Fernando Alonso just pipped Lewis Hamilton to go fastest in FP2 ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix. Alonso’s Ferrari finished the session just 0.012 seconds ahead of Hamilton with a time of 1:14:818.
Rain stayed away for the session, threatening with only a few drops near the end of the session, giving teams a lot more running than they had during FP1.
Here is the timesheet for the second practice session for the Canadian Grand Prix weekend.
The FIA has called Mercedes to appear before its International Tribunal to answer questions concerning the controversial F1 tyre test for Pirelli.
In a statement released by the sport’s governing body they said, “In the light of all the replies received and in view of the information gathered during this inquiry, the President of the FIA, acting as the FIA prosecuting body, has decided to bring the case concerning the tyre testing session carried out by Pirelli and Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 in Barcelona on 15-17 May 2013 before the FIA International Tribunal because it results from the inquiry that the conditions of this testing may constitute a breach of the applicable FIA rules.”
“The FIA International Tribunal is called upon to make a decision in compliance with the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.”
In the same statement, the FIA also confirmed it will close its case against Ferrari who had conducted an F1 tyre test for Pirelli in April, using the 150 Italia which was last used in Formula One in 2011. “Its participation in a tyre testing organised by Pirelli in Barcelona on 23-24 April 2013 using for this purpose a 2011 car is not deemed to contravene the applicable FIA rules.”
Here is the full statement as published by the FIA on Wednesday 5 June 2013:
The Monaco Grand Prix Stewards raised in their report to the FIA an issue concerning a tyre testing session carried out by Pirelli with the participation of Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 in Barcelona on 15-17 May 2013[1].
The FIA requested clarifications from Pirelli and Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 in this respect.
The FIA also asked questions to Scuderia Ferrari Team, which took part in a tyre testing with Pirelli in Barcelona on 23-24 April 2013.
The FIA requested all the other F1 Teams to provide the FIA with information they may have regarding any tests carried out by Pirelli during the 2013 season.
In the light of all the replies received and in view of the information gathered during this inquiry, the President of the FIA, acting as the FIA prosecuting body, has decided:
The FIA International Tribunal is called upon to make a decision in compliance with the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules.
[1] The Stewards’ report follows the protests made by Red Bull Racing and Scuderia Ferrari Team on the occasion of the Monaco Grand Prix against Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 concerning its participation in the Barcelona tests (15-17 May 2013).
Every single race since Kimi Raikkonen’s return to Formula 1 has had a point – literally.
Raikkonen returned to Formula 1 last year with the Lotus F1 team and has not been out of the points scoring position since the 2012 Bahrain Grand Prix where the Finn took second place – twenty three races in total.
As it stands, only one man has racked up more consecutive points finishes. Seven times Formula 1 world champion Michael Schumacher currently holds the record of twenty-four successive finishes in the points. Schumi’s run of finishes started, as Ferrari driver, with victory in the 2001 Hungarian Grand Prix and concluded with sixth place in 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix.
Naturally, Raikkonen is unfazed by the prospect of breaking Schumacher’s record. “I am sure that it will all stop at some point,” he said. “Obviously we always try to get points and do good races but it can be some small part (that breaks) and it will stop.”
Raikkonen’s consistency in 2013 has earned him the third position in the driver’s championship standings. But the Iceman is keeping it all in perspective. The Canadian Grand Prix is foremost on Raikkonen’s mind and he knows what a lottery the circuit Gilles Villeneuve can be. “The weather can change a lot, sometimes the tyres or the track aren’t working very well, sometimes there are a lot of safety cars, or sometimes another driver runs into the back of you when you’re waiting at a red light.”
A tenth place finish will guarantee Raikkonen the record of most consecutive points finishes but the 2007 champion will undoubtedly by aiming higher than that.
According to a statement released by the FIA this evening, the Mercedes and Ferrari F1 teams have been called to supply further information for a disciplinary inquiry over the recent “secret” Pirelli F1 tyre test that took place in Barcelona.
The recent uproar was initially focused around the secret Pirelli test carried out by Mercedes after the news broke during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend.
Ferrari and Red Bull Racing lodged a protest against Mercedes using their current 2013 car in the test at Barcelona immediately after the Spanish Grand Prix. The stewards then referred the matter to the FIA.
