Monaco GP: Vettel wins on the streets

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1, Results    

Sebastian Vettel has further extended his championship advantage with an outstanding win on the streets of Monaco today. It is the German’s fifth win of the season, his seventh win in the last eight races, and his 25th career podium finish. He is seemingly unstoppable, even if the race wasn’t (more on that shortly…).

The Red Bull driver managed to hold out a challenge from Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button by electing not to pit during a mid-race safety car interruption. Instead, he opted to retain track position ahead of Jenson Button (who did pit), running a 56-lap stint on the soft ‘prime’ Pirelli tyres against much fresher-shod opposition.

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Circuit safety back in the spotlight

RichardsF1    Formula 1     Circuit News, Sergio Perez

The Nouvelle Chicane bites: A selection of the biggest smashes at Monaco’s Nouvelle Chicane, including three from this weekend alone! [Images via Formula1.com, LAT, STATSF1, Sutton Images]

The issue of circuit safety has remained in the background for quite some time, but Sergio Pérez’s monster accident at the Nouvelle Chicane during yesterday’s qualifying session has again made it a topic of debate in the hours before the Monaco Grand Prix.

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Schumacher talks up podium prospects

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1     Mercedes GP, Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher believes he has every possibility of finishing on the podium at the Monaco Grand Prix – which would be his first podium finish since making his comeback to F1 – on the back of a solid performance to net fifth on the grid in qualifying yesterday.

The seven-time World Champion has looked pretty quick all weekend in his Mercedes GP W02 challenger, and the five-time winner on the world’s most famous street circuit believes that the circuit’s unique characteristics could net him a healthy haul of points.

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Two new sponsors for Virgin Racing

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1     Sponsors, Virgin Racing

Two new sponsors have joined the Virgin Racing team’s portfolio, with auto-electrical group Ring Automotive and sales website musicMagpie adding their logos to the team’s cars and uniforms from the Monaco Grand Prix onwards.

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It’s Ukyo Katayama’s birthday today!

RichardsF1    Birthdays, Former F1 Figures, Formula 1     Ukyo Katayama

Former Grand Prix driver Ukyo Katayama is turning 48 today!

This diminutive Japanese driver had several seasons in the Japanese and European formulae under his belt before he moved up into Formula 1 in 1992 with the Venturi Larrousse team.

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Pérez ruled out for Monaco Grand Prix

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1     Sauber, Sergio Perez

Sauber driver Sergio Pérez has been ruled out of any further action at the Monaco Grand Prix after his qualifying accident, according to separate statements from the team and the FIA.

Watch footage from Perez’s monster qualifying crash

The Mexican rookie was rushed to the Princess Grace Hospital following a heavy crash into the barriers at the Nouvelle Chicane during the final phase of qualifying. It appeared that the 21-year-old lost control of his car on the bumps approaching the braking zone for the chicane.

Reports confirmed that he has suffered concussion and a bruised thigh, but incredibly he has no other major injuries. However, his head injury has instantly ruled him out of any further action.

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Hamilton demoted for chicane-hopping

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1     FIA, Lewis Hamilton, Rules

Lewis Hamilton was stripped of his fastest qualifying time in the final phase of qualifying, after race stewards ruled he had jumped the chicane to set his lap time, which was enough to place him seventh for tomorrow’s race.

The result sees the McLaren driver dumped to ninth on the grid, with his session already compromised after the accident involving Sergio Pérez.

[Original image via LAT]

HRT allowed to race at Monaco

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1     FIA, Hispania Racing, Narain Karthikeyan, Rules, Vitantonio Liuzzi

Despite failing to post a qualifying time this afternoon, both Hispania Racing drivers Narain Karthikeyan and Vitantonio Liuzzi will be allowed to start Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.

