Monaco Grand Prix Build-Up

[Crucial_Xtreme]

I'll start this thread off with absolutely wonderful information from former Ferrari Engineer Luigi Mazzola on Monaco setup & other relevant technical info. Forza Ferrari!!

Monaco setup and overall technical information from former Ferrari Engineer Luigi Mazzola

Back to Monaco and talk of upgrading. It is not easy to find a good balance in Monte Carlo, because the circuit is very full of slow curves, changes of direction, both fast (Piscine) slow (chicane after the tunnel), and average curves. All of this topped off with low grip dirty asphalt and short straights. All this makes it necessary to put on the car all the downforce available even at the expense of reducing the aerodynamic efficiency – in other words, accepting high drag levels – because what you earn in curve is much more than what you lose in the short straights.

From the point of view aerobalance, normally you set very low values, with little front wing, to give more stability to the rear. From the point of view of stiffness you choose springs and anti-roll bars very soft to give confidence to the driver and ensure that the car can pass over the bump and curbs without upsetting the car too much.

What matters most is for the driver to trust the car, so he can drive with the automatically almost unconscious so to speak. And this is a very important element. Initially: Set the car with understeer, and then gradually balance it to gain performance, it is a good exercise that requires a lot of collaboration between the pilot and his engineers. For example, there is another aspect that is typical of Monte Carlo: the steering angle. Thanks to the very slow curves of Loewe and Rascasse, cars must have a much more precise steering, so as to ensure - equal to steering wheel angle - an angle much larger wheels; would otherwise make the curve into two parts using the reverse gear!

All this, however, introduces a very important for the rider, a car much more responsive to steering making it harder to drive. Try to think of having the usual volume : If after you've used to adjust and then suddenly – every click – instead of increasing the volume of increase of 1 click, click, you would have surely 3 difficulty in finding the desired volume. The driver who will drive to Monte Carlo, where the walls are very close, with a much more direct steering must be adapted as soon as possible.

Alonso, Hamilton, Vettel, Kimi could make a difference and I'm curious to see Maldonado and Grosjean. As a Engineer, I always believe in the Red Bull and McLaren. But if Lotus would gain more winning mentality, they could win. Ferrari has a very strong driver in Alonso, and if Ferrari should strike a balance set-up, they could possibly win. All this, allowing tires.


This is only part of the article. It can be found in it's entirety Here <-- He also speaks about the Spanish GP and what can surmised from what happened in Montmelo.

[Super M]

So then.....Anymore news on Ferrari and what they gonna bring to monaco.......Any new parts...?

[croALOfanclub]

http://www.weather-forecast.com/loca...recasts/latest


if it rains it's Alonso's race!

[Suzie]

No. No no no no no.
It CANNOT rain. I CANNOT get soaked at a racetrack AGAIN

[Crucial_Xtreme]

So then.....Anymore news on Ferrari and what they gonna bring to monaco.......Any new parts...?

Yes Pat Fry said there will be a few small updates for Monaco.

[Greig]

No. No no no no no.
It CANNOT rain. I CANNOT get soaked at a racetrack AGAIN

I am doing a rain dance

[Suzie]

I am doing a rain dance

No. I have suffered enough.

[Super M]

Yes Pat Fry said there will be a few small updates for Monaco.

Thanks Crucial.....appreciate your reply..

[Hornet]

No. No no no no no.
It CANNOT rain. I CANNOT get soaked at a racetrack AGAIN

I am doing a rain dance

Have fun. Hopefully it will be a great race for both Ferrari drivers. A podium or 2 finishes would be amazing.

[Jose-Lorca Fan]

Don't think i've seen a proper wet race at Monaco, so here's me hoping it's wet, actually very wet, that would make qualifying so much more interesting.

[zakfourie]

97 was a good wet race!

[Jose Lorca]

A train to catch the fly.

Golden opportunity for Alonso and Ferrari: The challenge of an accused where a set of good used tires has more developments. That still absent on F2012.

