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Alonso fears rain "nightmare"
Topic Started: May 22 2008, 08:22 AM (801 Views)
Rams
Chief Engineer
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Hamilton and Button join in the anti-rain chorus.

Quote:
 
McLaren star Lewis Hamilton says the Monaco Grand Prix could turn into a "disaster" if rain falls in the Principality this weekend.

"It will be especially difficult here in the wet, especially this year without traction control," he said.

"Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren's test driver) made a comment at the last test that it is incredibly difficult to get to full throttle here in the wet.

"With this circuit being so tight, I think it's going to be a disaster."

Countryman Jenson Button has also voiced his fears about track safety should the weather turn nasty.

"Looking at the forecast, it appears it's going to be pretty awful," said the Honda driver.

"With the white lines going up to Casino Square, if you touch one you've a big chance of putting your car into the wall.

"So it's going to be pretty intense, and you just hope we get some practice in before the race.

"The last thing we all want is to be barrelling into Casino with no practice in the wet."

Even in the dry conditions on Thursday, the Renault duo of Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet both lost their rear wing, sliding into the barrier as they exited Sainte Devote.

Hamilton posted the quickest time throughout practice, with the 23-year-old Briton aiming to go one better than his second-place finish of a year ago.

He was comfortably fastest by almost 0.4 seconds from the Williams of Nico Rosberg.

"I simply love Monaco and enjoy every single moment I get to spend on the track," said Hamilton, whose lap of one minute 15.140secs was almost 0.6secs quicker than Alonso's pole position of last season.

"The car felt great almost immediately, and I was able to show a good pace from the very beginning.

"There is a long way to go, but I enjoy this so much and we will work hard to continue making progress."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport...one/7415421.stm

Rain is now a certainty for the race, and likely for qualifying.
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Red Andy
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<yahoo>

Can anyone foresee a race that is cut short by the 2-hour time limit, as we saw in 1996 and 1997?

On second thoughts, we might end up with another Fuji-like farce, with the first half of the race taking place under the safety car. <grrr>
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Norbert
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Quote:
 
current cars have at least 150-200 BHP less, not discounting qualifying engines and slick tyres


Tyres would make a massive difference at Monaco. I'm willing to be the hardest currently in Bridgestone's range provides far more grip than a 1984 qualifying tyre. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 1984 spec car on modern compounds to be at very nearly the same pace as one of today's cars. We've seen some off-seasons where the cars have gained two or three seconds during tyre wars purely from the change in compound. Also, qualifying excepted, the tyres were designed to last an entire race, so all the extra weight of fuel at the beginning would have meant they needed to be extremely hard wearing.

Well, we'll never know, but I'd love to see it tested.... :)
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Norbert
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Red Andy,May 23 2008
08:43 AM
we might end up with another Fuji-like farce

I doubt Webber or Vettel will let Hamilton make them collide again.....

<roflmao>
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Rob
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Red Andy,May 23 2008
02:43 AM
<yahoo>

Can anyone foresee a race that is cut short by the 2-hour time limit, as we saw in 1996 and 1997?

On second thoughts, we might end up with another Fuji-like farce, with the first half of the race taking place under the safety car. <grrr>

That would suck <hitwall> . I say delay the start, screw the safety car.
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Rams
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If that happens and the conditons are not terrrible (by terrible I mean absolutely lashing down with rain) then they should be embarrassed with themselves.

It's very unlikely conditions would improve, I believe, as once the rain arrives it's expected to stay until Monday.
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safc_fan89
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Of course all the drivers are vocal about it. They don't want their reputation ruined. Button as a smooth driver, Hamilton as a driving goddess, Alonso as...well what ever, and so on.

Has Kimi complained yet? If he has, then we have trouble.
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Norbert
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I doubt Kimi will moan (even if we could tell the difference between him moaning and celebrating) - he'll just tear the others apart on the track, with the possible exceptions of Hamilton and dare I say Alonso.
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Rob
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Norbert,May 23 2008
10:58 AM
I doubt Kimi will moan (even if we could tell the difference between him moaning and celebrating) - he'll just tear the others apart on the track, with the possible exceptions of Hamilton and dare I say Alonso.

As long as McLaren don't pit Lewis to late....
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TheCompleteGuitarist
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safc_fan89,May 23 2008
03:49 PM
Of course all the drivers are vocal about it. They don't want their reputation ruined. Button as a smooth driver, Hamilton as a driving goddess, Alonso as...well what ever, and so on.

Has Kimi complained yet? If he has, then we have trouble.

Button says only that he's worried about the fiasco a wet race may bring, but that he would relish the conditions.
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Rams
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It's surprising how some teams and drivers are openly talking about rain, but others ignoring it completely. I think they're going to get a big shock on Sunday morning when they look out the window.

I have a feeling Fisichella is going to get a nice points haul.
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safc_fan89
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Fisi isn't known for his wet-weather driving is he? I'd say he is a candidate for first retirement if last race is anything to go by. He could't judge the first corner in the dry, with no-one anywhere near him. White lines and rain aren't going to make things any easier.
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Rob
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safc_fan89,May 23 2008
11:22 AM
Fisi isn't known for his wet-weather driving is he? I'd say he is a candidate for first retirement if last race is anything to go by. He could't judge the first corner in the dry, with no-one anywhere near him. White lines and rain aren't going to make things any easier.

Totally agree. <thumbsup>
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Rams
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He did pretty well at Monaco 1997 in the wet.
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Rob
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I would argue Rubens did better in the Stewart, splitting the Ferraris.
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