The 2014 'Max For 25' Monaco Grand Prix Thread

[Shizuka]

Well, here's for a decent quali for Jules. Seems like he might just get his car to Q2 on merit. And indeed, the gaps were small - driver errors will play a big role especially between Toro Rosso, Force India, McLaren and Williams, because I can't see Merc, RB and Ferrari quitting early.
Q1 might just have a Lotus dropping the ball as well...

[Jocke1]

Ericsson Q1

[Miguel98]

Ericsson 2 seconds slower than the next best qualifier.

And he had to crash against Massa and ruin Sutil and Bianchi laps...

[GerhardTalger]

[Salamander]

I like how the marshal is waving the yellow flag before they've even hit the wall.

[roblo97]

I like how the marshal is waving the yellow flag before they've even hit the wall.

Same here. ROTQ for Ericsson at this rate

[Miguel98]

And there's pole for Rosberg just a whisker ahead of Hamilton, after a yellow-flag ruininig Lewis's lap.

[Jocke1]

Rosberg pulls a 'Schumacher'.

[F1000X]

And there's pole for Rosberg just a whisker ahead of Hamilton, after a yellow-flag ruininig Lewis's lap.

STANDING UP

[GerhardTalger]

Monaco 06 meets Hungary 07

[mario]

I like how the marshal is waving the yellow flag before they've even hit the wall.

Well, the speed and angle that Ericsson was coming in meant that there was only one way that was going to finish...

And there's pole for Rosberg just a whisker ahead of Hamilton, after a yellow-flag ruininig Lewis's lap.

Ironically, it is possible that Rosberg's mistake may just have saved his pole position given that he couldn't have set another lap and Hamilton was on Rosberg's pace in the first sector.

[EDIT] Looking at the onboard footage from Hamilton's car, it looks as if Rosberg was reversing back onto the track whilst other cars were continuing with their laps. Strictly speaking, I believe that it is technically illegal to reverse along the track during a session - I wonder if Rosberg might earn himself a warning or a reprimand from the stewards for doing that?

[eytl]

[EDIT] Looking at the onboard footage from Hamilton's car, it looks as if Rosberg was reversing back onto the track whilst other cars were continuing with their laps. Strictly speaking, I believe that it is technically illegal to reverse along the track during a session - I wonder if Rosberg might earn himself a warning or a reprimand from the stewards for doing that?

I haven't seen that footage but I get the impression that's what Lewis is really fuming about. Martin Brundle's comment the moment Nico went off was to the effect that he can't spin-turn it, so the only way he can get out is by reversing, and if he did that it would be as popular as a toothache. I reckon Nico might have just laid down a "mongrel marker" right there. If he did reverse out instead of waiting until everyone had passed, thereby knowing he was going to ruin others' laps even more than merely if he was down the escape road and yellows were out, then there's something a tad unsavoury - and even 2006 Schumi-esque - about that.

[EDIT] I take it the incident is now under investigation ...

[Eifelland]

It's an interesting one. If Rosberg HAS done something unsporting, it would surprise me quite alot (although it does seem somewhat like he has at this juncture), as I always found him to be one of the more wholesome characters in F1. That said, pressure can get to us all, and Hamilton giving it the whole 'I want it more than the rich boy' spiel is bound to have got his back up at least slightly.

[Shizuka]

If the Mercs keep the first row, then Hamilton's mindset can make or break the whole championship.

- If Lewis throws it (even into Nico), it will give the German confidence for the whole season, which can break Lewis' frame entirely.
- If Lewis throws back the gauntlet at Nico, he'll have the status quo swung towards him.

Interesting outcome in any way.

And Lewis should know, that corner can get the best of him too - just remember how he binned the McLaren in 2009 there...

[Fetzie]

Nico Rosberg is under investigation by the race officials as to whether or not he impeded the hot laps behind him.

[eytl]

I must say, having seen a view external replays of Rosberg's off, it's nowhere near as clumsy and obvious as Schumi at the Rascasse but still there's something a bit odd about it. There's a lot of steering wheel movement before the brakes lock up. If one were cynical and wanting to be a conspiracy theorist standing up, there's a bit of a case for saying he might have been deliberately trying to throw the car out of shape. I still think it unlikely though, as he had done a good first sector and had no reason not to be confident that he could hold onto pole in a fair fight.