It has since emerged that the Corse Clienti, Ferrari’s customer car division provided a 2011 car for a Pirelli tyre test two weeks before the Mercedes test took place.
This evening, the FIA issued a statement saying that the Formula One Governing Body wanted both Mercedes and Ferrari to participate in the investigation surrounding the tyre testing.
Their statement read as follows:
“The FIA has asked Team Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 and Scuderia Ferrari Team which have taken part in tyre tests in the 2013 season to reply to a disciplinary inquiry in pursuance of the FIA Judicial and Disciplinary Rules,” said the statement.
“This follows the Stewards’ Report from the Monaco Grand Prix and represents supplementary information required by the FIA in the light of the replies received from Pirelli, who were asked for clarifications on Tuesday May 28.”
It was previously believed that running the tyre tests with a 2011 car was within the rules but it now seems that this could be doubt as it could be argued that the 2011 car is not “substantially different” from the 2013 car as is required by Article 22.1 of the F1 sporting regulations.
Ferrari have confirmed on Tuesday, 28 May that a suspension failure caused the crash that ended Felipe Massa’s race on Sunday at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Massa lost control of his car into Saint Devote. He struck the barrier on the left before the corner and went straight on into the tech pro barriers on the opposite end of the corner.
“The findings validated the first impressions of the engineers, confirming that the accident was caused by an element of the front left suspension breaking,” according to a statement on the Scuderia Ferrari’s website.
Massa was attended to by medics at the track and was later taken to the hospital for a final check. “Two big accidents, just over twenty-four hours apart and all he has to show for it is a bit of muscle pain” was the word from Ferrari team Principal, Stefano Domenicali. Massa later tweeted a picture of himself relaxing in his Monaco apartment showing us the thumbs up.
That was not the only thing to go wrong for Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix. Fernando Alonoso could only manage seventh place. Ferrari later confirmed that there was some debris stuck in the front wing which upset the balance of the car and slowed Alonso down.
The third practice session at Monaco was pretty eventful. Things started off rather slowly but quickly the session became very incident filled.
Felipe Massa took a massive hit – something went wrong on his Ferrari and he smacked the left barrier entering into Sainte Devote, then went on into the barrier straight ahead. His Ferrari is severely damaged so Ferrari have a tough job getting the car ready before Qualifying later this afternoon. It is still unsure what went wrong, but speculation points to either a steering, or throttle failure.
Sutil was the next guy to take a hit. Damage to his Force India is also pretty severe so they’re another team who probably won’t be having a lunch break.
1 minute before the end of the session Romain Grosjean also smacked his car in Sainte Devote, adding Lotus to the no-lunch-break-teams.
It was Nico Rosberg who stamped his absolute authority on the session though, finishing 6 tenths faster than Grosjean in second place. His Mercedes is going to be tough to beat during qualifying but rain could still be a factor.
Here are the Monaco Grand Prix FP3 Results:
Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg made it two from two this afternoon after topping the time sheets in Friday’s second practice session.
Lewis Hamilton finished in 2nd while the Ferrari’s of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa finished off 3rd and 4th respectively. The session wasn’t without incident this time round as Romain Grosjean had a little meeting with the barrier at the exit of Sainte Devote (Turn 1). Grosjean out braked himself into T1, locked up and went straight on towards the barrier. He ripped off his front left suspension and that was the end of his session. Shortly after the Grosjean incident the session was red flagged to allow the marshals to repair the kerbs at the swimming pool section (T13-T14).
There’s lot of talk of two stop strategies. Some even speculating that some teams might gamble with a one stop. And we all know how well the Lotus cars take care of their tyres. But for the moment Mercedes and Ferrari look very strong with Red Bull and Lotus not very far off the pace.
Nico Rosberg topped the timing sheets in Free Practice 1 of the Monaco Grand Prix.
On a sunny and warm Thursday in Monaco Merdeces’ Nico Rosberg was the fastest with a 1:16.195. Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was second only 0.087s off the pace with a 1:16.282. Felipe Massa put his Ferrari in 4th with a 1:16.394. Lewis Hamilton could only manage 5th. The surprise was Williams’ Pastor Maldonado in 6th. The two Red Bulls of Vettel and Webber were 9th and 7th respectively. Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen could only manage 13th. His team mate, in the other Lotus, Romain Grosjean, finished in 3rd.
