Monaco: pre-qualifying 2019

The main news since the last race is the passing away of Niki Lauda. Lauda won three world titles (Ferrari 1975 and 1977, and McLaren 1984), suffered serious burns in 1976 which saw him given the last rites only to return to racing about six weeks later, and had a famous rivalry with James Hunt, depicted in the film Rush.

More recently he was one of the chaps at Mercedes, and played a role in getting Hamilton to jump ship from McLaren. RIP Niki Lauda.

A week or so ago I backed/tipped Leclerc at 19 to win (each way, fifth the odds top 3). Whilst I do expect Verstappen to be more competitive, I was surprised to see Gasly’s odds at just 11, and Leclerc did very well around the tight streets of Azerbaijan. Complicating matters is the forecast of rain for qualifying, though the race itself is expected to be dry (shame it isn’t the other way around).

I also put tiny sums on Ricciardo, Sainz, and Perez (901, 1751, 1751 respectively) just in case rain played a role in qualifying or the race. Not expecting those to come off, but the three chaps have strong records around Monaco, with winning, best of the rest, and a podium finish all within the last six years.

First and second practice are on Thursday in Monaco. Always seems a little odd have a different schedule, but there we are (I believe it’s due to a religious thingummyjig on Friday).

In first practice, Hamilton was fastest but both Verstappen and Bottas were within a tenth of a second. Leclerc was a few tenths further back, but still a third of a second ahead of Vettel. Gasly, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Raikkonen, and Grosjean were all separated by just a couple of tenths. (Gasly’s time was over a second behind his team mate. It also seems electrical problems stopped Sainz from getting any track time).

Second practice again had Hamilton fastest, ahead of Bottas (who was again within less than a tenth of a second), Vettel was next but seven-tenths off the pace, ahead of Gasly, Albon, Verstappen, Magnussen, Giovinazzi, Raikkonen, and Leclerc. The Verstappen and Ferrari times seem rather sandbaggish. Hope so, anyway.

Leclerc was fastest in third practice, a whole half-tenth ahead of Bottas. Hamilton was two-tenths off Leclerc’s pace, and half a tenth ahead of Verstappen, who was himself two-tenths up on Gasly. Giovinazzi was nearly half a second down the road (but has looked good all weekend), followed by Kvyat, Magnussen, Raikkonen, and Albon, all separated by tiny fractions of a second.

Vettel introduced his Ferrari to the barriers, which rather curtailed his running in final practice.

I wasn’t intending to bet, with the margins so tight, and a quick check revealed no markets were up (and there’s only a small window between final practice and qualifying). Intrigued to see how Leclerc can do, and if Alfa Romeo can be best of the rest. Toro Rosso looking tasty too.

There’s also a chance of rain, although third practice was dry.

No tip for qualifying.

The pre-race ramble could be up this evening, or possibly tomorrow morning, depending how things go.

Morris Dancer