5 things to watch out for

Is Crimson Bull’s progress actual after the Imola win?

After Max Verstappen’s shock victory at Imola, the most important query for the remainder of this triple-header is whether or not Crimson Bull’s enhancements had been track-specific – or if the crew is now able to problem McLaren regularly. Linked to that: was Crimson Bull surprisingly fast in Italy, or was McLaren surprisingly sluggish on Sunday?

The papaya crew insists it wasn’t affected by the 2 technical directives issued by the FIA forward of the Emilia-Romagna GP, and Verstappen remained cautious too. After the race, the Dutchman pointed to a sample: Crimson Bull has been aggressive on tracks with many high-speed corners (Suzuka, Jeddah, and Imola), however has struggled extra on circuits the place low-speed efficiency is essential (Bahrain and Miami).

Monaco is the last word low-speed observe on the F1 calendar, so Crimson Bull anticipates a troublesome weekend within the principality. That’s much more the case provided that kerb-riding and dealing with over bumps haven’t been Crimson Bull’s robust factors in recent times, to place it mildly. It possible means the Monaco Grand Prix will probably be a weekend of injury limitation – though rain in qualifying may change issues for Verstappen. After that, Barcelona would be the actual check on a extra consultant observe, with tyre degradation and the FIA’s clampdown on flexi-wings as key components.

– Ronald Vording

Norris wants a robust qualifying

Lando Norris is clearly struggling this yr, no query about that. And, as at all times, he is the primary to confess it. He is underdelivering on the promise he confirmed forward of the season – and clearly must do higher. But, heading into Monaco, he is simply 11 factors behind his team-mate, championship chief Oscar Piastri.

There have been a few pointless errors this yr – the Q3 crash in Jeddah being the principle one – nevertheless it’s largely his one-lap tempo that’s let him down.

“Final yr, this was my largest… in my entire profession, qualifying has been my largest energy by a great distance. This yr, it is simply not coming my method,” he stated in Imola.

He added: “I believe we perceive some the reason why.”

The faster Norris can flip that understanding into options, the simpler issues will turn into. In Imola, he obtained away with P4 in qualifying – thanks partially to some luck with the timing of the protection automobile – and completed second, arguably the very best end result for McLaren. However counting on security automobile timing isn’t a method for a championship contender. Norris should begin qualifying higher.

– Oleg Karpov

Tsunoda beneath strain

Yuki Tsunoda urgently wants to start out performing like a Red Bull driver. 5 grands prix have handed because the Japanese driver left Racing Bulls, and he has but to ship a standout efficiency for the Milton Keynes-based squad.

He didn’t assist his trigger by crashing in Q1 throughout qualifying for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – an error he referred to as “silly”. Whereas Tsunoda recovered nicely from a pitlane begin to end tenth on Sunday in Imola, and he continues to take pleasure in Helmut Marko’s assist – possible as a result of there’s nobody else able to take his place – that gained’t final endlessly.

Yuki Tsunoda, Crimson Bull Racing

Picture by: Crimson Bull Content material Pool

Qualifying has been his largest weak spot since transferring to the RB21, with a median deficit of 0.864s to Max Verstappen and simply two top-10 begins. His races have been barely higher, however his finest end result stays ninth in Bahrain.

The excellent news: Monaco is an opportunity for redemption. Tsunoda has improved in qualifying yearly since his first outing within the principality, achieved eighth in each qualifying and the race final yr, and scored his first Monaco factors. If he can construct on that, will probably be a step ahead.

– Federico Faturos

Can Ferrari kind qualifying?

In Imola, a beneficial race state of affairs masked Ferrari’s qualifying weak spot. However will that work in Monaco? In all probability not. This weekend brings a brand new tyre regulation, including one other variable – but one reality stays: solely those that qualify nicely on Saturday have an actual shot on Sunday.

For Ferrari, this implies: in the event that they don’t resolve their qualifying points, it should present within the outcomes – not like in Imola – and at some of the prestigious races of the yr. After which, crew principal Frédéric Vasseur might not be capable of deny that the crew is beneath actual strain.

Ought to the deliberate updates for Barcelona additionally fall quick, Ferrari may discover itself in not only a technical, however a full-blown sporting disaster – simply as Lewis Hamilton urged when he stated the remainder of the season may very well be “painful” for Ferrari.

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Picture by: Peter Fox / Getty Pictures

The subsequent few weeks will present whether or not Hamilton was proper or if Ferrari can flip issues round. However in its present state, the legendary crew merely can not afford a Monaco failure – and hoping for a fortunate race isn’t consistent with its self-image.

– Stefan Ehlen

Will two-stop rule work?

Final yr’s Monaco Grand Prix wasn’t thrilling, to say the least – which prompted a response from F1 management. This yr, Monaco will host the first-ever championship race with two necessary tyre adjustments. Since overtaking is sort of inconceivable within the principality, it’s seen as one of many solely methods to boost Sunday.

The way it performs out stays to be seen. Will groups discover completely different methods? Will it cut back the significance of qualifying? Will it make the present higher?

Proper now, there are extra questions than solutions.

– Oleg Karpov