Monaco GP: Free Practice 2 - Re-Cap & Results

It was a cold and wet second practice session in Monte Carlo. Not too much running was able to be done as rain hampered the last hour of FP2.

It was off to a bad start for Sauber when Ericsson was unable to run due to an engine issue, which left him unable to set a time during the session.

Manor's Roberto Merhi crashed in the first 30 minutes of the session and caused Red Flags due to the debri and the car being in the way. Merhi emerged from the accident unharmed and OK and after things were cleaned up, the session was back underway. However, the rain started soon after and not many ventured out to do a lap until the last 5 minutes when the rain had stopped and the track had dried up a bit.

Here are the times from the session

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:17.192 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Nico Rosberg - 1:17.932 / Mercedes-Mercedes

3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:18.295 / Ferrari-Ferrari

4. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:18.543 / Ferrari-Ferrari

5. Daniil Kvyat - 1:18.548 / Red Bull-Renault

6. Carlos Sainz - 1:18.659 / Toro Rosso-Renault

7. Max Verstappen - 1:18.782 / Toro Rosso-Renault

8. Fernando Alonso - 1:18.906 / McLaren-Honda

9. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:19.151 / Force India-Mercedes

10. Romain Grosjean - 1:19.266 / Lotus-Mercedes

11. Sergio Perez - 1:19.300 / Force India-Mercedes

12. Felipe Massa - 1:19.560 / Williams-Mercedes

13. Valtteri Bottas - 1:19.566 / Williams-Mercedes

14. Pastor Maldonado - 1:19.577 / Lotus-Mercedes

15. Jenson Button - 1:19.606 / McLaren-Honda

16. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:19.639 / Red Bull-Renault

17. Felipe Nasr - 1:20.263 / Sauber-Ferrari

18. Roberto Merhi - 1:22.017 / Manor-Ferrari

19. Will Stevens - 1:22.943 / Manor-Ferrari

20. Marcus Ericsson / No Time Set / Sauber-Ferrari

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Monaco GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Results

The F1 weekend in Monte Carlo, Monaco has officially kicked off - Free Practice 1 got underway earlier and teams were eager to get their cars out for a first run of the Circuit de Monaco.

Jenson Button was forced to sit out the majority of the session due to ERS issues with his McLaren-Honda. The team worked throughout the first hour and was able to get him out by the end of the session. 

Sauber is facing a difficult weekend by the looks of their FP1 positions on the time sheets. One might suggest there were some issues with the cars and multiple people reported they looked a bit "Slow" in the session. Sauber has been consistent so-far this year after not scoring a single point in 2014 and they'll be looking to score points on Sunday.

The Circuit de Monaco is known for its beauty but also its dangers and most sessions usually have a few Yellow or Red flag moments. There was quite a few yellows but nothing too serious. Multiple drivers using the run-off at Saint Devote or nearly touching the barriers around multiple turns. Rosberg even bumped a barrier and had to go into his garage for a check of the car to make sure nothing was damaged. However, the session had no Red Flags, which everyone is thankful for.

It was Hamilton who ended the session fastest while team-mate Rosberg ended down in 9th. Young Rookie, Max Verstappen, who's never driven on this circuit, finished 2nd while Daniel Ricciardo ended the session in 3rd.

Here are the times.

TIMES:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:18.750 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Max Verstappen - 1:18.899 / Toro Rosso-Renault

3. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:19.086 / Red Bull-Renault

4. Sebastian Vettel - 1:19.134 / Ferrari-Ferrari

5. Carlos Sainz - 1:19.245 / Toro Rosso-Renault

6. Pastor Maldonado - 1:19.454 / Lotus-Mercedes

7. Daniil Kvyat - 1:19.520 / Red Bull-Renault

8. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:19.679 / Ferrari-Ferrari

9. Nico Rosberg - 1:19.762 / Mercedes-Mercedes

10. Felipe Massa - 1:19.766 / Williams-Mercedes

11. Fernando Alonso - 1:19.791 / McLaren-Honda

12. Jenson Button - 1:20.202 / McLaren-Honda

13. Romain Grosjean - 1:20.274 / Lotus-Mercedes

14. Sergio Perez - 1:20.619 / Force India-Mercedes

15. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:20.784 / Force India-Mercedes

