As much as I appreciate the challenge that Monaco produces for the cars & drivers, the tight street track doesn't allow for much overtaking which is the issue. You could see how much quicker some cars were than others but they just couldn't get past, or were too scared to try for fear of ending up like button did. I think the quali was more exciting than the race tbh. Still, pleased for Webber, showed he can still come up tumps when he is under pressure.

just watched this and after seeing this i cant see how anyone cannot say that hamilton is one of if not the best f1 driver we have had since senna!

Interesting that although the F1 lap times at Catalan GP are about 20 seconds quicker than the MotoGP the new 1000 cc MotoGP bikes are about 5 mph faster down the straight.

F1 cars really do have immense drag/downforce.

This is odd as it is the opposite as on the road as bikes tend to be better at lower speeds and cars at the higher speeds.

F1 cars need more DRS for the straights, enclosed wheels perhaps, suppose that would be a bit Le Mans like.

Edited 2 June, 201214 yr by lol

1st practice at Montreal just finished with Hamilton leading the times:

1. Hamilton 1.15:564
   
2. Vettel 1.15:682
   
3. Rosberg 1.15:782
   

Alonso, Webber, Hulkenberg, Kobayashi, Perez, Schumacher and Button making up the rest of the top 10.

After the oil leak in FP1 Button`s bad luck continued into FP2 leaving him only getting out for the last 20min`s of the session. Hamilton topped the times again.

Practice isn't always a good judge of form IMO as teams always run at less power coupled with trying new things often to put other teams into a false sense of security.

It's all a poker game especially if the sums show at full power you are likely to be competitive

Oh no doubt about that, the amount of flow paint splashed about says it all.

Get in Lewis!!!!!

Stunning drive, great strategy, great race!

Fail by Ferrari on Alonso strategy and so close by Vettel. Bad luck for Button though, not a good day at the office. Well done to Grosjean and Perez too.

Yet another winner, great season so far.

Great to see another winner and an excellent drive by Hamilton but a potentially interesting battle at the end was spoilt by DRS.

Another race I've not watched.

Might get to see one this season....

Can only repeat what has been said, fantastic race, so pleased for Lewis finally getting the win. DRS is a working progress as has been said since it was introduced, it was shortened this year and i`m guessing it`ll be shortened again next year. Didnt ruin the race for me, it was only the cars that were massively quicker that put it to use, lewis had pretty much done Alonso before the DRS come in. Pleased for Grosjean & the Mexican, both managing to manage their tyres and come from so far back. Considering the sate of the Ferrari`s at the start of the season I think they have come on massively to be at the front of the grid. Certainly going to be a tight season!

One thing I had noticed, some of these new purpose made tracks havent got a patch on the some of the old school circuits!

Sportguru update moved to correct thread!

Interesting practice sessions in Valencia - many teams going in different directions with regard to upgrades.

McLaren have pretty much stood still with their upgrades, with no new developments since the 5th race in Barcelona. Hamilton only managed 14th in 2nd practice, some 0.8 secs off the pacesetter.

Practice sessions were particularly important for Jenson following his poor running in the last race. He was still struggling with setup issues and had a constant front wheel locking problem with the option tyre.

Ferrari used FP1 to test out some developments and daubed their front wing on Alonso's car with aero paint to guage air flow with their improvements.

By the end of FP2, the top 15 drivers were split by a mere 0.9 secs which really shows how competitive the cars are this year.

Vettel topped the times, with Hulkenberg just behind and Kobayashi third. The Force India really showed it's pace and it could well be in contention for a Q3 position tomorrow.

Looking forward to another good qualifying session!

Don't think will we see an 8th winner this weekend, hate to say / think it but I think Vettel will win

I dont think its that clear cut. Strategy will be a big factor I think, 1/2/3 stop? Lotus & Sauber could make their tyres last? Gonna be another good race . . .

I think Maldonado should be in trouble for that move on Hamilton. I know Hamilton squeezed him but Maldonado was off the track and should yield.

However, knowing the biased marshalls, they'll do Hamilton!

Yeah sounds about right.

Amazing exciting race, plenty of drama and overtaking

Well, Valencia in exciting race shocker!

Alonso does it again, give him a sniff of a win and he's unstoppable! Good progress by Ferrari. Gutted for Hamilton :(

McLaren need some urgent work on their car, they are falling off the pace. Button seems to be getting on top of his troubles, but still not where he needs or wants to be, and Lewis ran out of rubber first at the end. The car is killing it's tyres and it used to be the best!

Oh and Force India: If you qualify in the top 10, don't mess about with 1 stop strategies on that kind of track, take the fight to the cars around you. A 1 stop was clearly not going to get DiResta anywhere at all. You gamble on that kind of strategy when you are at the back, not the front.

Edited 24 June, 201213 yr by Mike Wrightson

Agree with all of that. With regard to force india, I think thats what Di Resta was getting at after the race, he admitted his mistake in Q3 but they messed up the strategy big time this race. Paul was well on his way to a top 3 grid position until his error in the final sector, so given that they had pace they should have run a decent 2/3 stop strategy. Its ok doing 1 stop when your down the back with nothing to loose, but when your up there with the big guns then you need to take the fight to them. I really think they are capable of a decent podium this year but they need to go for it.

Mclaren are falling away, Hamilton seems to make a mid core car look good sometimes, I suspect that is half buttons issues, he needs a well balanced car to be super quick, and neither of them have it under them yet. Unless they get their act together before Redbull/Ferrari dust off and leave them.

Quite pleased for Schui too, showing the younger ones how its done, and webber coming back from 19th to 4th was a great drive.

Yep what a shocker an exciting race at valencia.

Maldonado is indeed a numpty and should suffer some punishment, a 5 place drop in the next GP would do me but honestly Hamilton is a pillock, his tyres were obviously gone but, yet again, the red mist had decended and he couldn't see that finishing 1 place lower was better than not finishing at all.

Sterling drive from Webber, he's been my driver of the season so far.

The way Maldonado rejoined, it would have made no difference if Lewis had left more space, he would have been hit anyway. There was only 1 more lap after that one, he's gonna fight for his place!

Mclaren are falling away, Hamilton seems to make a mid core car look good sometimes, I suspect that is half buttons issues, he needs a well balanced car to be super quick, and neither of them have it under them yet.

I think that hits the nail on the head really. Hamilton can deal with a "not quite perfect" car better than Button can too. The car is not massively off, but this season is punishing mistakes like no other I've seen!

Maldonado only got a 20 second penalty, where as 3 other drivers in less critical incidents have been given 5 place grid penalties. Go figure

Vergne got a 25,000 euro fine also.