Sidepodcast

I think I mentioned in the Canada podcast, that Massa has really taken a step up in my estimation. Previous to this season, I thought of him as a bit of a no-hoper, clinging on to the coat tails of Michael Schumacher. A harsh assumption, but it was just that, an initial opinion based on very little evidence. He came a very second best to Raikkonen last year, and so I’d basically written him off.

Turnaround

So, what’s changed? I’m going to pin it all on Monaco. Massa was having a dire start to the season - three races in, zero points, Raikkonen dominating, not a lot to look forward to. Then Monaco came along and everything was different. It began with the usual pre-qualifying excuses, that he didn’t like the track and wasn’t expecting to do well. But he stormed out there and took pole position, surprising everyone, including himself. I don’t remember the exact words, but afterwards his race engineer Rob Smedley said they had both worked like the devil on the track and on Massa’s mind. It clearly worked and something had clicked.

Total Eclipse

Since then, it’s been all good for Felipe. He may not always take the win, as in Canada, but he’s always there, a thorn in the other driver’s side, challenging them. Whilst everyone was panicking about the track breaking up at Montreal, Massa was there, cool as you like, ready to take it as it comes. The results will surely follow.

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• Length: 15:18 
• Size: 14.1 MB 
• File: digest24.mp3 
• Transcript: digest24.pdf 
• Torrent: digest24.torrent 

The pinnacle of the motorsport calendar didn’t let us down, with a race of epic proportions. It is only just that F1 Digest does the same with a bumper show chronicalling all the action.

The Race

How do you sum up a race like that in the very small sentence that goes here? Action packed and extremely exciting is the best I can do.

Conclusions

Rosberg’s doing okay, and Sutil is, too, although slightly heartbroken. Hamilton, obviously, is ecstatic.

It’s been raining this morning in Monaco, and raining hard. Formula 1 seems set to experience it’s first wet 2008 race today, the only questions that remain are how much rainfall, and for how long?

MeteoGroup’s animated radar prediction shows more rain heading for the principality and it’s worth keeping an eye on this during the race. Earlier today a GP support race had to start behind the safety car and it’s more than conceivable that it could happen again this afternoon.

In driver news, it’s more bad luck for David Coulthard who drops back 5 places on the grid after he damaged his gearbox in qualifying yesterday. He is further compromised by starting with the fuel load the team already specified, while Timo Glock is the benefactor, starting in tenth position but with his own strategy choice.

A number of drivers are nervous ahead of the action, with Webber stating “We love the challenge of driving in the wet, but driving around here is a bit insane really. It is very, very slippery”.

Bring on the insanity we say!

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• Length: 11:02 
• Size: 10.2 MB 
• File: digest23.mp3 
• Transcript: digest23.pdf 
• Torrent: digest23.torrent 

A bit of rain always spices things up somewhat, and whilst it held off for qualifying, we saw what could happen in FP3. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Free Practice 3

Kovalainen is the first of today’s barrier victims, although he still managed to retain the fastest time, thanks to the weather.

Qualifying

Coulthard was the second to clout the barrier in a series way, heading off track at a swift rate and leaving his wheel behind.

Conclusions

The teams seem to agree that today was pretty tough with the weather, so some are hoping for clear skies tomorrow and others are keeping their fingers crossed for more rain.

If there’s one thing that today’s free practice taught us, it’s that timing is everything. For one lap Heikki was the fastest thing out there, picking the perfect time to do his run when the most rubber was down but the rain hadn’t really affected the asphalt.

One lap later and he’s in the wall.

Finding that perfect moment to do a run in qualifying will be the biggest challenge for F1 teams and drivers this afternoon in Monaco. Not only are they playing chicken with the weather, there’s that all important problem of finding some space for a clear lap around the principality.

Notably, Vettel has already been hit with a 5-place grid penalty for having the nerve to finish the last race and then compete this one with a brand new car. He’s almost certain to start from the pit lane tomorrow, but where everyone else will end up in is anyone’s guess.

One thing is for certain though, the next few hours are going to be eventful and entertaining!