16. Felipe Nasr - 1:20.857 / Sauber-Ferrari

17. Valtteri Bottas - 1:20.917 / Williams-Mercedes

18. Marcus Ericsson - 1:21.219 / Sauber-Ferrari

19. Will Stevens - 1:23.234 / Manor-Ferrari

20. Roberto Merhi - 1:23.404 / Manor-Ferrari

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Toro Rosso

Preview Quotes: Toro Rosso


Carlos Sainz - "Monaco is definitely one of the highlights of the racing year for any driver. It's a special sort of track where you always want to show that you are fast, because it's a very challenging circuit where the driver can make the difference. I've had some very positive results there in the past in the World Series and it's a track I like a lot. However, this will be my first time driving there in a Formula 1 car and I imagine it will feel very different to what I've experienced there before. It will all be about the qualifying session, which in some ways is the most important moment of the race weekend. So you really need to find the right balance with the car during free practice and then put together a good lap. I'm looking forward to Saturday very much therefore, because I can imagine that getting a good lap in qualifying must feel like something really special."

Max Verstappen - "A street circuit is always special. I've never driven at this track before but I have driven at Macau, which I reckon is a very challenging street circuit. I enjoyed the experience there and so I'm looking forward to Monaco. It will need a different approach and you can't just attack it in the first free practice session, you need to build up to it gradually. The important thing is to do as many laps as possible. I've driven it on the simulator and what strikes you is that it is quite slow. Even if engine power will be less important here, you do need the best possible driveability to come from the engine. I expect the lap times between the teams to be much closer than in some other races. In the end, set-up changes won't make the biggest difference. It's more a case of what you as a driver can get out of yourself. In Monaco, I think it will be more likely to get an extra 2 tenths out of yourself than from something you do to the car."

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Manor

Preview Quotes: Manor-Marussia

Will Stevens - "I'm so excited to be racing in my first Monaco Grand Prix this weekend. It's such a historic venue and the atmosphere is spectacular. From a racing point of view it's a real drivers' circuit, one which really showcases ability versus car performance. Precision is key as the smallest mistake can end up costing a driver dearly, but that's all part of the unique challenge and I can't wait to get started on Thursday. It will be an emotional weekend for the team as we remember Jules' amazing achievement here last year. I was only watching then, but that was some race! We'll all be pushing to ensure another strong performance and a two-car finish."

Roberto Merhi - "I can't wait to be racing in Monaco. For sure, this is one of the highlights of the season for any driver. The track is a real adventure in any category but I'm thrilled to be racing here in F1 for the first time and on the 65th anniversary of such an historic circuit. The streets of Monaco are really exhilarating to drive, like Casino Square and the Swimming Pool section and it's a really amazing vibe all weekend. This is a special place for the team, so I hope we can have a good performance in the race for everybody."

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Mercedes

Preview Quotes: Mercedes


Lewis Hamilton - “I didn’t have thae best weekend in Barcelona, so to come away with second was okay in terms of damage limitation and it meant another great result for the team with the one-two. I’m now fully focused on Monaco - the race that everybody looks forward to and one I particularly love. It’s the biggest challenge of the year for a driver and, when you get it right, that feeling is hard to beat. Building a rhythm right from the beginning of practice is so important, as you really need to feel your way into the circuit. You have to be inch perfect at every point, as the slightest slip can ruin your weekend. It’s about pure driving skill and pure bravery behind the wheel, which for me is what makes it so special. Like Spain, it’s another circuit where I haven’t had the best of luck in the past - but I’m not interested in what’s been and gone or in making any predictions. I’m just here to get in this fantastic car we have, race it hard and give it everything I’ve got, like always.”

