.

WITHOUT MENTIONING THAT INCIDENT Could Michael Schumacher won the Monaco GP if he hadn't retired how he did?

He did put in some fantastic laps. Also his exit into the tunnel on a couple of laps were great. A nice little slide corrected to perfection inches from the kerb/barrier.

However the SC seemed to have scuppered his chances and I think Trulli would certainly have been far enough ahead at all times. Button had enough in hand at most points too.

(at the moment I have only seen the highlights, so have a poor understanding of how things panned out).

[Kirk]

With the asssistance of those full course yellows, he could have made it very interesting for sure. But in the end, I don't think so. Second was likely, I'd say.

[garcon]

I listened to the rce live on BBC Radio 5, then watched the highlights.

I don't think Michael could have won it, not from his position when he went out. Especially given Trulli's and particularly Button's pace late on. If things had panned out slightly differently earlier on, then he could have, but it would have needed one of his best ever drives to pull it off.

[Armco Bender]

No,he blew it by not pitting with Truilli just before the incident,Truilli was 1 car behind him in the line behind the SC and when MS pitted he would have come out way back down the queue.

[Andrew2001]

Simple answer, NO.

[jetsetter]

Once Ferrari opted to keep their drivers out under the Safety Car the race was gone for them because they would've lost too much time making a stop under green conditions.

[Panzer]

I think Ferrari made a mistake by not bringing Michael in under yellow, after the Alonso crash, I think that would have made it just to difficult for Michael to win, and Truilli had good pace.

[dcp2685]

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
This was prompted by jj2728's post in another thread.

WITHOUT MENTIONING THAT INCIDENT Could Michael Schumacher won the Monaco GP if he hadn't retired how he did?

He did put in some fantastic laps. Also his exit into the tunnel on a couple of laps were great. A nice little slide corrected to perfection inches from the kerb/barrier.

However the SC seemed to have scuppered his chances and I think Trulli would certainly have been far enough ahead at all times. Button had enough in hand at most points too.

(at the moment I have only seen the highlights, so have a poor understanding of how things panned out).

Ferrari for once ****** up this weekend. Even before the incident....choosing to stay out wouldn't have done it. After seeing Trulli and Button live out the race after 2 stops....with micheal pitting a 2nd time would have put him down to P3.

If Alonso hadn't have crashed....things could have been mighty interesting. That in-car shot of him ripping off those fast laps was "trulli" amazing. Him vs. the other guy (pick your pleasure).....he's just 10x smoother. Again as much as i hate to admit it.... ....he's one damn smooth driver and to be fast is to be smooth.

EDIT: Messed up?

[ElScOrChO]

No, Armco said it all

[RWC]

i agree with most-ferrari should have stopped him under yellow,half full tank or not

[Super Tourer]

I don't think he would have won.

Trying to implement a different strategy at Monaco is very tricky as incident and traffic don't give much margin for the plan to unwind.

[NiceGuyEddie]

Before the SC came in, Alonso looked to be the decisive factor for Schumacher winning or not winning. Only if Alonso could stay in touch with Trulli, Schumacher had a chance of getting in front after the second stops, albeit it not a very big one. He was definatly capable of putting in ultimate laps (as he did when Raikkonen got out of the way), as we have seen him do many times before. The SC-situation was not at all in favour of Schumachers tactic. Because of the SC he had no chance of gaining ground on Trulli when he made his second stop. There is no way that Schumacher could´ve gained 25 seconds on Trulli after the SC to make a safe second stop. He would always run behind Trulli on the track, and overtaking is impossible when the front party isnt´willing to coorperate at least a slight bit. And Trulli won´t be coorperating when he is heading for his first ever and very well deserved victory. I believe Schumacher would´ve come in second.

[gomick]

Could Michael have won? - No

[BootsOntheSide]

The safety car didn't cost him his chance of winning - staying out during it, and thus losing his lead while still having another pitstop to made, is what cost him. He'd've never been able to break away enough to make the stop and rejoin ahead of Jarno, and would've been very unlikely to overtake him (considering his championship lead, I doubt he'd've tried).

[Mr V]

Ferrari and Michaels oppertunity went out of the window the minute that Jarno and Jenson came in at the safety car and Michael didn't (i still can't see the logic in that).

Imo, 3rd was the best that Michael could have hoped for yesterday.

[Hugh Jarce]

NO!

I was lucky enough to be there and whilst he was noticeably quicker visually through the swimming pool complex area where we were, he didn't look like passing either Alonso or Trulli at any point.

Ferrari lost it in qualifiying - and as an aside Rubens looked pretty average too.

In fact as much as we wanted Jense to win that would have been a similiar dream - even if there had been many laps to go.

Credit to Trulli - he drove well from the front and shut the door.

[ASCII Man]

Could Michael have won?

NO!

Should he have won?

HELL NO!

[garcon]

How was it Hugh?

Absolutely mind numbingly fantabulous, or merely life-alteringly fantastic?

[Hugh Jarce]

Literally just got in after flying in from Nice on the 8.12am!

This could go off thread - but we had a brill time.

I always wanted to go to Monaco and it lived up to all expectations. Noise with buildings all around was astonishing!

I can recommend the K Stand - we could see them going up the hill, coming out of the tunnel and then all around the swimming pool complex.

Only problem was the cost! Must have spent the best part of £750 in all for the four days - but what the heck!

Oh and to keep it on thread - No MS could not have won!

I have to say (and this is not a Ferrari bash) but when he appeared with 3 wheels about 2/3rds of the crowd stood up and cheered and waved assorted fingers. I don't wish Schuey any harm or bad feeling but it was an amazing spontaneous reaction.

Having said that we then sang 'Three wheels on my wagon' as loud as we could for a few laps while all the prats in Ferrari pit gear in the rows in front of us 'seethed'.

[Dani Filth]

there was no point of making the pit with the SC . because he was getting out behind Trulli . and at Monaco .. no passing . really ...his chance was to make a gap .. and then pit . he needed around 20 sec .. hard to do . in the 15 laps i think he had fuel for .
speaking of cheering .. i've heard the reaction from the press room . i was disgusted .. and they wanna make themself credible .. no way .. .. shame on them

[garcon]

After such a long period of domination... five races is a long time in F1... I don't think we should read much into the spontaneous reactions of either the crowd or the press box. Certainly doesn't bother me. Quite funny actually.

[Hugh Jarce]

I think Garcon is right - and we were there - it was almost a sense of relief that this one-sided domination had at last finished albeit for one race.

There was no major sense of ill-will where we were (well I guess amongst a few) but manily amazement and laughter to see him driving with one wheel pointing up at the Casino!

Don't worry Dani - normal service will resume I'm sure!

[Dani Filth]

i understand the spectators . hey i do it myself from time to time . but the press . i understand they have favorites . but you can't expect to be credible after a reaction like that .. how would Schumacher react to such a journalist at the next press conference ??

[Red]

That's a chain reaction I believe. Schumacher doesn't like them, they cheer everytime he has problems, he doesn't like them any better, so... Anyway, of course that cheerings were heard louder than dissapointed sighs.

[BootsOntheSide]

Interesting take on it from Dani, enough to make me reconsider my (majority) view. Staying out was probably a calculated gamble, that turned a near-certain 2nd into a possible win, but a 3rd at worst - remember that he is stunning at setting superfast laps when he needs to, and Trulli is still not great at it.