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2005 MONACO F1 GRAND PRIX

R6 of 19, 2005 Monaco GP, May 22, Monte Carlo

QUALIFYING & RACE PREVIEW:

GRID, May 22, 2005

• 1 Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren-Mercedes
  "I'm obviously pleased to be on pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix where it matters more than most places. The car is working well and due to the gap from yesterday's qualifying session we have been able to adopt what will hopefully prove to be a strong race strategy. There is still a long race to go and as Monaco has shown in the past anything can happen here, but so far so good, and I'm looking forward to the race."
• 2 Fernando Alonso, Renault
• 3 Mark Webber, Williams-BMW
  "It's great to be in the top three again today. It's going to be a hard race with McLaren and Renault looking very strong. We are generally happy with our car and for us this has been the best race weekend so far this year, which makes us confident for the race. It will be interesting to see if our tyre choice will pay off. I would love to be on the podium today, Monaco has been a special place for me in the past having won from pole position in the 2001 F3000 event."
• 4 Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault
• 5 Jarno Trulli, Toyota
  "I am very happy with the lap, which was a big improvement on yesterday. I was really on the limit at several parts of the circuit so I'm glad to have held the lap together until the end. It means I go up two positions to 5th on the grid. Obviously grid position is very important here so a place in the top five is a good place to start. Then it's important to get a good rhythm in the race and not make any mistakes. Anything can happen in Monaco so we'll have to play a waiting game and see what transpires."
• 6 Nick Heidfeld, Williams-BMW
  "We will know after the end of the first race stint on which fuel load everyone was this morning, therefore it's premature to comment accurately on my grid position. I was satisfied with my qualifying lap anyway, even if I am not too happy that Jarno Trulli gained one position over me. I believe that we are in good shape for the race."
• 7 David Coulthard, Red Bull-Cosworth
• 8 M Schumacher, Ferrari
  "My lap was OK. The track was very slippery but my car was well balanced and I had no particular problems. As for the race, we will have to see how we can use our strategy to make the most of it."
• 9 Villeneuve
• 10 Barrichello
• 11 Massa 12 Liuzzi 13 Friesacher 14 Albers
• 15 Monteiro 16 Karthikeyan 17 Montoya 18 Ralf Schumacher - no time
• PENALTY: Montoya will start from back of the grid for causing accident during practice
  "It goes without saying that we are disappointed with the decision by the Stewards yesterday. However there is nothing we can do but to get on with the race where we will do our best to score some points. Although we have a strong package as Kimi's performance has shown I know that my race will be hard work."

SAT QUALIFYING, May 21, 2005

• 1 Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren-Mercedes 1m 13.644 (vs 2004 pole 1m 13.985s)
• 2 Fernando Alonso, Renault +0.48
• 3 Mark Webber, Williams-BMW +0.94
• 4 Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault +1.1
• 5 Juan Pablo Montoya, McLaren-Mercedes +1.2
• 6 Nick Heidfeld, Williams-BMW +1.4
• 7 Jarno Trulli, Toyota
• 8 David Coulthard, Red Bull-Cosworth
• 9 Jacques Villeneuve
• 10 Rubens Barrichello
• 11 M Schumacher 12 Massa 13 Liuzzi 14 Friesacher 15 Albers 16 Monteiro 17 Karthikeyan

PRACTICE 2, Thu May 19, 2005

• 1 Fernando Alonso, Renault 1m 15.835 (vs 2004 pole 1m 13.985s)
  "the first day in Monaco means a little more than usual; we need to do a lot of laps in order to get a good feeling with the circuit, and we did that today without any problems, which is a nice start for the race. The set-up felt comfortable from the beginning, so there is not too much more to do but in any case, the track conditions are changing all the time on the first day, which means we look at the details of the set- up on Saturday. The car feels consistent on the longer runs, so things are going perfectly at the moment."
• 2 *Alex Wurz, McLaren-Mercedes +0.07
  "I'm very happy with the outcome of today's programme. The continuously changing track conditions during the weekend will not make it easy to work out the right set-up. However I think our race package is good, and we should be able to attack on this difficult circuit and I expect a thrilling race."
• 3 David Coulthard, Red Bull-Cosworth +0.34
  "We've been working through everything today, evaluating where we are with the tyres and set-up. Obviously, today's practise is the first stage of a long weekend, but things feel good. It's difficult to predict where we will qualify, as it's hard to know what the other teams are doing with their fuel strategy. However, Monaco is one of those events that can throw up a slightly unusual result. Maybe it's possible to move slightly further up the field, we'll just have to wait and see."
• 4 Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault +0.68
  "I have been struggling with the car a bit under braking today, and we still have to find some answers with the set-up so that I can feel completely comfortable around this circuit. The car felt fast on the long runs, so if I can find the extra bit of confidence I need, then we can be very quick. The R25 is competitive here, and I believe we will be in a strong situation on Saturday."
• 5 Juan Pablo Montoya, McLaren-Mercedes +0.69
  "A positive start to the weekend. The car felt pretty good straight away and we just kept working on the set-up, so I'm pretty happy. The key to doing well here in Monaco is finding a strong set-up, and we are definitely going in the right direction. It will be a tough and interesting race, and I think we are in with a good chance."
• 6 Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren-Mercedes +0.72
  "The first session today was a little difficult as I got stuck in traffic several times and could not do a real good lap. However during the second practice session we completed some longer runs and collected a lot of data concerning set-up and tyre choice which should help us to be competitive. It is always fun to drive on this challenging circuit, so I am looking forward to the rest of the weekend."
• 7 Liuzzi 8 Massa 9 R Schumacher 10 *Zonta
• 11 M Schumacher 12 Webber 13 Trulli 14 Villeneuve 15 Barrichello
• 16 Heidfeld 17 *Klien 18 Doornbos 19 Friesacher 20 Monteiro 21 Karthikeyan 22 Albers
• *reserve driver

