2007 SPANISH GP: FREE PRACTICE
The Honda Racing F1 Team heads to Monte Carlo next week for the highlight
of the F1 calendar - the Monaco Grand Prix.
Loved by fans, teams and drivers alike, Monaco offers a unique atmosphere, a
challenging street circuit and one of the most exciting races of the year.
SHUHEI NAKAMOTO - Senior Technical Director
"At the Paul Ricard test, we evaluated the latest aerodynamic components for
the next three races, particularly Monaco and Canada. For the street circuit
around Monaco, downforce is essential so we will be running a high downforce
set-up on the car. We have acquired a lot of useful data from the test and will
use this for the continual development of the RA107. We expect to improve our
performance in gradual steps over the next few races."
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
"Like most drivers, Monaco is one of my favourite races and I have some
fantastic memories as I have finished on the podium four times there. Monaco is
unique in many ways and it certainly has a special place in F1 history. I
particularly enjoy qualifying at Monaco, it's one of the biggest challenges of
the year and so important to get right. Overtaking is very difficult so you
have to qualify well and get a good grid position. Strategy is also crucial in
Monaco as the pit-stops can help you gain track position."
JENSON BUTTON ON THE MONACO GRAND PRIX
Monaco resident Jenson on what makes Monaco so special and what you need to
have a good race around the street circuit.
"Monaco is the most famous race of all, where all the glitz and glamour of
Formula One is on display, and there is no question that it is a very special
place over the race weekend. It's a very different race from any other on the
calendar with so much history and it means even more to me as I live in Monaco,
so it is one of my home races. Yet ironically the qualities which make it so
appealing also make it a frustrating weekend for the teams and drivers. It's
unbelievably busy and getting around can be just impossible! When I'm not in
the paddock, I'll be getting out of the Principality and up into the hills
behind the action to relax and give myself some space.
"The circuit itself is very tight and twisty and you can really feel the speed
of the car when the barriers are so close to you. The whole lap is one non-stop
challenge and you just have to get your head down and keep focused. You have to
keep the car out of the barriers but not worry too much about getting a few
scrapes during the race. The absolute key to a really quick lap is being
uninhibited and not letting the barriers intimidate you. This is a circuit that
rewards precision like no other.
"Qualifying is crucial for getting the best grid position possible and then you
have to make a good start in the race and do your overtaking there otherwise
passing is almost impossible. You also need the right pit-stop strategy which
can make all the difference to the outcome of your race. Good mechanical grip
from the car is a fundamental requirement, coupled with as much downforce as
possible."
"And finally it's a fantastic race for the fans and one of the only
opportunities for them to get so close to the action and the noise of F1."
The Circuit
No of Laps 78 laps
Circuit Length 3.340 km
Race Distance 260.520 km
Conceived by Antony Noghès, the Monaco Grand Prix remains the most famous race
on the Formula One calendar. First held in 1929, the street circuit is tight,
twisty, bumpy, slow and totally unforgiving - an anachronism for today's
Formula One cars that gasp and crawl around its 3.340 km lap. To this day,
Monaco remains the race that every driver dreams of winning sometime in their
career.
In terms of chassis set-up, the overriding concern at Monaco is downforce.
Overall speeds are low - cars may reach a maximum of 290kph through the famous
tunnel but the average speed for a lap is less than half that. The result is
that engineers throw everything they can at their cars to generate downforce
and optimise low-speed handling. Securing a good grid position is vital since
overtaking is truly problematic, while fuel consumption and tyre wear are not
significant issues. It's a weekend that requires maximum concentration and
consistency from drivers and team members alike.