I wonder if they realize, the Ferrari, the fortune they have. In a championship "global" the Reds would have paid heavily to this point in the season, the flaws of the project F2012. Instead, Alonso presents this week in Monaco at the top of the standings. Not a case and not even all of her, even if any, in his position today would be certainly much more backwards. The fact that, once more, you know making a forecast on the eve of Alonso. When the Spaniard said: "We hope that this year the first race did not win just one rider," in reality he was drawing in the future development of this crazy, crazy season. In which to run the tires better and more opponents in the long and the key to winning races. If a veto that Monte Carlo and the track where the driver can make a difference, then Alonso has another trump in his hand. Its roster in Monaco and type "make-or-die" has won twice with Renault and McLaren, and we finished second last year with Ferrari, I also collected a fool glaring. See the blow in the tunnel of 2004 or the free practice two years to when I hurt the body of the Ferrari and had to start from the back undermining the race from the beginning.

Ferrari has yet to need him. Because it is futile to expect radical developments on the car in the short term. This weekend, we'll only adjustments on the F2012, so specific to a particular track, but not "performance". From the suspension modified to decrease the turning radius, the wings at high load, the proposed amendment is routine for all teams devise the streets of the Principality. Something more will arrive in Canada, but even here one can not dream too. Do not expect - not yet - works to the internal dynamics, the radiator and the air vents. Those that would serve to reduce the internal resistance and, therefore, increase the maximum speed.

Meanwhile, however, these changes would be needed just to Monaco, as well out of the tunnel will be hard to get close to 300km/h. What we do...

[Hornet]

Wow, I probably am the only one who doesn't know this yet this but I just found out that today is Ferrari's anniversary in Formula 1, and it was at Monaco GP

Maranello, 21 May – It all began exactly on this day, the 21st May. Sixty two years ago, on this very same circuit that wends its way through the Principality of Monaco and which this coming Sunday, hosts the sixth round of the 2012 World Championship, Scuderia Ferrari made its debut in the Formula 1 World Championship.

http://www.ferrari.com/English/Formu...all-began.aspx
Monaco is a truly special race for Ferrari.

[Rob]

Monaco, 21 May 1950: where it all began5.21.2012

Maranello, 21 May – It all began exactly on this day, the 21st May. Sixty two years ago, on this very same circuit that wends its way through the Principality of Monaco and which this coming Sunday, hosts the sixth round of the 2012 World Championship, Scuderia Ferrari made its debut in the Formula 1 World Championship. There were four Ferraris entered in the race: two 125 F1s, in the GP49 evolution, entrusted to the Italians Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi and two 125 F1s for France’s Raymond Sommer and the British driver Paul Whitehead. At the end of the race, Ascari had managed to finish second behind Fangio’s Alfa Romeo, while Sommer was fourth; Villoresi had to retire on lap 63 while Whitehead had failed to start, because of an engine problem.

Many years have passed since then and the Scuderia is the only team to have taken part in every championship at this the sport’s highest level. To date, it has competed in 836 Grands Prix, taken 217 wins, 205 pole positions and 228 fastest race laps. These numbers are all records as are the 16 Constructors’ championships and 15 Drivers’ titles on the Maranello roll of honour: no other team has won more than Ferrari.

Today, the Scuderia is making last minute preparations prior to sending off the two F2012 cars to Monaco where, starting on Thursday morning, Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso will try and add to the tally of 47 podium finishes in this race, albeit only eight of them on the topmost step. The Monegasque event is one of the ones that has gone the longest without seeing a Red victory: the last one dates back to Michael Schumacher’s in 2001. Since then, there has been just one pole, for Massa in 2008 and a lot of podium finishes, the last one being Fernando Alonso’s second place last year. Unusual, given that no less than six times (2002 Barrichello, from 2004 to 2006 Schumacher, 2008 Raikkonen and 2009 Massa) a Ferrari has set the fastest race lap.

It will be tough to break that negative tradition this weekend, but one thing is certain, nothing will be left to chance because, as Chairman Montezemolo stated today in a letter addressed to all the Scuderia staff, “Winning the Championship depends only and exclusively on ourselves, on our desire to show we are the best.”
http://www.ferrari.com/English/Formu...all-began.aspx

[ferrari4life]

i honestly hate this race.. its just glamour and a procession of cars. Why cant we have some better tracks kept instead of this..
Oh wait its the money isnt it.

[FerrariF60]

i honestly hate this race.. its just glamour and a procession of cars. Why cant we have some better tracks kept instead of this..
Oh wait its the money isnt it.

totally...i too am NOT too keen of Monaco other then the history behind it...but like you said, there are way better tracks out there to race on then Monaco..
but i guess Bernie is all about cash in his pocket...lol

and what i hate the most, is that they are gonna alternate SPA with France from next year, instead of just removing Valencia (which is a total waste of a track) and keep the LEGENDARY SPA, year after year.....ghrrrrrnrrrhrhr

OK rant over now

[sagi58]

I'll start this thread off with absolutely wonderful information from former Ferrari Engineer Luigi Mazzola on Monaco setup & other relevant technical info. Forza Ferrari!!

