It’s a speedy turnaround for Formula One as the game heads to the long-lasting Principality of Monaco this weekend following final week’s Spanish Grand Prix. In a calendar with loads of avenue circuits, the Monaco GP is the one the place everybody desires to win. However, with the observe notoriously tough to overhaul on, it’s prone to be Saturday that decides the winner when the 20 drivers exit on the softest Pirellis with the lightest fuel masses.

The historic occasion is one in all solely 4 circuits to function within the unique 1950 F1 season. Not like Silverstone, Monza and Spa-Francorchamps, nonetheless, the streets of Monte Carlo haven’t had their format modified dramatically for the reason that first race 72 years in the past.

Some issues that can differ in 2022 are the broad modern-day F1 vehicles threading the needle across the slender public Meditteranean roads. We’ll see if the 2022 regulation vehicles permit nearer operating all through a lap of Monaco; the present era F1 vehicles create far much less turbulent air than lately. Whether or not that can assistance on such a slow-speed observe the place mechanical grip is often extra crucial than aerodynamics will likely be fascinating to see.

Though the drivers have the unenviable job of navigating their method round a circuit not made for the vehicles they sit in as rapidly as potential (suppose driving a Ford Focus across the aisles of Tesco), it’s the technique that may make all of the distinction right here. The groups have to be reactive to any security vehicles, digital security vehicles, or incidents that may set off one because it’s near-impossible to cross on the observe. So count on to see some slower groups run so long as they’ll on their beginning set of Pirelli tyres within the hope of benefitting from a “low cost” pit stop later within the race.

‍The 2022 Monaco Grand Prix will see the groups run with the softest three Pirelli tyre compounds — the C3, C4, and C5. This trio of rubber is the other of Spain when Pirelli introduced the toughest three, nevertheless it’s no surprise; tyre degradation is never a priority due to the sluggish speeds of Monaco. So as a substitute, Pirelli will be sure every driver can extract probably the most efficiency from their tyres on an ever-evolving floor because the weekend progresses.

One aspect could show to be a foil to any staff’s weekend preparation — rain. Sunday’s forecast at present sits with a 60% probability of a bathe, which might dramatically change the whole lot. Irrespective of how excessive up on the grid a driver qualifies, a moist Monaco can rapidly turn into a lottery of luck if anybody brakes one metre too late and ends their day within the boundaries. The solar ought to shine for Qualifying, nevertheless it could possibly be Pirellis green-walled Intermediate tyres and even the blue Wets if the rain falls on Sunday.

Max Verstappen heads into the race with a formidable run of three consecutive wins, and he now leads the championship after trailing Charles Leclerc all 12 months. The Red Bull driver must also fancy his probabilities in Monaco after taking the victory in final 12 months’s race. Leclerc could not really feel as optimistic, nonetheless. Though the race represents his house occasion — often one thing that provides a driver a lift — the Monegasque is but to complete a Monaco Grand Prix since becoming a member of F1 in 2018. Leclerc did take pole {position} in 2021, however he failed to start out the race resulting from harm sustained in his late-qualifying crash.

One last storyline would possibly hinder Verstappen from taking one other winner’s trophy. Mercedes confirmed a major step ahead with their upgrades final weekend in Spain. Ought to the staff have discovered a silver bullet — or ought to that be a Silver Arrow — for his or her early-season technical woes, Lewis Hamilton or George Russell may make it a sixth Mercedes win within the earlier 9 Monaco Grands Prix.

Initially revealed at Tyres Northampton