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Follow the 78th edition of the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco throughout the week-end on CANAL+ with an exclusive program.
The young F1 driver retired, Romain Grosjean, will start its new career of TV Consultant with Canal Plus this week-end.
You will have also the possibility to watch all live the F1 sessions on Monaco Info, and also the Porsche Supercup Race and the Lap Tour of the Princely Couple from 14:10 on Sunday 23rd .
Find all the TV Broadcast Coverage by countries on the following link: https://www.formula1.com/en/toolbar/broadcast-information.html
A few weeks before Monaco Grand Prix, the Monaco-born Scuderia Ferrari driver talked to the Monégasque media about his home race. He is more confident than ever about this 78th edition because he knows the track by heart and because his Ferrari, this year, is much better than the one he drove last year. So who knows what can happen this weekend in the streets of the Principality ?
You have never completed a Monaco Grand Prix since the start of your single-seater career. Do you feel like you are cursed here?
No, I don’t believe in curses (he laughs). These are things that happen, it’s bad luck and unfortunately it happened to me the last few times. However, before single-seaters, I won here in go-karts (he smiles). I will do everything to get the best possible result this year.
What is your favourite turn on the track?
The S at the swimming-pool because we go through that portion at incredible speeds being very close to the barriers; we have no room for mistakes. That’s what I like the most. I also have fond memories at the pool with friends when we were younger.
What is the main improvement of the SF21 compared to the SF1000?
It’s hard to say, it’s a new car so there are lots of differences… The car’s balance has been improved, so it is easier to drive. There was no revolution on the car between 2020 and 2021, it is more of an evolution. 2020 has been a really tough year, although I’ve learned a lot, especially from my mistakes.
Carlos Sainz Jr. replaced Sebastian Vettel as your teammate. How would you describe your relationship with him?
Everything is going well between us. I have never spent as much time with a teammate as I have with Carlos before. We get along well because we are almost the same age, we are at the same point in our career and we also have a lot of common interests such as padel tennis, golf or chess…
And at work?
We work well together and expect the same from the car, which is very important. We have the same desire to bring Ferrari back to winning ways. There is a lot of motivation and I’m sure we will push each other on the track for better results.
Do you feel like you’ve changed status within the team?
Not really. Even though I’ve turned from being the least experienced driver in the team to the one who knows the Scuderia best, Carlos has been in F1 for more years than me. My goal remains the same: to give my maximum every time I am in the car.
© Olivier Caenen
F1 is back in Monaco after two years of absence…
I’m so happy to be able to race at home again, I can’t wait. The Monaco Grand Prix is necessarily very special to me, it was always a dream to take part in this race. The cancellation was hard to accept last year, but fortunately the ACM was able to find solutions for this year.
As a Monegasque, you are in great demand here. Is it a more tiring weekend than the others?
Yes, in Monaco and Italy, it’s always very demanding and it’s not easy to manage. But I’m not complaining, it’s better that way than the other. It’s always very special to be in Monaco and I feel it every time.
What’s your opinion on Monaco marshals ?
They do an exceptional job and without them the Grand Prix could not take place. Coming to F1, I found out about them and realised how well prepared they are here. Even if throughout the season marshals on other circuits are well-trained, Monaco marshals are still a step above. They are really impressive and they play a major role for us and our safety.
© wri2.net – Jean-François Galeron
This is an historical date for Williams Formula 1 Team: this Monaco Grand Prix will be the 750th in the history of the squad founded in 1975 by by Sir Frank and his partner in crime, Sir Patrick Head. This accounts for races entered by Frank Williams Racing Cars in 1975, then Williams Grand Prix Engineering from 1978, but without including the time in 1976 when the Williams FW 05 cars driven by Jacky Ickx, Michel Leclère and Arturo Merzario carried the banner of Walter Wolf Racing, founded by the Canadian billionaire.
Then Williams won 9 Constructors world titles, 7 Drivers crowns, 114 F1 races, and the Didcot started going down, until it was bought out last year by an American investment fund. The staff has changed, the Williams family has retired, but the name stays and high ambitions are set by the new owners.
In order to make this 750th GP memorable, the very talented George Russell, who had subbed for Lewis Hamilton at Sakhir GP, last November, in a Mercedes, will carry a special helmet. And he has another idea to celebrate the occasion : getting into Q2 on Saturday afternoon. This would be quite an achievement !
Formula 1 start time changes in 2018.
Find the new timetable of the 76th edition of the Grand Prix Automobile de Monaco that will take place from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 May 2018.
How excited are you to be starting on pole in Monaco ?
Obviously, it’s the best place to start for today, but it doesn’t guarantee anything for the race. Nevertheless, I’ll happily take it. It’s been all week-end quite ok. We’ve been struggling a little bit in certain places and we’ve been working and trying to figure it out and in qualifying it was better by no means perfect. I felt good so I was able to push. We have two cars in the front so let’s try to make the best out of it.
It’s your first pole since the 2008 French Grand Prix. It’s important for you to have done it in such a selective track as Monaco ?
No, I would like happily taken any other place also but it just happens. We’ve been close a few times lately but it’s something we haven’t really got in the last race. But if you take any circuit, here it’s the most important to be in front but it doesn’t automatically give you a win or a good result. There are so many things that can happen in a race that are nothing to do with you. You and the team might be doing a perfect job but other things might destroy the whole race.
The circuit is easier or more difficult with these new cars?
I don’t think it’s any easier. We end up going faster but then the same difficulties are there to go fast. It’s always tricky here, like it is in any place, especially here because you have to get very close to the kerbs and the walls. There is no chance to make mistakes. I think the resurface has improved a lot the circuit. It’s less bumpy, so it makes it a bit more nicer. But I don’t feel it’s any easier because the cars are faster and how more downforce. Everything happens a bit faster.
Michael Ammermüeller converted his pole position in a win during the Porsche Supercup race. Unbeatable in the Monegasque’s twisty streets, the championship leader got ahead Daniel Cammish (+2.162) and Dennis Olsen (+4.885).
Only fifteenth on the grid, the French Seven Palette (+24.673) managed to finish at the ninth place in a race where seven drivers had to retire.
Sacha Fenestraz won the race 2 of the Formula Renault Eurocup. The French led all the race for take his second win in the Principality after his victory under the rain last year. The Josef Kaufmann Racing driver got ahead Robert Shwartzman (+0.687) and the yesterday winner Will Palmer (+1.222).
A lot of things happened during this race. Six drivers have been involved in a collision at the Fairmont Corner. Frank Bird, Henrique Chaves and Jarno Opmeer were forced to give up. The race ended behind the safety-car after the crash of Thomas Neubauer at Sainte-Dévote.
Will Palmer won the race 1 of the Formula Renault Eurocup. The British started on pole and lead all the race to take the win with less than two seconds ahead of the French Sacha Fenestraz. The top 3 stayed the same of the qualifying session a long time before the championship leader Robert Shwartzman (4th) lost the last podium step in favour of Max Defourny.
Kevin Magnussen lacked regularity since his arrival at Haas and he has not managed to shine in the last round at Barcelona. Determined to be competitive here, the Danish opened his Monegasque week-end in a good way with the 13th place in free practice 1 and a 9th position in free practice 2.
« I’m pretty happy with the day, says the former Renault driver. We got everything done that was on our program. The car’s not feeling bad, so I’m looking forward to qualifying Saturday. »
Capable to go one second faster between the two sessions of the Thursday, the Haas driver has been impressed by the new F1’s performance on this twisty track.
« It’s very fast there, enjoyed the Danish. If feels amazing and it’s really good fun to drive. Let’s hope we can be competitive as well. »
