Barrichello Tops Monaco Time Sheets
Rubens Barrichello took the bragging rights in the opening practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix on Thursday morning, topping the times for Brawn GP.
The Brazilian, who is determined to get the upper hand over team-mate and world championship leader Jenson Button for the first time this season, outpaced Ferrari’s Felipe Massa by a clear 0.3s after an hour and a half of running the Principality’s tight streets.
McLaren enjoyed a strong session, with Lewis Hamilton going well throughout and clocking the third best time, and Heikki Kovalainen finishing right behind him in fourth after improving on the super-soft tyres at the end of the session.
Kimi Raikkonen was fifth in the second Ferrari ahead of Williams duo Kazuki Nakajima and Nico Rosberg.
Button, Fernando Alonso (Renault) and Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing) completed the top 10.
Red Bull had a difficult start to the weekend, with Sebastian Vettel suffering an engine failure and Webber reporting vibrations at the rear of his RB5.
Monaco Grand Prix free practice session one
1. BARRICHELLO Brawn 1m17.189s
2. MASSA Ferrari 1m17.499s
3. HAMILTON McLaren 1m17.578s
4. KOVALAINEN McLaren 1m17.686s
5. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m17.839s
6. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m18.000s
7. ROSBERG Williams 1m18.024s
8. BUTTON Brawn 1m18.080s
9. ALONSO Renault 1m18.283s
10. WEBBER Red Bull 1m18.348s
11. BUEMI Toro Rosso 1m18.695s
12. PIQUET Renault 1m19.204s
13. VETTEL Red Bull 1m19.233s
14. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m19.255s
15. FISICHELLA Force India 1m19.534s
16. KUBICA BMW 1m19.560s
17. HEIDFELD BMW 1m19.579s
18. SUTIL Force India 1m19.600s
19. GLOCK Toyota 1m19.698s
20. TRULLI Toyota 1m19.831s
This could be a really exciting Monaco race, so often they are a procession. With a clever race plan on fuel & switching between the two tyre compounds an upset could be on the cards. I think the non-KERS cars may have a advantage at this all downforce track. A Safety Car period it may also throw a cat amongst the pigeons.
So, to one stop or two stop? Will the soft option tyre hold up on a one stop strategy against an early longer stint on the prime option. So many combinations for middle of the field qualifiers to try as they have not a lot to lose.
Me thinks you’re smoking something stronger than Peter Stuyvesants.
That stuff will stunt your growth Peter.
Good one Marc! The exciting F1 season to date has over stimulated our friend Peter’s imagination.
Another Monaco parade, won from pole, barring mechanical gremlins or accidents.
What do you two do in you spare time? Tell kiddies there is no Easter Bunny or Father Xmas?
I will expect lenghthy retractions from you both after Sunday’s race.
Just wait until lap X & the SC is deployed when Piquet sticks the car in the armco.
My spare time?
I never touch Father Xmas, might not get my 12 cylinder Lambo that way. But I do a little Bunny hunting on occasion, and have been known to kill time kicking a certain former F1 driver in the seat of the pants when deserved, which is nearly daily.
[...] at Full Throttle always has good Formula One stuff. This weekend is no different. [...]
[...] Monaco went pretty much went as expected except for someone, who shall remain nameless, who thought it “could be a really exciting Monaco race.” [...]