System 1 heads to Monte Carlo this weekend for the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix and Spherical 7 of the FIA System 1 World Championship.
Max Verstappen and Oracle Pink Bull Racing cleared the path in each the Drivers’ and Constructors Championships however prior to now two rounds in Miami and Imola, we have now seen stern challenges from McLaren F1 Staff and Scuderia Ferrari. Lando Norris, specifically, has been in good from, successful in Miami and ending beneath a second behind Verstappen on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
Monaco is the jewel within the System 1 crown and could be one of the crucial thrilling races on the calendar. Learn what the groups have been saying forward of the weekend, together with Ferrari and McLaren.
Fred Vasseur — Scuderia Ferrari
“A number of days in the past, it was our dwelling race in Imola and this weekend, Charles might be on dwelling turf in Monaco, a race that’s unfinished enterprise for him and we’d like to assist him put it to mattress.
“Carlos additionally loves racing within the Principality, the place he took his first podium on the wheel of a Ferrari, so they’re each very motivated.
“It’s typically accepted that, with the present technology of automobiles, overtaking is tougher right here than at some other observe on the calendar, which implies qualifying takes on even higher significance than traditional.
“We are going to due to this fact be trying to make a step ahead on this self-discipline, as thus far this season we have now lacked what it takes to be quickest of all.
“With this in thoughts, we have now been working laborious within the simulator and through engineering conferences, getting ready every little thing right down to the smallest element and we absolutely intend to be front-runners.
Lando Norris — McLaren F1 Staff
“Monaco up subsequent! It’s one of the crucial difficult weekends on the calendar. It’s not the best observe to overhaul, however qualifying right here is among the most fun challenges in motorsport. It’s all about hitting the bottom working and constructing confidence proper from FP1.
“It felt good to have the ability to struggle for the win in Imola, so we have now a lot potential transferring ahead. Monaco may even be a particular race for us as we might be racing in a tribute livery to Senna. It seems to be superb, and I can’t wait to race round this particular observe in it.”
Oscar Piastri — McLaren F1 Staff
“It’s going to be an honour to race across the streets of Monaco in our particular Senna livery. He was a grasp of this observe with six victories and it’s vital to pay tribute to such a job mannequin of our sport.
“I’ve additionally provide you with a particular helmet design and I’ll be auctioning off one in every of my helmets to boost funds for the Ayrton Senna Institute, which does such nice work in offering alternatives and remodeling lives.
“The previous two race weekends in Miami and Imola have been amongst my strongest in F1 and it’s an thrilling prospect to be heading to Monaco with good momentum.”
Toto Wolff — Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Staff
“The small step ahead we took in Imola was encouraging. The workforce has labored extremely laborious to deliver our current updates to the observe, and it was a transparent efficiency acquire. That being mentioned, others have improved too.
“We’re nonetheless a step behind the entrance three groups due to this fact, and there’s loads of work nonetheless to do. However, we have now a transparent path and developments within the pipeline. We’ve a extra strong platform to construct on now and we’re assured that, in time, we will get ourselves into the pack forward.
“That work continues this weekend in Monaco. It’s a distinctive circuit and a incredible problem for the workforce and drivers. It’s all the time laborious to foretell anticipated efficiency, however we are going to look to execute a clear weekend and maximise the automotive we have now.
“It’s all the time a particular weekend, and we sit up for placing on an excellent present for the followers, and our companions and friends throughout our in depth hospitality programme in Monte Carlo.”
Nico Hulkenberg — Haas F1 Staff
“I’ve lived in Monaco since 2015, this might be my eleventh Monaco Grand Prix, and I’ve watched the race many instances rising up. Monaco is iconic, it’s all about custom; the palace, the motels, and plenty of locations that also have a costume code to have the ability to get in. The historical past and the heritage there, everybody embraces and respects that, which I like.
“There’s all the time a bit extra deal with qualifying right here in Monaco. But it surely’s the identical each weekend, from scratch you must attempt to get an excellent feeling for the automotive, and the problem with qualifying in Monaco is that you really want to grasp the lap and put all three sectors collectively. It’s a journey on a knife edge and difficult yearly and one in every of my favourite tracks to drive, I sit up for the journey and the problem.”
Kevin Magnussen — Haas F1 Staff
“It’s one of the best observe on the calendar to drive, it’s simply phenomenal on these little tight streets with partitions in all places. The sensation of driving a System 1 automotive in Monaco, to me, is one of the best of the 12 months. We all know there’s no overtaking within the race, so it does really feel now with all these different races the place overtaking is fairly good and racing is fairly good, that it’s a little bit of a bizarre one as a result of there’s so little.
“Perhaps there may very well be extra qualifying classes or a Dash to throw a curveball. The Monaco Grand Prix is part of the triple crown, it’s a type of races the place should you win that, it’s further particular, and having pushed round there it’s so particular, so I hope it stays on the calendar.
“At different races, you’re doing laps to discover totally different methods, you’ve discovered the restrict rapidly. In Monaco, you’re simply getting nearer and nearer to the restrict, and because it’s a observe that’s actually getting used, it’s acquired a lot observe evolution.
“Monaco is one the place all of the partying that’s occurring, it’s fairly seen. At different races, the events are taking place in golf equipment within the metropolis, in Monaco, they’re taking place on the observe in Rascasse, and individuals are spilling drinks on the observe! I really like Monaco, it’s my favorite race.”
Esteban Ocon — BWT Alpine F1 Staff
“Reflecting on Imola, I might say it was a tough race for us as a workforce, and we weren’t able to struggle with the opposite automobiles round us. The automotive felt extra aggressive over a single lap, and we have been once more inside attain of creating it into Q3, however within the race we have been hindered by an absence of straight-line velocity.
