2009 Monaco Grand Prix

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Who will win the Monaco Grand Prix?

Poll ended at 23 May 2009, 14:01

Jenson Button
12
19%
Rubens Barrichello
7
11%
Sebastian Vettel
8
13%
Mark Webber
6
10%
Jarno Trulli
1
2%
Timo Glock
0
No votes
Lewis Hamilton
7
11%
Fernando Alonso
4
6%
Nick Heidfeld
0
No votes
Felipe Massa
8
13%
Kimi Raikkonen
10
16%
Other
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 63

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phil1993
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2009 Monaco Grand Prix

Post by phil1993 » 14 May 2009, 14:01

Round 6 of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship

FOR THIS ROUND ONLY:

LIVE WEBCAM PICTURES!

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The building of the circuit takes six weeks, and the removal after the race another three weeks. The race circuit has many elevation shifts, tight corners, and a narrow course that make it perhaps the most demanding track in Formula One racing. Despite the fact that the course has changed many times during its history, it is still considered the ultimate test of driving skills in Formula One. It contains both the slowest corner in Formula One (the Grand Hotel hairpin, taken at just 50 kilometers per hour (31 mph)) and one of the quickest (the flat out kink in the tunnel, three turns beyond the hairpin, taken at 260 kilometers per hour (162 mph)) which perhaps sums up its difficulty.

Due to the tight and twisty nature of the circuit, it favours the skill of the drivers over the power of the cars. However, there is very little overtaking as the course is so narrow and dangerous. Racing round the course has been likened to riding a bicycle round your bathroom or, in Nelson Piquet's words, "Flying a helicopter in your living room". The famous tunnel section (running under the Fairmont Hotel, marked in grey in the circuit diagram above) is said to be difficult for drivers to cope with due to the quick switch from light to dark, then back to light again, at one of the fastest points of the course. As a result, race outcomes tend to be decided by grid positions as well as pit strategies.

Several attempts have been made to improve cramped conditions in the pit garages. In 2003, a substantial amount of land was reclaimed from the harbor to slightly change the shape of one section of the circuit; this left more space for new pit garages, which debuted in the 2004 event.

The circuit is generally recognised to be less safe than other circuits used for high profile events. If it were not already an existing Grand Prix, it would not be permitted to be added to the Formula One schedule, for safety reasons.[1]
The lap starts with a short sprint up to the tight St. Devote corner. This is a nearly 90 degree right-hand bend usually taken in third or fourth gear.[3] This corner has seen many first lap accidents, although these are less common since the removal of the mini roundabout on the apex of the corner before the 2004 event, making the entrance to the corner wider. The cars then head uphill, before changing down for the long left-hander at Massenet.

Out of Massenet, the cars drive past the famous casino before quickly reaching the aptly named Casino Square. The cars snake down the next short straight, avoiding an enormous bump on the left of the track, a reminder of the unique nature of the circuit. This leads to the tight Mirabeau corner, which is followed by a short downhill burst to the even tighter Grand Hotel hairpin (formerly known as Loew's Hairpin, or Station Hairpin before that). It is a corner which has been used for many overtaking manoeuvres in the past. However it would be almost physically impossible for two modern F1 cars to go round side by side, as the drivers must use full steering lock to get around. It is so tight that many Formula 1 teams must redesign their steering and suspension specifically to negotiate this corner.

After the hairpin, the cars head downhill again to a double right-hander called Portier before heading into the famous tunnel, a unique feature of a Formula One circuit. As well as the change of light making visibility poor,[4] a car can lose 20-30% of its downforce due to the unique aerodynamic properties of the tunnel.[4]
The tunnel.

Out of the tunnel, the cars have to brake hard for a tight left-right chicane. This has been the scene of several large accidents, including that of Karl Wendlinger in 1994, and Jenson Button in 2003. The chicane is probably the only place on the circuit where overtaking can be attempted. There is a short straight to Tabac, a tight fourth gear corner which is taken at about 195 km/h (120 mph).[5] Accelerating up to 225 km/h (140 mph),[5] the cars reach Piscine, a fast left-right followed by a slower right-left chicane which takes the cars past the swimming pool that gave its name to the corner.