Nico Rosberg - “We had a perfect weekend in Spain and, for me personally, it was good to close the gap a little in the points. There’s still a long way to go this season so it’s all there to fight for, I’m just taking it race by race. Next we have Monaco – the most legendary, exciting and challenging event in the calendar. Throughout the whole weekend, the atmosphere is very, very special. It’s a home race for me and it’s strange to just walk or take a scooter to the racetrack - but also very cool to sleep in your own bed each night! The circuit itself has very unique setup characteristics and we evaluated a few of those during the test in Barcelona, as the last sector there has a lot of tight corners which are quite representative. The car felt very good so I'm feeling optimistic and ready for this next race. If we can have everything running smoothly from the start it should be a good weekend, so I'm really looking forward to it.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Williams

Preview Quotes: Williams


Valtteri Bottas - "As a Monaco resident I see the track being built and the grandstands going up in the weeks ahead of the race and the anticipation starts to build. Witnessing the whole build up and then the roads forming into iconic racing corners is a very strange but cool experience. It’s not the easiest race on the calendar but that challenge makes it a thrilling circuit to drive - for me it’s the most special race of the year. The first year I drove here I found it challenging so it’s nice to go into the race with some experience under my belt already.

Felipe Massa - “With the Monaco Grand Prix I get to see the whole process of how a Formula One race comes together way before the fans get there, which is something I would never normally witness. It’s a one off race, especially as I can walk to the track in the morning from home. It’s a long, special but important race and I hope we can have a strong weekend. Although I prefer longer faster circuits like Spa and Monza, nothing can take away from the thrill of the streets of Monaco. Your first thought is to qualifying well, and from there to make sure that you finish the race. If you do that then you are in with a chance of getting some really good points.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes: Sauber


Marcus Ericsson - “The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the highlights of the season. This street track is a kind of unique place, as it is quite different to other circuits on our calendar. If you are feeling confident in the car you can extract the most out of your skills and the car’s perfomance. It will be crucial, especially for the race, to find a good rhythm from corner to corner and from lap to lap. In previous racing series I have had some strong races in Monaco, so I am looking forward to a positive weekend.“

Felipe Nasr - “Monaco is one of the nicest tracks on the calendar, and at the same time the Grand Prix is a very traditional one. It is a track that is very demanding in all areas. From the driver’s side, you need to feel confident in the car to push it to the limit. There are a few things which are important for a good lap time: Good braking stability, traction, as well a generally stable car. Over the days we also need to keep an eye on the grip evolution. All in all I am looking forward to racing in Monaco surrounded by a great atmosphere.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - McLaren

Preview Quotes: McLaren

Fernando Alonso - “Monaco is one of those circuits that’s in its own league. Although it’s almost impossible to overtake there, it still produces one of the most impressive and exciting shows on the Formula 1 calendar. As a circuit and as a place, it’s completely unique, and this is what makes it so special. There are three areas you have to focus on for this grand prix - qualifying, concentration, and strategy. Saturday is where you can increase your chances of getting a good result from the weekend, so this will be our first objective, and I’m hopeful we can continue to strengthen our qualifying performance and improve our starting position.

On Sunday, the most important thing is concentration - the streets are so narrow and twisty that there is no margin for error - so if you can do this and also maximise your strategy, you have the best chance of moving up the order by the end of the race. My home race in Barcelona was obviously a frustrating weekend for the whole team; we were unlucky with how my race ended and we firmly believed we could’ve achieved a positive result there. Our fighting spirit is still strong though, and we’re determined to take that to Monaco and see how much progress we can make there. I’m hopeful our car will perform better there than in Spain, and we’ll be pushing again to get into the points.

Monaco is a tough challenge, mentally, but that’s what makes it even more rewarding when you hook up a perfect lap. I’ve always enjoyed racing there and I’ve enjoyed victory there twice - in 2006 with Renault, and the year after with McLaren. Winning there is an unforgettable experience. It’s also a truly unforgiving circuit, so making mistakes comes at a high price. But Monaco is Monaco, one of the best races of the year, and the reason that the drivers love going back there each season.”

Jenson Button - “It’s true what they say - Monaco is the jewel in the crown of the Formula 1 calendar in every sense. It’s a real test of man and machine working in harmony to hook up the best lap, and maintain that consistency lap after lap. It’s very easy to make mistakes there, and you need complete confidence in the car and incredible control and accuracy to get the most out of a lap. Qualifying is so important because overtaking is famously tricky; we’ve been steadily improving our starting positions since the beginning of the season, so I’m hopeful we’ll see further progress on Saturday.

