Forward of the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, Method 1’s marquee occasion, two themes are rising. The primary is a standard thread everytime the grid ventures to Monaco: Saturday is the large 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 suggests you finest convey you A sport on Saturday.
The opposite theme coming from drivers and groups this week?
This can be a observe the place the drivers could make a real distinction, that means driver confidence is essential.
Plenty of groups, crew principals, and drivers have harassed the significance of driver confidence, because the circuit arrives in Monaco.
“Monaco qualifying is all the things, driver confidence is all the things, observe time is all the things – so you actually can’t be messing round with automotive setup an excessive amount of,” stated Haas Crew Principal Ayao Komatsu within the crew’s media preview. “It means the automotive you roll out with on Friday morning needs to be proper, you then simply must let the motive 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, in the event you like. When you ship the automotive out and automotive set-up is just not proper, you possibly can’t spend quarter-hour within the storage to alter the automotive as a result of that quarter-hour is observe time misplaced,” added Komatsu. “Between runs, you must actually be getting the motive force to have 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 operating, simply concentrate on giving drivers confidence.”
Esteban Ocon — who threatened for pole place in Monaco final 12 months 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 motive force can actually make a distinction. When you really feel comfy within the automotive and the automotive is compliant and turns the way you need, you possibly can run near the boundaries and discover further time.”
Whereas Williams has endured a tricky begin to their season, because the crew that completed a surprising seventh within the Constructors’ Championship in 2023 has but to convey house factors this 12 months, 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 trying 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 provides you a really rewarding feeling,” stated Sporting Director Sven Smeets within the crew’s media preview.
“Because it’s so laborious to overhaul on this observe, it is extremely essential to get the perfect out of the automotive in Qualifying. Due to this fact, the main focus for the Free Apply periods might be getting the best steadiness between Qualifying and race-pace whereas constructing driver confidence.”
“Monaco is a giant 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, 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 might change usually and instantly, 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 among the stuff you dream of if you’re a toddler aiming for Method One: it’s probably the most particular moments within the season, it’s a race even non-fans would find out about, and I’m actually trying ahead to doing it once more this weekend,” stated Zhou.
“Imola was a tricky weekend however one which has not less than given us classes to study for the long run: whereas Monaco is a totally totally different observe structure, there are nonetheless many components we are able to implement to enhance and increase our competitiveness,” added the Sauber driver. “Right here, greater than anyplace else, qualifying is a large a part of your finish consequence, so it’ll be essential to hit the bottom operating from the very first session and maximise all we are able to in observe, in order that we may be ready for Saturday. Even then, this can be a observe that may throw surprises at each nook: a Security Automotive isn’t too far, so technique may present alternatives. We’ll should be ready for something that will occur, however I’m assured we are able to play our playing cards proper.”
In Monaco, qualifying is essential. That makes Saturday maybe an important 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.