...This is only part of the article. It can be found in it's entirety Here <-- He also speaks about the Spanish GP and what can surmised from what happened in Montmelo.

Thanks for that link!! It was a great read!! Interesting to see the difference between the two languages!
Oh, at the risk of sounding condescending, your translation is superb!!

[Rishu]

Fernando Alonso's Monaco GP Helmet detail:

Back:



Front:

[croALOfanclub]

No. No no no no no.
It CANNOT rain. I CANNOT get soaked at a racetrack AGAIN

that is not really important!all Massa's fans are soaked allready this year anyways!

what is important is lower track temps and rain ussualy helps whit that!

[sav_pap]

1291824711_resized.jpg

Monaco is a very very very beautiful track.!!!!!!

[Ferrarichamp]

Let's hope we can finally win this race, 10 years is too long.

[Hornet]

1291824711_resized.jpg

Monaco is a very very very beautiful track.!!!!!!

What a tease. I click on that picture and its the same small picture.

[Pekka]

iPad app will be released at Monaco..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOHCr...ature=youtu.be

[medeni73]

and we mustn't forget probably the best ever build-up photo for Monaco and pretty much everything else that needs building-up.... :)))))

[Pekka]

and we mustn't forget probably the best ever build-up photo for Monaco and pretty much everything else that needs building-up.... :)))))

Thanks for your contribution!

[Nova]

Monaco, 21 May 1950: where it all began5.21.2012

Maranello, 21 May – It all began exactly on this day, the 21st May. Sixty two years ago, on this very same circuit that wends its way through the Principality of Monaco and which this coming Sunday, hosts the sixth round of the 2012 World Championship, Scuderia Ferrari made its debut in the Formula 1 World Championship. There were four Ferraris entered in the race: two 125 F1s, in the GP49 evolution, entrusted to the Italians Alberto Ascari and Luigi Villoresi and two 125 F1s for France’s Raymond Sommer and the British driver Paul Whitehead. At the end of the race, Ascari had managed to finish second behind Fangio’s Alfa Romeo, while Sommer was fourth; Villoresi had to retire on lap 63 while Whitehead had failed to start, because of an engine problem.

Many years have passed since then and the Scuderia is the only team to have taken part in every championship at this the sport’s highest level. To date, it has competed in 836 Grands Prix, taken 217 wins, 205 pole positions and 228 fastest race laps. These numbers are all records as are the 16 Constructors’ championships and 15 Drivers’ titles on the Maranello roll of honour: no other team has won more than Ferrari.

Today, the Scuderia is making last minute preparations prior to sending off the two F2012 cars to Monaco where, starting on Thursday morning, Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso will try and add to the tally of 47 podium finishes in this race, albeit only eight of them on the topmost step. The Monegasque event is one of the ones that has gone the longest without seeing a Red victory: the last one dates back to Michael Schumacher’s in 2001. Since then, there has been just one pole, for Massa in 2008 and a lot of podium finishes, the last one being Fernando Alonso’s second place last year. Unusual, given that no less than six times (2002 Barrichello, from 2004 to 2006 Schumacher, 2008 Raikkonen and 2009 Massa) a Ferrari has set the fastest race lap.

It will be tough to break that negative tradition this weekend, but one thing is certain, nothing will be left to chance because, as Chairman Montezemolo stated today in a letter addressed to all the Scuderia staff, “Winning the Championship depends only and exclusively on ourselves, on our desire to show we are the best.”
http://www.ferrari.com/English/Formu...all-began.aspx

[Crucial_Xtreme]

Fernando is the simulator for Monaco. I think the team has a chance to do well in the Principality.

[Hornet]

Sigh... Wished I had one of those in my living room.

