Monaco is the crown jewel of the F1 calendar. The last remaining true street circuit, it represents the ultimate challenge to a drivers concentration, talent, and bravado. Getting a pole lap at Monaco is all about commitment and millimeter precision driving, combined with extreme fine motor skill in the right foot.
Previous Monaco Atomic F1 grand prix's have all be crashfests and demolision derbies, with one definite King of Monaco, Atomic Lambo.
Turn 1 (Sainte Devote): Slightly reprofiled from previous years, after the pit entrance moved from before to after this corner. Brake at 65m and shift down to 3rd gear, before getting on the power, with DRS and KERS immediately clear of the apex. Good drive out of this corner is important for the blast up the hill.
Turn 2 (Beau Rivage): More of a flat out blast in 7th gear than a corner.
Turn 3 (Massenet): Left foot brake and shift down through 5th and 4th mid corner. Hug the inside for the turn into turn 4.
Turn 4 (Casino): 3rd gear through the apex and get on the KERS and DRS early for maximum speed. Use KERS in the race and you may be able to outbrake your opponent into Mirabeau.
Turn 5 (Mirabeau): 1st gear. You should notice the sector 1 time here. A good lap is a low 18s split. Quickly change up to 2nd as you head toward the hairpin.
Turn 6: The sharpest and slowest turn in formula 1. The cars dial in extra steering lock just for this 80km/hr corner. Be careful not to carry too much speed or you will understeer into the outside wall. Definitely 1st gear.
Turn 7: Change into 2nd, trying your best to minimise wheel spin and control your car, avoiding the inside curb which if struck hard may pitch you into the outside wall.
Turn 8 (Porter): Try and avoid staring out over the harbour vista and smoothly transition from 2nd to 3rd gear, minimising wheel spin. You want maximum speed for the "straight" up ahead and possibly one of the only overtaking opportunities.
Turn 9 (Tunnel): A bumpy right hander in the dark. The tunnel can be taken flat out, with 100% throttle, KERS, and DRS, if you get it right. Get it wrong and you're definitely facing the wrong way with a panelbeaters bill. Don't be like Massa and Hamilton in 2011 and try and overtake through this turn. The result will be the same.
Turn 10 & 11 (Chicane): Get your braking right, starting at about 65m. Lock a wheel and you'll either get a penalty for overshooting the corner, or you'll be massively offline and run the risk of hitting the wall through 11. You can easily lose a second if you get it wrong here.
Turn 12 (Tabac): Taken in 4th, but be careful with the throttle. A tail-happy car is a backward facing car with a broken nose, parked on a blind highspeed corner.
Turn 13 & 14 (Swiming Pool): Taken in 5th & 6th (shift mid corner). 100% throttle.
Turn 15 & 16: Taken in 2nd. Run over the kerbs to keep your time low. Check your sector 2 split. A good split is low 53's.
Turn 17 & 18 (La Rascasse): Brake for 18 just after the apex/kink of 17 and drop it down to 2nd. Gentle on the throttle as you minimise wheel spin for a good line through the final turn.
Turn 19: Taken in 2nd, straightlining and getting on the DRS and any remaining KERS. Front left wheel may ride against the left ripple strip but be careful not to hit the wall.
Expected Pole Time: Low 1:09's and lower.
Overtaking: Turn 1, if the driver in front is offline. Try not to hit the car as you up the inside, or you'll push them into the wall and ruin their race. Turn 10 maybe. If you're brave on the brakes. Turn 15: see previous comment. Monaco is extremely difficult to pass on, but with an expected high number of unforced errors, and 38 laps, passing should be a waiting game. People will come unstuck, and if they don't, they're probably faster than you anyway.