Round six of the FIA Formula 1 World Championship takes place around the streets of Monte Carlo. It’s the shortest, yet most demanding track on the calendar, and the drivers love the challenge of F1’s original street race.
Two podiums from the last two races for Formula 1’s most popular returnee in 2012. Here, Kimi looks ahead to Monaco.
Highly motivated and excited, the Sauber F1 Team heads to the most prestigious Grand Prix of the year. The Sauber C31-Ferrari’s performance has further improved since the introduction of the recent development package, and now it remains to be seen how this works on the narrow street circuit of Monaco. Kamui Kobayashi had a great race in the principality in 2011, and Sergio Pérez can’t wait to finally make it onto the grid at the Formula One race in Monte Carlo for the first time on May 27th.
MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS
Following his victory at the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, Williams F1 driver Pastor Maldonado gives his thoughts on his first win in Formula One and the season so far.
Caterham F1 Team Monaco Grand PrixView
Heikki Kovalainen: "Monaco's the race everyone in F1 wants to win, and it's not just a famous F1 race, it's one of the biggest annual events in the world. For drivers it's a pretty hardcore race, in and out of the cars, but it's a challenge I really enjoy and racing around the streets is one of the real highlights of being an F1 driver."
At the Spanish Grand Prix last Sunday Sauber F1 Team driver Kamui Kobayashi managed to equal what was up to then his best race result in his Formula One career. The Japanese came fifth at the Circuit de Catalunya, just as he had done at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2011.
Russian Helicopters, one of the global leaders in the helicopter industry, is glad to announce an official partnership with Caterham F1 Team, one of the 12 participants in the FIA Formula One World Championship. From the Monaco Grand Prix, the Russian Helicopters logos will be seen on the Caterham F1 Team cars and in future the drivers’ overalls and the team’s race garages.
Continuity in the Sauber F1 Team: CEO Monisha Kaltenborn receives a third of the stake in the Sauber Group
Hinwil, 16th May 2012 – In the interests of continuity, Peter Sauber has taken the decision to transfer a third of the stake in the Sauber Group to CEO Monisha Kaltenborn. Sauber, the Team Principal and President of the Board of Directors of all Sauber Group companies, will retain the remaining two thirds.
SPANISH GRAND PRIX REVIEW
15 MAY 2012
Pastor Maldonado won the Spanish Grand Prix on Sunday, giving Williams F1 its 114th victory in Formula One. He came home 3.1s ahead of Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso. Our Chief Operations Engineer, Mark Gillan, sums up the weekend.
Mark Gillan, Chief Operations Engineer:
Q: Mark, how much satisfaction do you derive from Pastor Maldonado’s victory in the Spanish Grand Prix?
MG: This is a massive result for Williams and of course it is incredibly satisfying, especially given the tribulations of the 2011 season. However, this business is all about continuous improvement and it is important that we continue to deliver.
15 May 2012
Kimi Raikkonen bagged his second podium on the trot in Barcelona, charging hard to finish third behind first time grand prix winner Pastor Maldonado and, by just half a second, Fernando Alonso.
The Finn was disappointed not to finish on the top step, though, claiming that the Lotus E20 had the potential to have won every race this year so far. Nevertheless, he is now fourth in the Drivers’ Championship, just 12 points behind leaders Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso.
STATEMENT FROM THE WILLIAMS F1 TEAM
Monday 14 May 2012
Following yesterday’s fire which occurred in the team’s garage after the Spanish Grand Prix, Williams F1 can confirm that a further two team members have now been released from hospital and have returned home having received treatment for smoke inhalation.
One member of the team remains in hospital in Spain having suffered burns in the incident. He is stable and will return to the UK within the next 48 hours to receive further medical care. His family are in constant communication and he is in good spirits.
SPANISH GRAND PRIX RACE
13 MAY 2012
Grand Prix of Spain
Montmelò, 13th May 2012
Caterham F1 Team Statement
Circuit de Catalunya, Spain; 13th May 2012
Spanish GP – Race – Sunday, 13.05.2012
2012 SANTANDER SPANISH GRAND PRIX
MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS
2012 SPANISH GRAND PRIX – SUNDAY 13/05/2012
SPEED AND STRATEGY WITH PIRELLI IN MALAYSIA
Second podium of the season for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, once again courtesy of Fernando Alonso, who took the chequered flag in second place. Unfortunately, the 150o Italia Number 5 was the only Ferrari at the finish, because Felipe Massa had to retire on lap 33 after an accident which occurred as a result of a collision with Hamilton’s McLaren. After the sixth race of the season, Fernando is still fifth in the Drivers’ championship on 69 points, while Felipe is eighth on 24. The Scuderia has consolidated its third place in the Constructors’ classification with 93 points to its name.
“It’s difficult to describe today; it’s a great feeling. I’ve seen what it takes to win here. Today it was a crazy race. It’s difficult to imagine you can one-stop at this race, but that’s more or less what we did. Our first pit stop was not spot on and we lost the position to Jenson. I was surprised when Jenson came in and we had to react, he was pulling away on the soft tyres while I was on the hard tyres. I thought ‘don’t give up’ and kept pushing to close the gap."
“First of all, I’m pleased to hear that Vitaly [Petrov] is okay after we saw another big shunt this weekend.
LRGP secured four more points in a frenetic and memorable Monaco Grand Prix.
• We opted for a one-stop strategy with both car.
• Nick finished in P8, which means Nick moves up a place in the Drivers’ Championship to 6th with 29 points.
• Vitaly was caught up in the crash which took place on lap 68; he complained about a sore ankle and was taken to hospital as a precaution.
• No broken bones or fractures have been reported and he is expected to be released within the next couple of hours.
• Vitaly was on his way to a fourth place finish when the crash occurred on.
MERCEDES GP PETRONAS
Sebastien Buemi (STR6-04)
Pos. 10th
“I started sixteenth and finished tenth after a very difficult Grand Prix, because by the end of it, I have to admit I was not too sure where we were in terms of strategy and tyres, with the situation made more complicated by the Safety Car and the red flag. I think we can be happy with our race pace as my lap times were quite good. To come away from the toughest race of the year with a point is pleasing, especially when you consider our qualifying did not go so well. Now I am looking forward to Canada, where I had a good race last year, finishing eighth.”
In what was one of the most tense battles of the 2011 Championship so far, Rubens Barrichello took his best finishing position of the year and claimed AT&T Williams’ first points of the season with a ninth place finish. Today’s action-packed Monaco Grand Prix also allowed Pastor Maldonado to demonstrate his abilities. After a competitive performance in qualifying and a well managed race, Pastor looked set to bring home sixth for the team. The prospect of a double points-scoring conclusion, however, ended abruptly.
Press release Monaco GP – Sunday update on Sergio Pérez - 29.05.2011 After having spent a good night at the Hospital Princesse Grace in Monaco, Sergio Pérez underwent some further medical examinations on Sunday.
Team Lotus Statement Two
27th May 2011