[Rob]

Monaco GP – A challenge for seventy years5.22.2012

At the previous round of the championship in Barcelona, where Fernando Alonso produced yet another fantastic drive in his Ferrari F2012 to take second place, the majority of teams had introduced new packages to coincide with the first European race of the season. If some elements had failed to deliver a clear picture of their benefits, there was usually talk of waiting to see how they would perform in Canada. Had the designers and engineers forgotten that, before going to Montreal, the F1 circus stops off at its most famous venue in Monte Carlo? Not at all, it’s just that the Monaco Grand Prix throws up such a unique technical challenge it simply does not fit into the overall picture of how the season is evolving. “You have to set the car up quite differently for Monaco,” explains Scuderia Ferrari’s Technical Director, Pat Fry. “On the street circuit you don’t attack all the corner entries as hard as you would on a normal circuit, because the barriers are so close to the track at the entry and exit. However, trying to get the right car balance is as difficult as at the other venues.”

The Monaco Grand Prix is older than the World Championship itself and in fact it celebrates its seventieth birthday this year. One element that has not changed in all that time is that the lap is short and very slow, the slowest on the calendar in fact. “This means it is more about downforce and less about efficiency and engine power,”” continues Fry. “You need as much downforce as possible and a car that behaves consistently.” Even if Monaco is unique, many of the updates introduced on the F2012 in Spain were aimed specifically at generating aerodynamic downforce and will therefore prove useful this weekend. “As a result of a lot of work in the wind tunnel and on the track, we had a lot of updates including a different front wing, floor, turning vanes, brake ducts and a new rear wing. All in all, we’re reasonably happy with the update we made, but obviously we’ve still got a long way to go and we have to keep on working at a similar rate. In fact, we will have a few more small updates this weekend to add a bit more downforce to the car and, as usual this season, it will be interesting to see how each car uses its tyres.”

It is true that tyre behaviour has been the single most influential factor on the evolution of the five races so far this year and Monaco’s unique characteristics will not make this weekend’s race immune to that. “We have seen that just a small change in track temperature can have a large effect on tyre performance,” maintains the English engineer. “And apart from this sensitivity to temperature, they are also quite sensitive to the way the drivers use them. In a race where three pit stops would be considered the norm, if the driver is very very careful on the rear tyres, you might be able to keep them in good enough shape to do just two stops. But if you push hard on the tyres they degrade and a driver can damage them a little bit by pushing. So, when you are fighting in traffic, you take more out of the tyres than you would do if you’re running in clean air.” Given that Monaco is synonymous with traffic, whether or not a race is taking place, finding that elusive clean air is the main challenge for the strategists. “Monaco is a short lap, so your thinking time is reduced,” says Fry turning to the subject of race planning. “While you look at all the usual factors such as tyres degradation, you have to be very aware of trying to keep the drivers out of traffic so as to try and give them a clear run. So if you are starting from the mid-field it’s always a challenge, therefore starting at the front of the grid makes the job a little bit easier.”

After two pairs of back-to-back races to kick start the season, we are now back in the classic routine of a race every fortnight all the way through to the Germany-Hungary double-header at the end of July. Therefore, while for Fry and the team the immediate focus is on Monaco, the work never stops on developing the car for each coming race. “In the medium term we are constantly driving to bring in updates, as indeed is the case for all teams,” reveals Fry. “For Canada, we will have a different rear wing and front wing package, which will deliver a slightly different downforce level for this circuit. Work on the exhaust system is ongoing and we have new versions to test. Having learned a lot at the start of the year, we were able to address some of our problems at the Mugello test prior to the Spanish GP and I think now we have a good understanding of our car, trying to add performance to it in a constant drive that will go all the way through to the final race.”

As for this weekend, on the streets of the Principality, Fry believes that much of the improvement in lap times over the weekend comes from having good trouble free practice sessions, which allows the drivers to reacquaint themselves with the idiosyncrasies of the circuit, gaining confidence with each passing lap. Both the Scuderia’s current drivers have proved they have that confidence. In fact, Fernando Alonso will be trying to record a third Monegasque win with a third different team, having won twice before in 2006 and 2007. The Spaniard also finished second last year and has twice started from pole position. As for Felipe Massa, he has two third places to his name, in 2007 and ’08, the latter after he started from pole, while the following year, he set the race fastest lap. As for the Prancing Horse, the most famous team in the sport does not have the greatest record at the most famous race in the world, with a total of just eight wins since the championship began in 1950. In a topsy turvy season, could this be the weekend for Scuderia Ferrari to end a Monegasque drought that dates back to Michael Schumacher’s win in 2001?

http://www.ferrari.com/English/Formu...nty-years.aspx

[Rob]

Not been too excited about Monaco past few years, but this year im getting excited about it.