2013 Formula One

[Mr Revhead]

Would be better than watching them now!

[Mr Ree]

As much as I want to get excited about the looming Monaco F1 Grand Prix, right now Im too excited about Mitch Evans being on the front row of the grid for tonights first GP2 race, to even think about it.

It would mean SO MUCH to have a Kiwi win at Monaco, and would go along way to getting his season back on track after a couple of lack lustre weekends.

Go Mitch, do us all proud

[Mr Revhead]

Very cool.

What times the race?

[Scottie]

Very cool.

What times the race?

1130 on sky I think. Firstrow is down

[Mr Revhead]

Down or just not on yet? vip box is fine

[Scottie]

That was very close between p1 and 2. They were in different qualy sessions as well. Evans beat his team mate(pole sitter) in practice, at roughly the same time of day.

[Scottie]

Down or just not on yet? vip box is fine

says, website has been seized.

[Mr Revhead]

Both vip and first row working for me just now
Try their different links

[Mr Ree]

Wow what a start by Mitch!!!

And then 20 cars pile up at Ste Devote...

Fingers crossed for the same getaway on the restart

[Mr Ree]

3rd place for Mitch, not quite the win due to a tyre strategy that didnt pay off, but nevertheless, it was awesome seeing him racing hard, and standing on that podium.

Im guessing he will be starting from 6th for tomorrows sprint race, due to the reverse grid for the top 8, so it will be hard to move forward from there but heres hoping for another action filled race so he has more of a chance

Go Mitch!

[Mr Ree]

Some big accidents in FP3, Massa had a failure of some description at the end of the front straight and hit the wall at not much shy of 300kph then head on into another barrier, luckily he hopped out fine, but I doubt the car will be able to be rebuilt in time for quali given how damaged it was.

Grosjeans car met the barriers at Ste Devote again, but this time bounced back across the track and into the inside, blocking the pitlane exit, its possible he wont be in quali either

Sutil went into the barriers at the top of the hill going into Massenet, but his car doesnt look too bad so should be back out in time for quali

Its looking like Rosberg should be able to put it on pole but if the rain comes, which is possible, then all bets are off, it would be good to see Mark win it again though

[Mr Revhead]

Ouch!

[Mr Ree]

Very.

And the rain has just started falling...

Its going to be a manic quali session with nobody having done any wet running all weekend.

Lottery time, Go Kimi

[Mr Ree]

Woohoo another 3rd place for Mitch in the GP2 sprint race...what an amazing result for him, after some inspired overtaking on a damp track in the first lap.

Lots of team bosses will have noticed him too, and good results in Monaco always means more.

I hope this is the beginning of a strong rest of the season

[Mr Revhead]

Yeah would be so cool for him to keep heading upwards.

So, anyone want to beat against a Merc win?
Will things get interesting between Rosberg and Hamilton?

[Mr Ree]

The problem he faces is even if he wins alot in GP2 over the next season, and even goes so far as to take the championship next year, all that means is he is now able to be considered for a seat in one of the mid to back of the field teams, and will need to bring upwards of $10M just to get a look in.

As much as I want him to reach F1, I have a bad feeling that his NZ sponsors who have been amazing thus far, simply wont be able to stump up the amount of money he will require to step up to the big league.

I think his best hope is a solid 2013, challenge for the title 2014, and then go into F1 as a 3rd driver for one of the top 5 teams, as by then, Im certain they will have modified/relaxed the testing rules in order to give young drivers some much needed track time.

Taking a seat in a back marker car isnt the best route IMHO, and can be the Coup de grace for most young drivers, who are spat out the second someone with better funding comes along, regardless of who has more talent.

Regarding tonights F1 race, I can see the Mercs being jumped by either RBR, Kimi, or Alonso, depending on what temperature it ends up being. Tyre deg isnt going to be as severe as previous races, but it will still be a component in the race, either way its going to be the most exciting procession in...well...a year

[Mr Revhead]

Yep I agree.
Except for your confidence on passing at Monaco

[2jayzgte]

Is there any possibility Evans by way of Webber be introduced into the RBR racing program through Torro Rosso and if he performs there like Vergne or Riccardo have a shoot at a possible top line RBR seat could this be a cheaper alternative or possibility.

As it seems he needs to be the second coming of Aryton Senna to have any show in H*ll of getting a drive with a top flight team.

[Mr Ree]

Yep I agree.
Except for your confidence on passing at Monaco

I should have prefaced it by saying all passing would be done solely in the pits Although obviously, nobody told Mitch this morning lol

Coryn, I have thought about that alot, and am of the opinion that its too much of a double edged sword. Its almost like if you dont win races at STR in 2 years then Helmut Marko thinks you are a waste of space and that mud sticks to your career. You only need to look at the highly talented drivers who have been dropped from the programme, and ultimately from F1, to realise its a one shot affair, then move over for the next kid.

If it is his only chance to get into F1 then I geuss its better than not being there at all, but I would just hate to see his rep ruined because a driver selector thinks driving an STR = should be able to win, cos Vettel did. Conveniently ignoring the fact that he did that in a 100% clone of that years newey designed RBR lol

Lets hope he has such a strong second season in GP2 that he gets picked up by Force India, Sauber, Williams, et al...just as long as its not a back marker where its impossible to show your true pace, short of trouncing your team mate 19-nil over the season

[Mr Revhead]

Well, at the very least either Hartley or Dixon will have some Kiwi competition in a few years if the last step is too tall