Monaco is a low-speed circuit that doesn’t rely that much on aerodynamic performance, but you do need good balance and driveability. I’m hopeful we can sort out the balance issues we had on my car in the last race, so Monaco should see an improvement. After a disappointing race in Barcelona, naturally it’s easy to be frustrated when you step out of the car, especially when you feel you deserved more. I firmly believe that we’re making solid progress, which is why having a difficult race is hard to take. However, we’ve put that race behind us and I think we’ve a decent chance of continuing our upward trend in Monaco.

I love Monaco; I won there in 2009 and the feeling you get driving there is absolutely mega. While nothing beats the feeling of racing at your home Grand Prix, Monaco has become an adopted home race for me, so driving around these famous streets so close to where I live makes it even more special. Racing at Monaco is an incredible challenge - being precise on turn-in, hitting the apex and balancing the throttle, while being as patient as possible to get the best exit, is a real art. The flow of corners in the middle sector - from Mirabeau, into the Hairpin and on to Portier - is particularly tricky, as it’s so easy to go a foot off the racing line and end up in the wall. Monaco always produces great drama, which just adds to its legendary status as one of the best Grands Prix on the calendar.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes: Force India


Nico Hulkenberg - “Monaco is my favourite race weekend of the year, both from a driving point of view and because of everything that goes on during the week. Everything about Monaco is exciting: the place itself feels special, but when Formula One turns up it's the start of something amazing.

From a driver's point of view, Monaco is one of the last tracks in the world where you have absolutely zero margin for error - one mistake and you are in the wall. The thrill and kick you get in the car as you drive around the circuit is much bigger than what you get from any other track: your heart rate goes up; your heart is in your mouth – I really like that. The whole lap is a challenge. To master the track and put together three good sectors on a qualifying run is very hard, but when you get it done it is such a great feeling. You are relieved, proud and happy - it's priceless. The atmosphere you breathe in during the race weekend is so cool. From the start of the week there is a lot going on in terms of parties and events, and just being part of this weekend is very enjoyable.”

Sergio Perez - “I always look forward to Monaco. It’s a special place, which has everything you need for a Formula One race. The lap is amazing, the location is beautiful, and it’s the race everybody wants to attend.

I enjoy the challenge of Monaco and I believe that the driver can make more of a difference compared to other circuits. To be quick you have to take some risks, push the limits, and kiss the walls. I enjoy the quick parts of the lap - the swimming pool section and Casino Square. It’s all about being accurate and precise. It’s not the most difficult circuit, but if you get it wrong, you get punished. When you get together the perfect lap, it feels great. That’s why I think it’s the one race where there is a chance to do something extra special.”

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Monaco GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Lotus

Preview Quotes: Lotus


Romain Grosjean - "It's like an unofficial French Grand Prix first of all! It's great to see so much French support every year and there are so many flags and banners. It's a very challenging circuit and unique on the calendar. As a driver you have to stay calm and relaxed on a track that doesn't allow for any mistakes. I've been super quick in the past, but I've also hit the walls too, so there's a real balance to be struck. It's an exciting and glamorous Grand Prix but always a step into the unknown, because it's difficult to predict how well each car will work there. It's a crazy week with all the focus and attention, but everyone loves Monaco. I do like the Casino corner which is quite nice, high-speed with a little bit of banking. The most difficult part would be the next section - Mirabeau, Loews and then the two Portier corners because you have to 'create' some speed there. There's not a dull moment at any time over the course of a lap. When you finish a lap and you know it's quick because you've given everything and thought you were about to go off about three times, it is something special."

Pastor Maldonado - "First of all it's such an historic Grand Prix and an iconic race for Formula 1. I really love it. I've been very quick in the past and I think it is one of the most special weekends of the year. The atmosphere is unique. The track is really challenging and changes a lot over the sessions, which you need to anticipate. It's difficult to be quick close to the walls and overall it's a very tough race, demanding in terms of concentration and stressful physically and mentally. The only negative thing is that it is quite difficult to overtake, but it is not impossible. I really like the Casino and Swimming Pool sections. Every corner in Monaco has its own challenge, and own individual approach needed - that is probably the beauty of the circuit there. It's where I live now so I might be biased, but it's a very special place."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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