As we all know from Free Practice, these times are not representative of the absolute pace of the cars. We only get to know that during qualifying and to some extent in FP3.
We’ll be back again for Free Practice 2 at 14:00. As always you can follow us on Twitter at @F1_Madness for live updates.
For more times than I could remember I have imagined a Formula 1 car hurtling down my street, braking hard for the ninety degree turn just beyond my gates and planting the throttle which would induce that chill down the back of your spine as the magnificent whine of that V8 engine bounces off the surrounding buildings. If you live in Monte Carlo, this is no fantasy.
In one way or another, since 1929, racing cars have flashed through the sun drenched streets of Monte Carlo and through the decades has become the most prestigious motor race in the world. The 2013 edition of the Monaco grand prix will mark the 71st race to be run in the Principality.
Throughout its rich history many drivers have left their mark in the annals of this track’s history books. As a result of five victories around the famous streets, Graham Hill was christened ‘Mr Monaco’ and Formula 1 legends Alain Prost and Michael Schumacher took five victories a pair. The undisputed master around the tight and twisting Monte Carlo streets was unquestionably the incomparable Ayrton Senna. Of the Brazilian idol’s six unforgettable victories it was the 1989 race that yielded one of Senna’s most memorable quotes. “There is a rhythm… something like a perfect melody. Not always… but in any case I am always looking for that melody. And when I have found it I drive in 
a different dimension. I sense and I feel much more than I calculate. These rare moments are marvellous.”
Now it is time for someone else to become the winner of this extraordinary race. The winner may be amongst the current contenders for the world championship. Fernando Alonso has big momentum on his side and a tremendously fast Ferrari; Kimi Raikkonen brings to Monaco a car that has shown improved pace in qualifying – immensely important around the Anthony Noghes circuit. The championship leader, Sebastian Vettel wants to re-assert his dominance but problems with the tyres and a more than handy teammate around the streets may scupper his plans.
Mercedes could throw their hat into the ring and almost certainly will come qualifying. But will qualifying performance mean anything in the face of severe rear tyre wear in the race? Whichever driver is to be the eventual winner on Sunday it is nearly impossible to win the race from anywhere but the first two rows of the grid. “Overtaking is almost impossible, so to really enjoy racing there you have to be in the front,” said 2005 winner Kimi Raikkonen.
There isn’t just something special about the Monaco grand prix, everything about it is exceptional. The quick changes of direction between Ste Devote and Casino Square, the dark, very fast and loud tunnel, the mega fast left-right chicane just after Tabac at the entry to the swimming pool – all unite in the most exhilarating experience for both driver and fan.
*A small reminder that free practice 1 and 2 at Monaco will be run on Thursday as opposed to Friday.
Pirelli’s planned ‘tweaks’ to the 2013 tyres from the Canadian GP onwards has been reigned in by the FIA.
A ruling made by the sport’s governing body has stipulated that it will only allow changes to be made to the tyres on the grounds of safety. As a result the expected changes will be less significant that intially planned.
The FIA has clearly stated that it will not accept changes aimed at cutting down on the number of pitstops much less to reduce tyre degradation. Instead of reverting back to 2012 specification tyres Pirelli have been instructed to make adjustment to the current specification of tyres.
Article 12.6.3 of the technical regulations have been cited by the FIA with regard to their decision. The rule states:
“Tyre specifications will be determined by the FIA no later than 1 September of the previous season. Once determined in this way, the specification of the tyres will not be changed during the championship season without the agreement of all competing teams.”
There is however a different clause within the regulations which states that changes could be introduced “if the tyres are deemed by the tyre supplier and technical delegate as technically unsuitable.” But the FIA is adamant that the current ‘issues’ with the 2013 tyres falls within the purview of this rule.
Pirelli motosport director Paul Hembery admitted that the changes to the tyres would now be of a more modest nature. “Let’s wait and see exactly what changes we will be making, but we are doing everything we can to minimise what will be different,” he said.
The prospective changes were expected to benefit teams such as Mercedes and Red Bull who have been struggling to get on top of the tyres. In contrast, Ferrari and Lotus will breathe a sigh of relief as they look to maintain their tyre advantage.