I still think the real issue is the reversing out afterwards. Whichever way you look at it, that is something deliberate, and quite possibly calculated to stuff others up.

[Ataxia]

Nico's one of the cleanest, sporting drivers on the field today. He's raced fairly with decorum, and I've never seen him ever do anything to disadvantage anyone else in a dirty and cheap manner. It was an honest mistake; if it was anyone else, nobody would bat an eye. Since it had the misfortune to be Rosberg, then immediately a mass pitchfork-sharpening session begins.

[eytl]

Nico's one of the cleanest, sporting drivers on the field today. He's raced fairly with decorum, and I've never seen him ever do anything to disadvantage anyone else in a dirty and cheap manner. It was an honest mistake; if it was anyone else, nobody would bat an eye. Since it had the misfortune to be Rosberg, then immediately a mass pitchfork-sharpening session begins.

Well, as I said, whilst I think it looks a bit odd until the stewards (who will have access to telemetry etc.) have made their decision I'm happy to give Rosberg the benefit of the doubt in relation to the original off. I don't think of Rosberg as being an especially clean or sporting driver, though, partly because apart from some drivers who may have a bad reputation or who have previously blotted their copybooks I think the rest are all equally clean and no-one is particularly super-clean, if you know what I mean. I will say also that Rosberg hasn't been in the crucible of a title fight until now and that pressure can do funny things to people. And ultimately if he did reverse out then I think that's a bit naughty - and opening himself up for suspicion - so I wouldn't call it a witchhunt. He will have made a rod for his own back.

[Fetzie]

We saw how fast you can clear a couple of cars off the track when Massa was driven in to. The two cars weren't in the escape road, but they were out of the way in about ten seconds. Driving backwards onto the track (which I believe is an illegal manoeuvre in qualifying) kept the yellow flag out until pretty much the end of the session.

I think the main question with regards to any possible punishment is not whether or not he binned the lap intentionally, but whether or not he deliberately extended the duration of the yellow flag to impede other drivers (i.e. Hamilton) by reversing onto the track.

[Ataxia]

Hamilton didn't turn up to the team debrief, apparently. Just as you think he's matured...

[Shizuka]

Hamilton didn't turn up to the team debrief, apparently. Just as you think he's matured...

Shades of 2007...

[Fetzie]

Can somebody remind me of the grid penalty for impeding a qualifying lap? It is three grid positions, correct?

[mario]

I must say, having seen a view external replays of Rosberg's off, it's nowhere near as clumsy and obvious as Schumi at the Rascasse but still there's something a bit odd about it. There's a lot of steering wheel movement before the brakes lock up. If one were cynical and wanting to be a conspiracy theorist standing up, there's a bit of a case for saying he might have been deliberately trying to throw the car out of shape. I still think it unlikely though, as he had done a good first sector and had no reason not to be confident that he could hold onto pole in a fair fight.

I still think the real issue is the reversing out afterwards. Whichever way you look at it, that is something deliberate, and quite possibly calculated to stuff others up.

I agree that it is much more likely that Rosberg is going to be in trouble for reversing onto the circuit rather than for his lock up - that, to my mind, looks more like a mistake by a driver who was already driving raggedly (Davidson pointed out that Rosberg was already slightly out of shape through the Casino Square as he had understeered wide through the initial part of the corner) and was trying to make up time through a corner where it couldn't be made.

As Ataxia says, it would seem to be out of character for Nico to do something like that intentionally, so I'd be surprised if he consciously chose to park the car there to cause a yellow flag (although I would like to point out to Ataxia that Rosberg has occasionally been officially criticised for his driving - if I remember well, he was given a formal reprimand by Charlie Whiting during the 2012 Bahrain GP when it was felt that he intentionally pushed Alonso and Hamilton off the track when they were trying to pass him).

However, the decision to reverse onto the circuit is a conscious one and more likely to get him into trouble. Technically, it is illegal for a driver to reverse a car along the circuit unless that is the only option to move a car out of a dangerous position, as specified in article 30.2 of the sporting regulations:

30.2: Drivers are strictly forbidden to drive their car in the opposite direction to the race unless this is absolutely necessary in order to move the car from a dangerous position.