Following Piscine, there is a short straight followed by heavy braking for a quick left which is immediately followed by the tight 180 degree right-hander called La Rascasse. This is another corner which requires full steering lock; it will be remembered for a long time as the venue of one of the most suspicious maneuvers in recent Formula One history after the 2006 season when Michael Schumacher appeared to deliberately stop his car in qualifying so as to prevent Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber — who were both following and were on flying laps — from out-qualifying him. The Rascasse takes the cars into a short, adversely-cambered, straight that precedes the final corner, Virage Antony Noghes. Named after the organiser of the first Monaco Grand Prix, the corner is a tight right-hander which brings the cars back onto the start-finish straight, and across the line to start a new lap.
Thu 21 May 2009
Thursday Practice 1 10:00 - 11:30
Thursday Practice 2 14:00 - 15:30
Sat 23 May 2009
Saturday Practice 11:00 - 12:00
Qualifying 14:00
Sun 24 May 2009
Race 14:00

all sessions available on bbc red button or bbc one
01 Jenson Button 41
02 Rubens Barrichello 27
03 Sebastian Vettel 23
04 Mark Webber 15.5
05 Jarno Trulli 14.5
06 Timo Glock 12
07 Lewis Hamilton 9
08 Fernando Alonso 9
09 Nick Heidfeld 6
10 Nico Rosberg 4.5
01 Brawn-Mercedes 68
02 RBR-Renault 38.5
03 Toyota 26.5
04 McLaren-Mercedes 13
05 Renault 9
06 BMW Sauber 6
07 Ferrari 6
08 Williams-Toyota 4.5
09 STR-Ferrari 4
No virtual lap this time as rfactor screws up round Monaco, but it'll be back for Istanbul!

Previous winners:

2008 - L. Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - F. Alonso (McLaren)
2006 - F. Alonso (Renault)
2005 - K. Raikkonen (McLaren)
2004 - J. Trulli (Renault)

Ferrari haven't won here since 2001

:!: Prediction Competition
:!: 5 day weather forecast
:!: 10 day weather
Last edited by phil1993 on 19 May 2009, 19:42, edited 1 time in total.

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shailf1
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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by shailf1 » 14 May 2009, 14:15

One question: Why is fp held in thursday here?

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phil1993
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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by phil1993 » 14 May 2009, 14:19

So that the public can use the roads on Friday

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shailf1
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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by shailf1 » 14 May 2009, 14:36

well why doesnt that happen in singapore then...
Well i think f1 comes once a year, so that it was more important..

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phil1993
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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by phil1993 » 14 May 2009, 14:39

Its quite cool having it on Thursday actually. I think they then leave Friday for glamour and sponsor events

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shailf1
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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by shailf1 » 14 May 2009, 14:43

phil1993 wrote:Its quite cool having it on Thursday actually. I think they then leave Friday for glamour and sponsor events
ok

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Rachael The Great
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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by Rachael The Great » 14 May 2009, 15:12

it has to be said, i reckon Jenson has his one in the bag once again.
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shailf1
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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by shailf1 » 14 May 2009, 15:49

No I dont think, maybe we will see a new winner this year..

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phil1993
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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by phil1993 » 14 May 2009, 15:52

The Brawn will be the strongest car around Monaco due to its mechanical grip and Button flew round here in 2004.

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Ali
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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by Ali » 14 May 2009, 15:53

shail69 wrote:No I dont think, maybe we will see a new winner this year..
Trulli or Vettel if retarded strategists of Red Bull fuels him lighter in qualifying.
"I don't want to achieve immortality through my work. I want to achieve it by not dying" -Woody Allen

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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by phil1993 » 14 May 2009, 15:59

Everyone will go uber-light. Its the best quali of the year because its so close on such a short narrow track

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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by megasyxx » 14 May 2009, 16:09

phil1993 wrote:Everyone will go uber-light. Its the best quali of the year because its so close on such a short narrow track
yeah....the track's so narrow even today's f1 cars' front wings are wider. :lol:
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syafiqa
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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by syafiqa » 14 May 2009, 16:14

I'm not happy at all to say this, but i'm predicting button will win the race :(

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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by Jaguar » 14 May 2009, 17:01

Well , I voted for Kimi :blink: weird huh ? i know but i wana change button's name from wining all races i voted for Vettel for china , Button last gp and they both won as expected .... so maybe if i vote for Kimi he would win :n i wana see that red car on top again :<>:

how'ever let's get back to reality , Monaco FP is heald on Thursday cause ppl would go to the mountains somes come from France to watch the GP ... plus i guess GP2 or some kind of a racing series is held on Friday so less time closed track ... that's why Monaco is unique from other gps during season lol ...

well Red Bull having Double Diffuser , BMW to continue with their new Aero Design and their rear wing which i think many will be copying it for Monaco , Ferrari's kimi still aiming for wins , Button want to put more pts in his pocket , Rubens wants to revenge for Spain , Lewis is yet to say his words , Fernando Alonso aiming a win early this season , Nico Rosberg and Williams should do something as they lead all FPs in most gps now it should go further for a pole or 2nd position ... Sutil want to revenge Kimi leading him out of the gp last season :p

Am looking forward for this gp

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Re: 2009 Grand Prix de Monaco

Post by syafiqa » 14 May 2009, 17:54

Ow jaguar..hope God will hear u for the 3rd time :pray:

I'm sick everytime i'm voting for kimi and he didnt win :(

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