Alonzo Serves up Repeat in Monaco
In an uneventful race through the streets of Monaco reigning World champion Fernando Alonzo started from the pole and was never headed, lapping all but his teammate, and Wonderkind, Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa who finished in the last podium spot.
The Spaniard’s second victory of the season took him back to the top of the Formula One championship on race wins but level on 38 points with 22-year-old rookie Hamilton.
“I have never won with more than a minute to the third guy,” he added. “For sure, this is the easiest and probably nicest victory so far.
“It’s not easy to enjoy driving here, and I did today thanks to a fantastic car.”
Current constructors champion Renault scored their best result so far this year as Giancarlo Fisichella cruised home in fourth place.
BMW Sauber continued their strong 2007 campaign with Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld fifth and sixth respectively. William’s gained their first points of the season as Alexander Wurz came home in seventh.
Uneventful? read dull! I had high hopes for a upset, tyres, safety cars, rain etc. Alas, not to be. Let’s hope Canada & Indy are a bit more exciting. BMW seem to be the only team within “coooeee” of getting a podium from the Merc’s & Ferrari’s.
Kimi is really trailing in the WC points. Were he to have a few wins, the points will barely change as Hamilton & Massa will surely be sharing the podium with him. Hmmm Alonso for WC 2007…too early to tell, but Ferrari must be nervous.
Yeah well, it was Monaco after all. Half the battle for the top step is won during the qualy. Start from the front… finish in front is the norm on the narrow streets.
Speaking of tight twisty tracks, Hungary is going to be a snooze-a-thon this year. I’m still keen to see Kimi mixing it up the front with his team mate & Ron’s boys.
BTW, is there anything worse than Ron Dennis complaining when he is not winning? Yes!! Ron when he has a one, two victory. My God, after all that he has been through you would think he would learn to be a little bit humble when it’s raining bubbly & trophies. He was that smug in the post race interviews that I’m sure he would have replied, NO, if asked, “does your s**t stink Ron?
Ron & McLaren, easy to admire, impossible to feel affection for in the way that Williams evokes.
Monte Carlo is such an aberation of a circuit, it lends no insights as to which team has the better cars. For my money the WC will be Felipe Massa, as the Ferrari’s will reclaim their dominance in Montreal and Indy.
Peter, you’ve spent the entire preseason and first four races belittling Felipe’s talents and hyping Kimi to the WC. Kimi has speed but Felipe has the team and one MS in his corner. Put a fork in Kimi, he’s done!
It’s very depressing for me that Bernie keeps threatening terrific tracks like Spa or Silverstone while Monaco, which is completely unraceable, has their date on the calendar graven in stone. Yes, I know it’s tradition, but it’s come to the point that whoever is first through Sainte Devote on lap one is just about guaranteed a win so long as they keep all four wheels on the car.
Update! According to ITV-F1, there’s an investigation underway about McLaren having team orders for the race. I’m shocked, shocked…
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=39420
I’ve read a couple notes on that.
Much ado about nothing.
There is zero evidence McLaren ordered any switch in race positions for their drivers.
What did occur was race strategy where both drivers were told to slow the pace because they had the field covered by a wide margin. In an era when an engine must last two events you’d be a fool not to slow both cars.
If the FIA comes down on the side of issuing penalties it would be another case of attempting to manipulate a championship race for both the drivers and constructors crown.
George said :-
I think our Brazilian Ferrari-ista is tougher than you think. A champion learns from his mistakes (Malaysia) and Felipe has shown that at Barcelona and Bahrain. If wages made the driver Ralfie and the Dear Boy would both be champs by now!
I look for Ferrari to sweep Canada and US GP’s with Massa winning both. The foil is getting to my scalp and ringing in my ear, time to go now!