RACE PREVIEW:

RENAULT

• ALONSO, CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER: "In the three years I have driven there (MOnaco), I have driven the same way -- but a few years ago I was back in the pack, then last year with Renault we were fighting for the win. The car is very important as well: you need good suspension, the aero is maybe less important, but the engine must be good, and soft in the power delivery. The R25 is easy to drive, and predictable, so I think we have a strong car for this circuit"
• FISICHELLA: "I used to live in Monaco, and now I bring my boat down for the race, which means all my family can come and stay as well. I actually drive the boat from Italy up to Monte-Carlo, spend time relaxing in the days before and then during the race weekend, when the day is over it is great to go back on the boat and spend time with my family ... I have very good feeling with this circuit. You need to be very precise with the car, and be aggressive without making mistakes. I love the sensation of driving through the streets, and really pushing to the limit. In the past, I have always gone well in Monaco, and it should be the same this year"

SAUBER

• VILLENEUVE: "I've been looking forward to racing in Monaco for weeks! It's a great circuit and just the kind of challenge I like. Our car was very good in Imola, and even though Spain was a disappointment my tyres were great the whole race in Barcelona. We will be able to get away with running softer compounds in Monaco, so I'm looking forward to being able to fight hard there."
• MASSA: "Monaco can be a funny track. I never drove a car there yet that had a really comfortable set-up, though last year things were reasonable and I scored points for fifth because I was able to get to the finish. It's one of those places where you can often score provided you get to the end, even if you are not fast. It's very easy to crash there; in 2002 I had a big shunt at Ste Devote after a brake problem. To go fast you have to go close to the wall every lap, so you are always right on the edge. It's also even harder to overtake there than it is at Imola. The Tunnel isn't really straight enough to line up a pass, and generally speaking you can only pass if the guy in front makes a mistake. But you do get a buzz driving there, though you soon get used to the feeling after your first few laps on the limit. The problem is finding that limit without stepping over it, because if you go over you crash. Simple as that. I did spin once in the chicane without hitting anything, and on the exit to the Swimming Pool, but that was pure luck!"

McLAREN

• RAIKKONEN: "It is great to arrive in Monaco on the back of the positive result for the team in Spain. Hopefully we will be able to carry the performance through, as Monaco is a race that everyone really wants to win, however it is a completely different challenge. It is the shortest and slowest track we race on, with speeds averaging about 160km/h. However even without the fast speeds, high g's and braking points, it is very tough on both the cars and the drivers. There is constant cornering and because of the twisty track you need to concentrate 100% as any small error will mean the end of the race. You can't really overtake, but you can take a chance under braking into Mirabeau, if the car in front is much slower or makes a mistake."
• MONTOYA: "I always love racing at the Monaco Grand Prix, the location, atmosphere, history, and my victory here in 2003 is a highlight of my career. It does have its difficulties, no run off areas, tight Armco, an interesting track surface with gutters and manhole covers, but with Monaco, they don't really bother you. Because of the track surface you will see the cars with the highest ride height of the season. Good front end grip is key for all the twisty corners, and you need to be quick through the apexes. Also aero efficiency is not as important as handling here, and everybody will run with maximum downforce. We had a good test at Paul Ricard, working on set-up for the race, so I am looking forward to getting back out on track on Thursday. "

