Same now as it has ever meant. It is a track where the driver really can make a difference. On a pure aero or a pure power track the car car defines greatly how well you are likely to do. Monaco does not demand much aero or power and is very much about how clean and brave you are as a driver. Therefore a driver can outperform a cars limitations.
Nico has been impressively fast in Monaco every time he has been there. It will be interesting to see how they get on. Whoever gets pole will almost certainly win, as usual.
I can see Lewis grabbing pole but Nico having better race pace & overtaking him in the pit stops.
Can't wait to see how they compare come race day
Not so.
Downforce and engine drivability are all important at Monaco IME. It is surprising how much drag can be put up with for a bit more downforce there. The cars which can generate the most downforce have always been the fastest at Monaco. Mind you some drivers never sussed it, and talk about "mechanical grip".
There was a lot of time in optimising throttle mapping (driver M Schumacher) and I remember Prost asking "why does a bit more rear wing help traction so much in the hairpin?" He had sussed it by feel, so few drivers do. Quite a few engineers never twigged it either, that is why some people never win...
Nico has been impressively fast in Monaco every time he has been there. It will be interesting to see how they get on. Whoever gets pole will almost certainly win, as usual.
Nico was a lot quicker than LH at Monaco last year, 'twill be interesting to see if Lewis can do anything about it this year.
If Nico couldn't get by Lewis without risking taking them both out at either Bahrain or Spain, where he was definitely quicker, I wouldn't hold out any hope at Monaco.
I suppose the team could give Lewis the less good strategy that they gave to Nico those times and see if he can overtake Nico at the end.
I know the team is based in the UK, but at some point there must start to be some pressure from somewhere for the german driver to be seen to be winning for the German brand. Unless they see a broader benefit of Lewis' ethnic background and the brand. Someone, somewhere at Merc must have twigged that it's within their control to determine who will be champion this year. I can't believe that you'd throw a £100m (or whatever) at the sport and not try and optimise the outcome.
Nico was a lot quicker than LH at Monaco last year, 'twill be interesting to see if Lewis can do anything about it this year.
If Nico couldn't get by Lewis without risking taking them both out at either Bahrain or Spain, where he was definitely quicker, I wouldn't hold out any hope at Monaco.
I suppose the team could give Lewis the less good strategy that they gave to Nico those times and see if he can overtake Nico at the end.
Not so.
Downforce and engine drivability are all important at Monaco IME. It is surprising how much drag can be put up with for a bit more downforce there. The cars which can generate the most downforce have always been the fastest at Monaco. Mind you some drivers never sussed it, and talk about "mechanical grip".
There was a lot of time in optimising throttle mapping (driver M Schumacher) and I remember Prost asking "why does a bit more rear wing help traction so much in the hairpin?" He had sussed it by feel, so few drivers do. Quite a few engineers never twigged it either, that is why some people never win...
Nico has been impressively fast in Monaco every time he has been there. It will be interesting to see how they get on. Whoever gets pole will almost certainly win, as usual.
I saw it that Nico had the better strategy both times to be honest....which is why I was surprised that Lewis ended up on the strategy he was on again in Spain. I am basing this on a harder tyre to go on at the first pit stop with the heavier load and the softer one back on for the last stint to the flag when the car is carrying less weight (which is what Nico had) and should, I would have thought, produce the fastest times under these conditions especially towards the end (barring safety cars and/or rain).
I agree with Frank, Nico was quicker at those two circuits and would have been quicker on the same strategy as lewis or the alternative strategy. Lewis knew this and commented on the fact at the end of both races.