Now, the stewards could argue that Rosberg should have driven to the end of that access road and parked the car there, where the marshals could then move it out of the way with a crane, rather than reversing back onto the track (which arguably made the situation more dangerous).

Moreover, I don't think that it was just Hamilton who was affected - I think that Vettel might also have been forced to slow down as well, so Red Bull would potentially have reason to complain if they feel Rosberg did something wrong.

Can somebody remind me of the grid penalty for impeding a qualifying lap? It is three grid positions, correct?

Now, it is perhaps early to talk of grid penalties in this situation - we do not yet know whether the stewards will take any action against Nico for what happened. Technically, the regulations do not specify the magnitude of the penalty - they merely specify that an "appropriate" grid penalty can be applied:

31.6: In the event of a driving infringement during any practice session the Stewards may drop the driver such number of grid positions as they consider appropriate. Unless it is completely clear that a driver committed a driving infringement any such incident will normally be investigated after the relevant session.

[AustralianStig]

Sky Sports has just tweeted that Ted Kravitz reports "Everybody I'm speaking to in the pit lane thinks it was a deliberate move by Rosberg." - of course, everyone he's speaking to in the pitlane probably is hoping Rosberg has to start from the back of the grid so they get one extra spot tomorrow

[Jocke1]

Swedish TV to Ericsson;

How difficult is it to qualify a Caterham in Monaco?

Ericsson

It's not easy.

[Shizuka]

Nicola Pohl's tweet:

Rosbergs's pole NOT under investigation by stewards.Lauda: 'Toto just told me.No investigation.Will talk to both boys after engineering!'

[Fetzie]

Nicola Pohl's tweet:

Rosbergs's pole NOT under investigation by stewards.Lauda: 'Toto just told me.No investigation.Will talk to both boys after engineering!'

Well, the BBC is saying that Mercedes and Nico Rosberg have just been summoned to the stewards' office. Of course, Niki Lauda isn't exactly the most independent of pundits.

[Jocke1]

Rosberg handed 21-place grid penalty 24 May 2014 - Must start in Nice

Nico Rosberg has been given a 21-place grid penalty and received two penalty points on his Super Licence after the FIA deemed the Mercedes driver to have held up his teammate and reigning champion Sebastian Vettel in an “unsafe manner” during qualifying in Monaco.

Rosberg had qualified 1st, and will therefore start the sixth race of the season from the back of the grid.
The 22nd spot however has been re-located to Rue de la Buffa in Nice, France.

The German impeded his competitors by reversing on the track in the final seconds of Q3, prolonging the yellow flags.
Rosberg's demotion means that Caterham’s Marcus Ericsson is promoted to 21st.
Ericsson himself was handed a 10-place grid penalty for causing Felipe Massa an unnecessary stop on the track.
Since Rosberg starts from Nice, Ericsson is still effectively last on the actual starting grid in Monaco for tomorrow's race.

[Shizuka]

Nicola Pohl's tweet:

Rosbergs's pole NOT under investigation by stewards.Lauda: 'Toto just told me.No investigation.Will talk to both boys after engineering!'

Well, the BBC is saying that Mercedes and Nico Rosberg have just been summoned to the stewards' office. Of course, Niki Lauda isn't exactly the most independent of pundits.

Yeah, that's why I quoted Pohl, who works for BILD of all things.

[Salamander]

'"I don't know if Senna and Prost talked about it but I quite liked the way Senna dealt with that so I'll take a page out of his book," Hamilton replied.'

Hamilton confirmed for going full Suzuka 1990 on Rosberg.

[Eifelland]

'"I don't know if Senna and Prost talked about it but I quite liked the way Senna dealt with that so I'll take a page out of his book," Hamilton replied.'

Hamilton confirmed for going full Suzuka 1990 on Rosberg.

Hey, it would spice up Monaco a bit

[Fetzie]

Marcus Ericsson has been demoted to the back of the grid for the collision with Felipe Massa.

