Method 1 heads to Monte Carlo this weekend for the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix and Spherical 7 of the FIA Method 1 World Championship.
Max Verstappen and Oracle Purple Bull Racing cleared the path in each the Drivers’ and Constructors Championships however up to now two rounds in Miami and Imola, now we have seen stern challenges from McLaren F1 Group and Scuderia Ferrari. Lando Norris, specifically, has been in good from, profitable in Miami and ending underneath a second behind Verstappen on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Monaco is the jewel within the Method 1 crown and may be one of the thrilling races on the calendar. Learn what the groups have been saying forward of the weekend, together with Ferrari and McLaren.
Fred Vasseur — Scuderia Ferrari
“A couple of days in the past, it was our dwelling race in Imola and this weekend, Charles shall be on dwelling turf in Monaco, a race that’s unfinished enterprise for him and we’d like to assist him put it to mattress.
“Carlos additionally loves racing within the Principality, the place he took his first podium on the wheel of a Ferrari, so they’re each very motivated.
“It’s typically accepted that, with the present technology of automobiles, overtaking is tougher right here than at some other monitor on the calendar, which implies qualifying takes on even better significance than traditional.
“We are going to due to this fact be trying to make a step ahead on this self-discipline, as to date this season now we have lacked what it takes to be quickest of all.
“With this in thoughts, now we have been working laborious within the simulator and through engineering conferences, getting ready the whole lot all the way down to the smallest element and we absolutely intend to be front-runners.
Lando Norris — McLaren F1 Group
“Monaco up subsequent! It’s one of the difficult weekends on the calendar. It’s not the simplest monitor to overhaul, however qualifying right here is likely one of the most enjoyable challenges in motorsport. It’s all about hitting the bottom working and constructing confidence proper from FP1.
“It felt good to have the ability to battle for the win in Imola, so now we have a lot potential transferring ahead. Monaco will even be a particular race for us as we shall be racing in a tribute livery to Senna. It seems superb, and I can’t wait to race round this particular monitor in it.”
Oscar Piastri — McLaren F1 Group
“It’s going to be an honour to race across the streets of Monaco in our particular Senna livery. He was a grasp of this monitor with six victories and it’s vital to pay tribute to such a task mannequin of our sport.
“I’ve additionally provide you with a particular helmet design and I’ll be auctioning off considered one of my helmets to lift funds for the Ayrton Senna Institute, which does such nice work in offering alternatives and reworking lives.
“The previous two race weekends in Miami and Imola have been amongst my strongest in F1 and it’s an thrilling prospect to be heading to Monaco with good momentum.”
Toto Wolff — Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Group
“The small step ahead we took in Imola was encouraging. The workforce has labored extremely laborious to carry our latest updates to the monitor, and it was a transparent efficiency achieve. That being stated, others have improved too.
“We’re nonetheless a step behind the entrance three groups due to this fact, and there’s loads of work nonetheless to do. Nonetheless, now we have a transparent path and developments within the pipeline. We’ve a extra strong platform to construct on now and we’re assured that, in time, we will get ourselves into the pack forward.
“That work continues this weekend in Monaco. It’s a distinctive circuit and a incredible problem for the workforce and drivers. It’s all the time laborious to foretell anticipated efficiency, however we are going to look to execute a clear weekend and maximise the automotive now we have.
“It’s all the time a particular weekend, and we look ahead to placing on a superb present for the followers, and our companions and visitors throughout our intensive hospitality programme in Monte Carlo.”
Nico Hulkenberg — Haas F1 Group
“I’ve lived in Monaco since 2015, this shall be my eleventh Monaco Grand Prix, and I’ve watched the race many instances rising up. Monaco is iconic, it’s all about custom; the palace, the accommodations, and plenty of locations that also have a costume code to have the ability to get in. The historical past and the heritage there, everybody embraces and respects that, which I like.
“There’s all the time a bit extra deal with qualifying right here in Monaco. However it’s the identical each weekend, from scratch you’ll want to attempt to get a superb feeling for the automotive, and the issue with qualifying in Monaco is that you actually need to grasp the lap and put all three sectors collectively. It’s a trip on a knife edge and difficult yearly and considered one of my favourite tracks to drive, I look ahead to the trip and the problem.”
Kevin Magnussen — Haas F1 Group
“It’s the very best monitor on the calendar to drive, it’s simply phenomenal on these little tight streets with partitions all over the place. The sensation of driving a Method 1 automotive in Monaco, to me, is the very best of the 12 months. We all know there’s no overtaking within the race, so it does really feel now with all these different races the place overtaking is fairly good and racing is fairly good, that it’s a little bit of a bizarre one as a result of there’s so little.
“Possibly there may very well be extra qualifying periods or a Dash to throw a curveball. The Monaco Grand Prix is part of the triple crown, it’s a kind of races the place when you win that, it’s additional particular, and having pushed round there it’s so particular, so I hope it stays on the calendar.
“At different races, you’re doing laps to discover totally different methods, you’ve discovered the restrict rapidly. In Monaco, you’re simply getting nearer and nearer to the restrict, and because it’s a monitor that’s actually getting used, it’s received a lot monitor evolution.
“Monaco is one the place all of the partying that’s happening, it’s fairly seen. At different races, the events are occurring in golf equipment within the metropolis, in Monaco, they’re occurring on the monitor in Rascasse, and persons are spilling drinks on the monitor! I like Monaco, it’s my favorite race.”
Esteban Ocon — BWT Alpine F1 Group
“Reflecting on Imola, I might say it was a tough race for us as a workforce, and we weren’t ready to battle with the opposite automobiles round us. The automotive felt extra aggressive over a single lap, and we have been once more inside attain of creating it into Q3, however within the race we have been hindered by an absence of straight-line pace.