RED BULL

• COULTHARD: "There's something special about driving round the Monaco GP circuit. The first time I drove a GP car here I was sure that my back wheel would catch the barrier at some of the tighter corners, it just didn't look possible to squeeze the car through. To be the fastest car around Monaco you need to have the wall of the rear tyre just kissing the barrier at several places on the circuit, which is an intense experience because of the concentration it takes. One slip and it's all over, there's nowhere you can relax. I've won Monaco twice and I drove one of the best laps of my life to take pole there too. I'll be happy if we can come home in the points again and I see no reason why we shouldn't be able to."
• LIUZZI: "I have raced here twice before in F3000: two years ago I had a big crash and last year I won. I like the challenge of this place, because you are faced with the two options of being quick and accurate or ending up in the wall. I've never been a big fan of street circuits, but Monaco is something special and I love it. The atmosphere is fantastic. The trick here is to have confidence in yourself and in the car. You need a different approach, because with no run-off areas, you can't tell yourself you will brake later and see what the car does. I am feeling confident and well prepared and our car is good in terms of traction, which is very important here, so I think we can have a good weekend. The only negative thing is that I will be first on track for Saturday's qualifying."

TOYOTA

• TRULLI: "Monaco is obviously one of my favourite tracks and I have some special memories from last year, when I won the race from pole. It's a dream for any driver to win his first grand prix and the way I won, dominating qualifying and the race, gave me a lot of satisfaction. But that is now the past and I'm ready for the next challenge ... The most important corners for connecting up the Monaco lap are Ste Devote, Casino Square, the entry to the tunnel, the chicane, the Swimming Pool and Rascasse. Of those, the Swimming Pool entry is my favourite corner. It's quick, very challenging and I like the change of direction from left to right. Toyota has had a great season so far but it's difficult to predict exactly how we will perform at Monaco until we try the circuit with our package. Monaco is a place where the driver probably makes more of a difference than anywhere else, but the handling of the car is still important and so are the tyres. We'll be giving everything to keep up our run of good results."
• R SCHUMACHER: "I used to live in Monaco and I still have a holiday home on the Côte d'Azur so this race feels like something of a second home to me. I've always had good results around the Principality too, so I like driving there. But it requires a special approach, not least because of the proximity of the barriers. That makes the Monaco Grand Prix tough both physically and mentally because any lapse in concentration is certain to be punished by retirement from the race. It's a bumpy circuit and a strong performance depends heavily on the tyres that you get. And, because it is so difficult to overtake, qualifying becomes especially important. To predict how Toyota will perform, let's go there first and see how we look in Thursday's practice sessions. As a street circuit, the track is particularly dusty on the opening day so selecting the right Michelin compound will be tricky. But if our car works as well there as it did in Barcelona then we have a good chance ! of another strong result."

WILLIAMS

• WEBBER: "Nothing else really compares to Monaco, it's such a unique event for many different reasons. It's always very special to race there because Monaco is so steeped in motor racing history. The circuit has seen so many great races and has created countless racing legends. For the drivers, it's one of the greatest challenges of the season because, although it's a relatively slow circuit in terms of speed, concentration and fitness levels are very important. Mentally, it's a tough track to race on because the margin for error is so small and, with all that armco waiting to suck you in at the slightest mistake, there's no such thing as a small accident in Monaco. I think it's also the race that every driver wants to win as it's known as a real driver's track. Monaco also provides the teams with plenty of challenges as the track changes quite a lot over the course of the weekend. You need to make the car as comfortable as possible to drive because the circuit has so many undulations and bumps. However, a comfortable car isn't always a quick one, so it's crucial to find the right balance."
• HEIDFELD: "Monaco is definitely one of the most difficult circuits on the calendar, but despite this I like it, so I'm looking forward to racing there again. It's really quite amazing to drive through Monte Carlo so I'm pleased that this race is still on the calendar and I hope that it will stay on it for a long time. Some people say it's not particularly safe, but it's so enjoyable! I've lived in Monaco for a few years and it's always nice to come back. I also have very good memories of the circuit because I've won both an F3 and F3000 race there."

JORDAN

• KARTHIKEYAN: "I cannot wait to drive in Monaco as normally I go well on street circuits. I was fast at Macao when I was racing in F3. Monaco has a great heritage. The race will be hard for the Bridgestone tyres but above all for the gearbox because we change gears so often in Monaco. Qualifying will also be crucial, as there is nearly no room for overtaking; but I am ready for the challenge."
• MONTEIRO: "It is very exciting to go to Monaco, one of the biggest names in Formula One and a dangerous circuit. It is very special for a racing driver to go there. The preparation for Monaco is very important: not only the car has to be well set-up but also the way you prepare yourself mentally. More than in any other places, you need to have everything ready before you go in the car. A single little mistake in the car can have serious consequences; therefore you need to be concentrated at 100% all the time. I think this is a race where we can be good and with a bit of luck we could maybe score a point. I want to keep up with my good result in Barcelona. Usually I have always loved driving on street circuits. When I was in Champ Car, eight out of 19 races were street tracks and I did get on well. So we will see in Monaco in a Formula One car."

2005 MONACO GP

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