[roblo97]

Marcus Ericsson has been demoted to the back of the grid for the collision with Felipe Massa.

there was no point demoting him to the back of the grid because he was last in qualifying anyway

[Shizuka]

'"I don't know if Senna and Prost talked about it but I quite liked the way Senna dealt with that so I'll take a page out of his book," Hamilton replied.'

Hamilton confirmed for going full Suzuka 1990 on Rosberg.

Hey, it would spice up Monaco a bit

GO DAYEL

Marcus Ericsson has been demoted to the back of the grid for the collision with Felipe Massa.

there was no point demoting him to the back of the grid because he was last in qualifying anyway

He got two penalty points as well.

[Fetzie]

Marcus Ericsson has been demoted to the back of the grid for the collision with Felipe Massa.

there was no point demoting him to the back of the grid because he was last in qualifying anyway

Oops, pit lane start for him. Sorry. I guess they need the spot on the grid for Rosberg?

[mario]

Marcus Ericsson has been demoted to the back of the grid for the collision with Felipe Massa.

there was no point demoting him to the back of the grid because he was last in qualifying anyway

Oops, pit lane start for him. Sorry. I guess they need the spot on the grid for Rosberg?

It's about the only penalty they can apply given where he was due to start anyway - although, this being Monaco, that might be less of a disadvantage given the possibility of a first corner clash.

Similarly, there are reports floating around that Kvyat has been given a reprimand for blocking Maldonado during qualifying, although no further action will be taken against him. That still leaves at least two other blocking incidents unresolved (Gutierrez possibly blocking Perez and a Kobayashi-Maldonado blocking incident) and the Rosberg incident too, so the stewards are likely to have a long night ahead of them...

[EDIT] First whispers coming through from Monaco suggest that no further action will be taken against Rosberg - we'll have to wait a bit longer for an official statement though.

[Salamander]

Autosport Live are reporting that no action is to be taken against Rosberg.

[Ferrim]

As Ataxia says, it would seem to be out of character for Nico to do something like that intentionally, so I'd be surprised if he consciously chose to park the car there to cause a yellow flag (although I would like to point out to Ataxia that Rosberg has occasionally been officially criticised for his driving - if I remember well, he was given a formal reprimand by Charlie Whiting during the 2012 Bahrain GP when it was felt that he intentionally pushed Alonso and Hamilton off the track when they were trying to pass him).

"You have to leave a space! All the time you have to leave a space!"

My view of the incident live, as they switched to Nico's onboard a few seconds before the off, was that there was something wrong -not in the sense of fishy, but because the car looked out of shape. I don't think it was on purpose, and the fact that so many people immediately thought it was it's because of the Schumacher legacy, I would say.

But then, if he really went on reverse into the track (which AFAIK wasn't shown on TV, at least not in the first few minutes) then it's a completely different picture. It's no longer an issue of "did he or didn't he", but a matter of unprofessional behaviour. He should have parked at the end of the escape road, so I hope he's demoted. It's the same penalty I would expect if anyone else had done it.

[Salamander]

As Ataxia says, it would seem to be out of character for Nico to do something like that intentionally, so I'd be surprised if he consciously chose to park the car there to cause a yellow flag (although I would like to point out to Ataxia that Rosberg has occasionally been officially criticised for his driving - if I remember well, he was given a formal reprimand by Charlie Whiting during the 2012 Bahrain GP when it was felt that he intentionally pushed Alonso and Hamilton off the track when they were trying to pass him).

"You have to leave a space! All the time you have to leave a space!"

My view of the incident live, as they switched to Nico's onboard a few seconds before the off, was that there was something wrong -not in the sense of fishy, but because the car looked out of shape. I don't think it was on purpose, and the fact that so many people immediately thought it was it's because of the Schumacher legacy, I would say.

But then, if he really went on reverse into the track (which AFAIK wasn't shown on TV, at least not in the first few minutes) then it's a completely different picture. It's no longer an issue of "did he or didn't he", but a matter of unprofessional behaviour. He should have parked at the end of the escape road, so I hope he's demoted. It's the same penalty I would expect if anyone else had done it.

No penalty for Rosberg. He will start from pole position tomorrow.

[Jocke1]

Kimi Räikkönen struggles to enter in the paddock - 2014 Monaco GP
http://youtu.be/0K1SFhLtQI4