“It meant we weren’t in a position to make progress on our beginning place or defend from these behind. We tried totally different methods with each automobiles to present ourselves a possibility to make up locations, however finally, we lacked the required tempo.
“I prolonged my first stint to permit for a one-stop and hoped we might soar any of these two-stopping however in the long run that didn’t occur. What Imola confirmed is that we should preserve enhancing and dealing laborious to grasp the automotive extra − extracting probably the most from the set-up on the several types of circuit we go to, beginning already this week in Monaco.
“Monaco is such a particular place on the calendar and is synonymous with System 1 and the historical past of motorsport. As a driver, it’s a weekend that you must be at your best and stayed targeted all through.
“Monaco is a observe the place the driving force can actually make a distinction. If you happen to really feel snug within the automotive and the automotive is compliant and turns the way you need, you may run near the boundaries and discover further time.
“That’s what occurred final 12 months, the place I felt good within the automotive already from the primary Apply session. I’ve very fond recollections of this place, particularly from the rostrum end final 12 months. And not using a race in France, this may be thought-about a little bit of a house race for us, alongside Silverstone.
“Realistically, I don’t suppose we will repeat the efficiency from final 12 months, however we are going to give it our all to attain one of the best outcome this weekend.”
Pierre Gasly — BWT Alpine F1 Staff
“I positively had combined emotions travelling dwelling on Sunday evening after Imola. On one aspect, it’s a step in the best path as I felt very snug within the automotive by way of Friday and Saturday.
“It’s most likely probably the most dialed in I’ve been all season thus far. I made a small mistake in Qualifying in Q2 when it mattered – I used to be barely distracted into the ultimate corners by one other automotive and I misjudged my line.
“That’s on me, and it might have been attention-grabbing to see the place we’d have ended up as my Q1 lap time was very sturdy and inside the highest ten. These are simply small issues to get proper and I do know we’re getting there as a workforce.
“Sunday’s race was much less constructive for us and it uncovered our weaknesses throughout our automotive bundle. We lacked tempo to actually make something from the race. There’s lots for us to evaluate however clearly not the best way we anticipate issues to go. We’ve an instantaneous probability to race once more this weekend. It’s most likely as shut as we get to France all season, so whereas it’s not a house race, that’s saved for Charles, it does really feel particular for the workforce and us drivers in Monaco with a lot French help.
“It’s the race I most sit up for on the calendar. It’s excessive danger with excessive rewards, as we skilled as a workforce final 12 months. I’ve some unfinished enterprise on my aspect from twelve months in the past, so I’m positively able to get occurring observe. It’s a legendary place. World well-known and probably the most iconic place in motorsport.
“We’re going to work laborious to rise up to hurry as rapidly as attainable and construct up some confidence within the automotive throughout Apply. From there, we’ll want a little bit of magic on Saturday and see the place we’re at from there. I’m prepared for it!”
Alex Albon — Williams Racing
“As we head to Monaco this week as a part of the doubleheader, I’m actually trying ahead to driving on this iconic observe once more and it’s all the time thrilling when the race is in your doorstep.
“Monaco has all the time been a observe that our automotive has struggled with, so I’m to see how the FW46 performs given our change in traits to make it extra versatile throughout totally different tracks.
“Monaco is all the time attention-grabbing with the climate being unpredictable, in addition to overtaking being a problem, so it ought to make for an attention-grabbing weekend.”
Logan Sargeant — Williams Racing
“It’s all the time particular to race across the streets of Monaco. The observe is extremely slim, leaving no margin for error, so it’s essential to construct up confidence throughout the Free Apply classes.
“Securing observe place is vital with it being troublesome to overhaul, making Qualifying in Monaco one of the crucial vital of the season. We’ll be trying to make the most of any alternatives as a workforce.”
Valtteri Bottas — Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber
“Monaco is particular, in each manner. It’s such a throwback to a special period of motorsport, each by way of the circuit itself and of every little thing that takes place across the occasion: it’s a giant date on the calendar and one that’s all the time gratifying. Plus, residing in Monaco itself, I get to go dwelling each night, which is one thing you positively don’t get to do in some other race within the season!
“Monaco is a giant problem for a driver: it’s a spot that not solely requires approach and precision – it additionally calls for absolute psychological focus for each inch of tarmac.
“There may be not a single place the place you may chill out or shift your consideration to one thing else – and each mistake is punished: it’s robust, but it surely’s a enjoyable problem.
“Additionally, whereas qualifying is essential in each race, in Monaco it acquires an much more pivotal position: add to this the climate, which might change typically and all of a sudden, and you’ve got so many components of potential jeopardy in a single single race. That is what makes this race what it’s, and it’s a problem I relish.”
Zhou Guanyu — Stake F1 Staff Kick Sauber
“Racing in Monte Carlo is among the stuff you dream of once you’re a baby aiming for System One: it’s one of the crucial particular moments within the season, it’s a race even non-fans would learn about, and I’m actually trying ahead to doing it once more this weekend.
“Imola was a troublesome weekend however one which has at the very least given us classes to study for the long run: whereas Monaco is a very totally different observe structure, there are nonetheless many components we will implement to enhance and increase our competitiveness.
“Right here, greater than wherever else, qualifying is a large a part of your finish outcome, so it’ll be vital to hit the bottom working from the very first session and maximise all we will in follow, in order that we could be ready for Saturday.
“Even then, it is a observe that may throw surprises at each nook: a Security Automotive isn’t too far, so technique can also present alternatives. We are going to must be ready for something that will occur, however I’m assured we will play our playing cards proper.”
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