Forward of the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, Method 1’s marquee occasion, two themes are rising. The primary is a typical thread everytime the grid ventures to Monaco: Saturday is the massive day. With overtaking coming at an absolute premium on the Monte Carlo streets, if you wish to win the Monaco Grand Prix you higher begin up entrance, which implies you finest deliver you A recreation on Saturday.
The opposite theme coming from drivers and groups this week?
It is a observe the place the drivers could make a real distinction, that means driver confidence is important.
Numerous groups, workforce principals, and drivers have burdened the significance of driver confidence, because the circuit arrives in Monaco.
“Monaco qualifying is every part, driver confidence is every part, observe time is every part – so you actually can’t be messing round with automotive setup an excessive amount of,” stated Haas Workforce Principal Ayao Komatsu within the workforce’s media preview. “It means the automotive you roll out with on Friday morning must be proper, you then simply should let the driving force get as many laps in as attainable; there’s extra lap time in them than with tuning bits on the automotive.
“The problem is it’s a must to get automotive set-up proper earlier than you run, for those who like. For those who ship the automotive out and automotive set-up shouldn’t be proper, you possibly can’t spend quarter-hour within the storage to vary the automotive as a result of that quarter-hour is observe time misplaced,” added Komatsu. “Between runs, you need to actually be getting the driving force to take a look at the information, see the place they should enhance, after which get them out as quickly as attainable. The engineers’ problem is extra about begin set-up having to be within the ballpark, after which when you’re working, simply concentrate on giving drivers confidence.”
Esteban Ocon — who threatened for pole place in Monaco final yr and captured a podium end — echoed that sentiment in Alpine’s media preview.
“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 must be at your perfect and stayed centered all through,” stated Ocon. “Monaco is a observe the place the driving force can actually make a distinction. For those who really feel comfy within the automotive and the automotive is compliant and turns the way you need, you possibly can run near the limitations and discover further time.”
Whereas Williams has endured a tricky begin to their season, because the workforce that completed a shocking seventh within the Constructors’ Championship in 2023 has but to deliver residence factors this yr, that would change in the event that they get issues proper this weekend, beginning with driver confidence.
“After a disappointing weekend in Imola, we’re wanting ahead to racing once more in Monaco. It’s a singular observe the place any small mistake is punished instantly, however when all of the items come collectively, a lap round Monaco offers you a really rewarding feeling,” stated Sporting Director Sven Smeets within the workforce’s media preview.
“Because it’s so arduous to overhaul on this observe, it is rather vital to get the very best out of the automotive in Qualifying. Subsequently, the main focus for the Free Follow periods will probably be getting the appropriate stability between Qualifying and race-pace whereas constructing driver confidence.”
“Monaco is an enormous problem for a driver: it’s a spot that not solely requires method 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 loosen up or shift your consideration to one thing else – and each mistake is punished: it’s powerful, however it’s a enjoyable problem,” described Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas, who completed on the rostrum in Monaco in 2019. “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 usually and all of a sudden, 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.”
Teammate Zhou Guanyu shared that feeling in Sauber’s preview.
“Racing in Monte Carlo is without doubt one of the stuff you dream of if 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 find out about, and I’m actually wanting ahead to doing it once more this weekend,” stated Zhou.
“Imola was a tricky weekend however one which has no less than given us classes to be taught for the long run: whereas Monaco is a totally completely different observe format, there are nonetheless many components we will implement to enhance and enhance our competitiveness,” added the Sauber driver. “Right here, greater than wherever else, qualifying is a large a part of your finish consequence, so it’ll be vital to hit the bottom working from the very first session and maximise all we will in observe, in order that we could be ready for Saturday. Even then, it is a observe that may throw surprises at each nook: a Security Automobile isn’t too far, so technique might also present alternatives. We are going to must be ready for something which will occur, however I’m assured we will play our playing cards proper.”
In Monaco, qualifying is important. That makes Saturday maybe crucial day of the week.
How assured every driver is climbing within the automotive on that day could inform the story of the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix.
