Roger Benoit, Monte Carlo
The big Monaco years with all the parties are somehow over. Of course, the big million-yachts are still romping around in the harbor, where the rental fees have continued to rise to astronomical sums. Not even a small boat can moor here for the weekend for less than 20,000 euros.
rain on sunday?
On the other hand, one discovers less outrageously expensive cars on the streets and hardly any big celebrities. The “failure” of the Russians is also having an effect in Monaco… Luckily the weather is right, even though rain is forecast for Sunday. Then the fastest roulette table in the world becomes a lottery! If it comes down right here, only the rain artists will survive.
«Local currency the problem!»
After Arrest posse around former Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone (91) when departing from Sao Paulo in a private jet to Lisbon, the Brit is ready to joke again: “There was nothing there. When packing the suitcase we forgot to take out the small pistol. No sign of ammunition at all. At some point a Formula 1 mechanic in the paddock sold me this pistol. »
The biggest problem after the customs inspection. «They asked me to pay 6,000 reais. But of course I didn’t have any local currency with me.” So billionaire Ecclestone had to borrow around 1,300 francs …
Waiting for the first crash
Of course, the first Monaco training session on the 3337 meter long “horror slope” was more serious. The new regulations with the larger wheels make it more difficult for everyone to ride the razor blade.
Firstly, the 46 kilo heavier cars are no longer so easy to throw around corners and secondly, the precise view from the cars on bends in the road is poorer. It’s easy to misjudge the important centimetres. Nobody did that in the first 60 minutes (yet)!
The Leclerc bad luck of 2021
Right from the start, local Charles Leclerc (24) got started in a Ferrari. The world championship leader, who was dethroned by winner Max Verstappen (Red Bull-Honda) in Barcelona, was the first to break the 1:16 minute mark – 1:15.883.
For comparison: in 2021, Leclerc took pole position here in front of empty spectators with a time of 1:10.346. But on Sunday his place at the start of the GP remained empty – on the way to the line-up, the wheel hub of the Ferrari broke!
Red flag because of Schumi
First excitement and immediately red flag after 20 minutes. Schumi wants to turn into the pit entrance after Rascasse and simply stops in front of the entrance. Ten marshals take care of the Haas Ferrari and roll it to the pits…
In Italy you can apparently already hear the grass growing for 2023 and see the Germans with no points at Aston Martin-Mercedes – because the British are firmly counting on Vettel’s resignation. And the German market is important for Aston Martin …
Short McLaren tour …
After 30 minutes, the picture in front shifted significantly. Suddenly both McLaren-Mercedes of Norris and Ricciardo were in front – before Gasly (Alpha Tauri-Honda), who had been disappointing in 2022, intervened.
Then Russell showed his talent, while the three world champions Verstappen Hamilton and Vettel behind them aimed for tomorrow’s qualification at 4 p.m. (TV live).
Again and again Bottas defects
But it was the two Red Bull-Honda’s who came out on top after their one-two in Barcelona last Sunday.
And Alfa-Sauber? For the fourth time in a row, Bottas had problems on Friday. This time Bottas stayed in the garage after two laps without time – the electric motor broke down. In Imola it was the electrics. An accident stopped him in Miami, and the Finn suffered an engine failure in Barcelona.
Bottas: 1000 Euro Busse
Teammate Zhou, who won Formula 2 here a year ago, had to settle for 17th place. Behind only Latifi, Schumi and Bottas! And the eighth place in the World Championship received a fine on his first exit onto the track. He was caught in the pit lane at 81.9 km/h – 1000 euros. Only 60km/h are allowed in the principality…