“It meant we weren’t capable of make progress on our beginning place or defend from these behind. We tried totally different methods with each automobiles to provide ourselves a chance to make up locations, however in the end, we lacked the required tempo.
“I prolonged my first stint to permit for a one-stop and hoped we may soar any of these two-stopping however ultimately that didn’t occur. What Imola confirmed is that we should hold bettering and dealing laborious to grasp the automotive extra − extracting essentially the most from the set-up on the various kinds of circuit we go to, beginning already this week in Monaco.
“Monaco is such a particular place on the calendar and is synonymous with Method 1 and the historical past of motorsport. As a driver, it’s a weekend that you’ll want to be at your highest and stayed centered all through.
“Monaco is a monitor the place the motive force can actually make a distinction. Should you really feel snug within the automotive and the automotive is compliant and turns the way you need, you possibly can run near the obstacles and discover additional time.
“That’s what occurred final 12 months, the place I felt good within the automotive already from the primary Apply session. I’ve very fond recollections of this place, particularly from the rostrum end final 12 months. With out a race in France, this may be thought-about a little bit of a house race for us, alongside Silverstone.
“Realistically, I don’t suppose we will repeat the efficiency from final 12 months, however we are going to give it our all to realize the very best outcome this weekend.”
Pierre Gasly — BWT Alpine F1 Group
“I positively had blended emotions travelling dwelling on Sunday evening after Imola. On one aspect, it’s a step in the correct path as I felt very snug within the automotive by way of Friday and Saturday.
“It’s most likely essentially the most dialed in I’ve been all season to date. I made a small mistake in Qualifying in Q2 when it mattered – I used to be barely distracted into the ultimate corners by one other automotive and I misjudged my line.
“That’s on me, and it will have been fascinating to see the place we might have ended up as my Q1 lap time was very robust and inside the highest ten. These are simply small issues to get proper and I do know we’re getting there as a workforce.
“Sunday’s race was much less optimistic for us and it uncovered our weaknesses throughout our automotive bundle. We lacked tempo to actually make something from the race. There’s a lot for us to assessment however clearly not the way in which we anticipate issues to go. We’ve an instantaneous likelihood to race once more this weekend. It’s most likely as shut as we get to France all season, so whereas it’s not a house race, that’s saved for Charles, it does really feel particular for the workforce and us drivers in Monaco with a lot French assist.
“It’s the race I most look ahead to on the calendar. It’s excessive threat with excessive rewards, as we skilled as a workforce final 12 months. I’ve some unfinished enterprise on my aspect from twelve months in the past, so I’m positively able to get happening monitor. It’s a legendary place. World well-known and essentially the most iconic place in motorsport.
“We’re going to work laborious to stand up to hurry as rapidly as attainable and construct up some confidence within the automotive throughout Apply. From there, we’ll want a little bit of magic on Saturday and see the place we’re at from there. I’m prepared for it!”
Alex Albon — Williams Racing
“As we head to Monaco this week as a part of the doubleheader, I’m actually wanting ahead to driving on this iconic monitor once more and it’s all the time thrilling when the race is in your doorstep.
“Monaco has all the time been a monitor that our automotive has struggled with, so I’m to see how the FW46 performs given our change in traits to make it extra versatile throughout totally different tracks.
“Monaco is all the time fascinating with the climate being unpredictable, in addition to overtaking being a problem, so it ought to make for an fascinating weekend.”
Logan Sargeant — Williams Racing
“It’s all the time particular to race across the streets of Monaco. The monitor is extremely slender, leaving no margin for error, so it’s essential to construct up confidence throughout the Free Apply periods.
“Securing monitor place is vital with it being tough to overhaul, making Qualifying in Monaco one of the vital of the season. We’ll be trying to reap the benefits of any alternatives as a workforce.”
Valtteri Bottas — Stake F1 Group Kick Sauber
“Monaco is particular, in each approach. It’s such a throwback to a distinct period of motorsport, each when it comes to the circuit itself and of the whole lot that takes place across the occasion: it’s an enormous date on the calendar and one that’s all the time pleasant. Plus, residing in Monaco itself, I get to go dwelling each night, which is one thing you positively don’t get to do in some other race within the season!
“Monaco is an enormous problem for a driver: it’s a spot that not solely requires approach and precision – it additionally calls for absolute psychological focus for each inch of tarmac.
“There’s not a single place the place you possibly can calm down or shift your consideration to one thing else – and each mistake is punished: it’s powerful, nevertheless it’s a enjoyable problem.
“Additionally, whereas qualifying is essential in each race, in Monaco it acquires an much more pivotal position: add to this the climate, which may change typically and immediately, and you’ve got so many components of potential jeopardy in a single single race. That is what makes this race what it’s, and it’s a problem I relish.”
Zhou Guanyu — Stake F1 Group Kick Sauber
“Racing in Monte Carlo is likely one of the stuff you dream of while you’re a toddler aiming for Method One: it’s one of the particular moments within the season, it’s a race even non-fans would learn about, and I’m actually wanting ahead to doing it once more this weekend.
“Imola was a troublesome weekend however one which has not less than given us classes to study for the longer term: whereas Monaco is a totally totally different monitor structure, there are nonetheless many components we will implement to enhance and increase our competitiveness.
“Right here, greater than anyplace else, qualifying is a large a part of your finish outcome, so it’ll be vital to hit the bottom working from the very first session and maximise all we will in apply, in order that we may be ready for Saturday.
“Even then, it is a monitor that may throw surprises at each nook: a Security Automotive is rarely too far, so technique might also present alternatives. We are going to have to be ready for something that will occur, however I’m assured we will play our playing cards proper.”