We’ll be watching ITV’s qualifying coverage, and full race build up, which is available online. In the comments Nelson also found a great site streaming ITV around the world. Don’t forget official live timing on f1.com too.

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It’s Saturday morning and the big news for today is that Monaco experienced rain during the evening. At the moment the track is still wet and you can see for yourself on the Casino Square webcam.

In addition weather.com are suggesting there’s a 70% chance of rain again during the day (increasing to 90%) for tomorrow.

What will this mean for the F1 cars and free practice today? In short it’s likely to be chaos, but maybe only after the teams have played their usual game of who’s-brave-enough-to-leave-it-latest. I’m guessing this is the last place teams and drivers want to run 2008 spec cars in the wet, we’re in for a spectacular two days!

Not for the first time I’ll mention that we’ll be following live timing online, and as ITV either can’t or won’t cover this session, it’s TVlizer coverage for us today.

Update: For some reason, as pointed out by Dank in the comments below, 5Live appear to prefer broadcasting commentary of the cricket this morning. Great timing guys!

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• Length: 9:58 
• Size: 9.2 MB 
• File: digest22.mp3 
• Transcript: digest22.pdf 
• Torrent: digest22.torrent 

The first two sessions were always going to be interesting, to see how our drivers coped around the principality with no traction control. Whether the information will be any use if it rains though, we’ll have to see.

Free Practice 1

Raikkonen on top, whilst Coulthard, Heidfeld and Trulli struggle to make it round the circuit.

Free Practice 2

Both Renaults follow each other into the barriers, with Alonso coming off worse, and Hamilton takes the lead.

Conclusions

Most are feeling comfortable with what they achieved today, but wary of the potential for rain this weekend.

Here we go again then, time for another 90 minute blast around the streets of Monaco. The first session was a busy affair (aside from the quarter-of-an-hour stoppage to fix a problem with the drains). Both Trulli and Heidfeld fell foul of the barriers, while Coulthard’s car failed to make it through a single quick lap.

Those three drivers will be on the back foot in this second session and will be keen to make up for lost time, but out front the battle is squarely a McLaren / Ferrari duel. Although the Italian team finished atop the timesheets earlier it was the opposition who looked the more threatening.

We’re in for much more of the same this afternoon too as the weather remains constant. One thing we’ve yet to see is the softer compound tyre used in anger, and this race weekend marks the first time we’ve seen the super-soft rubber in action since electronic aids were banned at the beginning of the season.

Free Practice 2 begins at 2pm local time (1pm in the UK). As before we’re following Formula 1’s live timing as well as watching ITV’s online video coverage.

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It’s Thursday morning and in Monaco it’s mostly sunny and partly cloudy. That’s how two of the leading meteorology sites list today’s forecast, and by all accounts this is the best weather Monte Carlo is going to offer F1. It’s all downhill from here.

For an early look around the principality, CamVista is broadcasting a view of the harbour as well as Casino Square. There’s still some blue sky to be found and if you look closely you’ll see fans are starting to fill the main grandstand.

But enough of the weather, what of the cars?

The first of two 90 minute sessions starts at 10am local time (9am in the UK) and we’re anticipating a mixed bag today. Teams will be keen to get some early running in, but will be wary of running on a slippery track sans traction control. Toro Rosso appear to be in the worst situation today, running a new car with limited spares, they’ll be more cautious than most.

We’re following Formula 1’s live timing screens while watching ITV’s online coverage. Please shout us if you’re watching this one, because we’re going to be glued to the screens all day.

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• Length: 10:30 
• Size: 9.7 MB 
• File: digest21.mp3 
• Transcript: digest21.pdf 
• Torrent: digest21.torrent 

One of the most anticipated races on the calendar is the Monaco GP, and F1 Digest is here to preview the event and find out why.

Vital Statistics

• Date: 25th May
• Circuit: Monte Carlo
• Length: 3.3km
• Laps: 78
• 2007 Winner: Fernando Alonso

Preview

Vettel has already had a bad start to the weekend, Massa isn’t worried that he’s not a fan of Monaco, whilst everyone else appears to be. Both Jenson and Nico count it as a home Grand Prix.