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Monaco GP: Post-Qualifying Press Conference

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1     Jenson Button, Mark Webber, Press Conferences, Sebastian Vettel

Attendees (L-R): Jenson Button (McLaren, 2nd), Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull, 1st), Mark Webber (Red Bull, 3rd)

Q. Sebastian, your first pole here at Monaco. Share your feelings with us?

Sebastian VETTEL: Yes, it is a long way around here. Qualifying is tough. Three segments so in each one you have to give it your 100 per cent. We had very good preparation in Q1 and Q2, maybe not yet perfect but then in Q3 the lap I had was just spot on, so I was really happy with that. But I think sitting here now talking about qualifying, I think the most important thing was to hear that Sergio Pérez is okay. He is conscious. We all sit inside the cockpit and wait to go out, but we see the images as well. We are all thinking of him and wish him all the best and hopefully he can start the race tomorrow.

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Monaco GP: Vettel secures pole; Pérez suffers monster crash

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1    

Sebastian Vettel has taken yet another pole position for the 2011 season, this time by going quickest in the final qualifying session at the Monaco Grand Prix. It was the German’s 20th career pole, his fifth of the season and his first at Monte Carlo, a race which he has never won.

But the main talking point from qualifying was a frightening accident during Q3 for Sergio Pérez, who became the fifth driver this weekend to have a major accident at the Nouvelle Chicane. Having performed impressively to make it into the final phase of qualifying, the Mexican driver suddenly lost control on the approach to the chicane before slamming sideways into the barrier at the end of the chicane.

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Kubica won’t make surprise Monaco visit

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1     Renault, Robert Kubica

Despite the Grand Prix literally running past his doorstep, Robert Kubica will not be making a surprise visit to the F1 paddock this weekend.

According to Switzerland’s authoritative Blick newspaper, the Pole’s manager Daniele Morelli has confirmed that his star client will remain in the confines of his home, having been released from his Italian hospital just a few weeks ago.

“The hype would be too big, even if Robert has left the wheelchair and is making his first steps,” Morelli told veteran reporter Roger Benoit.

Morelli confirmed that Kubica is undergoing some five hours of rehabilitation therapy a day as the Pole works to regain the function in his right leg and arm, which were heavily injured in a rally accident in February.

“He is also using a pen with his right hand now,” Morelli added.

[Image via Crash.net]

Watch Rosberg’s huge crash here!

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1     Mercedes GP, Nico Rosberg, YouTube

A hand-held camera recording of the TV footage from today’s third practice session. Commentary is from the BBC 5 Live crew which includes Anthony Davidson.

Monaco GP: Alonso fastest in final practice

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1, Results    

Fernando Alonso has emerged as a surprise candidate for pole position after going comfortably quickest in the final practice session at the Monaco Grand Prix.

A time of 1:14.433 was a head-turning effort at the end of the day – some 0.5 seconds faster than second-fastest man Jenson Button and a similar margin quicker than his fastest lap time on Thursday afternoon’s practice session.

Certainly on the back of the Ferrari team’s recent form, few would have expected the team to show decent pace here, but the Spaniard has been really fired up and could cause a stir in qualifying. And in what was a very good session for Ferrari, Felipe Massa finished the day third-fastest.

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Players at Indy: Roger Penske

RichardsF1    IndyCar    

Think of the Indianapolis 500 and there are many worthy but only a few names uttered as truly synonymous with the great race. Names such as Hulman, Foyt and “Gasoline Alley” sum up so many great years of history at the iconic circuit. Another name mentioned in the same breath, and rightly so, would be the name of Roger Penske.

Our IndyCar correspondent Matt Lennon profiles this giant of the IndyCar scene…

The damage done by Sutil…

RichardsF1    F1 2011, Formula 1     Adrian Sutil, Force India

The first photos of Eric Lux’s scarred neck have been published, with Switzerland’s Blick and Germany’s Bild newspapers releasing photos showing some clearly visible – but healing – cuts on the left side of the Genii Capital CEO’s neck.

The injuries were caused by a ‘glassing’ incident with Force India driver Adrian Sutil, against whom Lux is reportedly going to file a criminal complaint for the injuries he sustained during an alleged altercation at a nightclub in Shanghai after the Chinese Grand Prix.

Sutil has confirmed that he did inflict injuries to Lux, but that it was completely unintentional.

For the moment, the Force India team is standing by its driver, subject to any legal proceedings and their outcome.

[Original image via Bild]