Monte Carlo Grand Prix Monaco 27 May

Race weekend report , Q1. Q2 . Q3 and race times click here

the race
Lewis wanted it - Fernando needed it - the public said Lewis would take it, but in the end Fernando Alonso delivered it. Fernando regained the lead in the world championship today, won the race, set fastest lap, took his second consecutive win at Monaco and his second of the season. The body language of both Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton before and after the absorbing duel between them during the race told the story.

Lewis Hamilton maturely tucked into Fernando Alonso going into Ste. Dovete and this year there were no incidents on the first corner and even when Vitantonio Liuzzi hit the barriers (Massenet) 2 laps in, but the safety car was not called out. Fernando Alonso had pulled out a lead on his team mate but this incident allowed Lewis to close it again as Fernando went very slowly around the incident, whereas Hamilton did not have to so. Fernando Alonso then pulled out a gap of 8 seconds before coming upon back markers and the lead came down to 3. Then it was Hamiltons turn to go into traffic.

It was thought that Lewis was carrying more fuel than Fernando and that the Spaniard needed to be at least 5 seconds in front of the second McLaren by the first pit stop to win the race. He managed to be in the lead after Lewis made his first pit stop so the calculation had been correct. It was thought that Lewis would go longer in the second session but this was not the case and so Fernando Alonso took the win showing both his physical and mental strengths, Lewis Hamilton looking a bit ragged in the third session. Felipe Massa managed to keep up with the two McLaren´s in the first session and could not match them in the last two as the team tried the "super soft" tyres in the last two sessions, but the Italian team reckon that in both Canada and America that they will mix it with the McLaren´s. Giancarlo Fisichella drove a good race the circuit suiting their chassis. Alex Wurz registered his first top eight finish since his return to Formula 1 racing with a strong seventh place with Kimi Räikkönen taking the final point after. Scott Speed took a worthy ninth place for Toro Rosso, capitalising on an excellent start and solid pace throughout the race.

They call it the 2007 F1 "Hamilton Effect" with a 60,000 crowd at Monaco today, but today it was Fernando Alonso that was deservedly voted "Driver of the Day". It is estimated that the race brings in a revenue of 60 million
pounds to the Principality. Might we see land reclamation here?

Technorati Profile

Spanish Grand Prix - Circuito Montmelo Barcelona Spain - 13 May 2007

Race weekend report , Q1. Q2 . Q3 and race times click here

The race
Fernando Alonso played his cards entering the first corner and lost the game for as he said afterwards with a light fuel load and 4th place at this stage a win was not on the cards. Alonso tried to go around the outside of Massa, nearly making it, but the Brazilian was having nothing of it and was not going to be run onto the inside by the Spaniard and the two cars touched lightly, Fernando sliding momentarily off the road and letting Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen through. When rejoining he nearly caused a moment between the two BMW Saubers. After this Felipe Massa was never challenged, his team mate Raikkonen retiring on lap 9 with an electrical problem, and went on to win his second consecutive win. Lewis Hamilton could not close the gap, but took his fourth consecutive podium finish in four rookie races and now leads then Championship, the youngest driver to do so since Bruce McLaren. Trulli had stalled on the grid (fuel pressure problems) and had to start from the pit lane but had to retire on lap 8 with the same problem, lack of fuel pressure. Kubica started to show last seasons form with a fourth place but Nick Heidfeld in his second pit stop started to move away before the right front wheel gun was disengaged. The mechanics should have wheeled him back and his almost certain fifth place went out of the window on lap 46, but the cause of retirement was his gearbox. David Coulthard improved performance continued during the race, and despite a problem with the gears during the last few laps he brought the Red Bull in fifth just ahead of Heikki Kovalainen and really should be the "driver of the day." Nico Rosberg gave Williams Toyota points for his 7th place and the popular Takuma Sato also gave Super Aguri Honda their first point ever.

What is the relationship between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton at McLaren Mercedes and also the relationship between Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen at Ferrari after the fourth round? I ask this question as Fernando did not seem too happy that he did not win here and Lewis is now leading the World Championship. I understand that Kimi Raikkonen came to Ferrari thinking that he would be the number one driver there?

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