10 Conclusions from the 2012 Monaco GP

1. Webber makes it six from six.
The unpredictable season continues as Mark is the 6th winner from 6 races. It is a new record and just shows how competetive the season is. 7 out of 7 is not out of the question since Lewis is usually strong in the streets of Montreal.

2. The race was a snoozefest.
There was no overtaking except for Perez albeit I could hear my heartbeat during those last 15 laps when the top 6 were nose to tail. I think most of us were waiting for an overtake from the front runners that didn't happen.

3. Maldonado goes from hero to silly zero.
Pastor was a favorite going into the Monte Carlo weekend as he has done well there in the past. He started it rough by hitting Perez in FP3, getting a 10 grid penalty, getting yet another penalty after the team changed his gearbox, thus starting last, hitting Pedro dela Rosa, and finally retiring in the first corner.

4. Mclaren and Lotus are wasting points.
The two teams considered to be fastest going into the season took very little points. Grosjean in the faster Lotus got tangled up, and poor old form-dipping Jenson was stuck behind a feisty Heikki Kovalainen. Lewis was struggling with his tyres but the slower pitstop relegated him behind Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.

5. FIA need to clear the rules about 'holes' on car floors.
A hole is defined as a hollow place in a solid body or surface. How can the 'hole' in front of the rear tyres on the RedBull not be a hollow place?

6. Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa upped their level.
Michael got round Monaco fastest during qualifying and was impressive although stuck behind Kimi Raikkonen most of the race. Felipe, under threat of his Ferrari seat, qualified impressively close to Fernando and was just a few seconds back from Fernando Alonso during the chequered flag.

7. Pirelli was unusually conservative.
All runners just had 1 trip to the pits which reminded us of the Bridgestone days although less exciting with all cars running with full fuel tanks without differing strategies on fuel.

8. Webber becomes a title contender after a brilliant drive.
After inheriting pole, Mark drove an excellently judged race, preserving his tyres, absorbing huge pressure from Nico Rosberg, and not making a single mistake during the race, even when spots of rain fell down.

9. It was not Grosjean's fault in as much as it was Alonso's during the first corner tangle.
Many blame Grosjean for his contact but footage can confirm that he just had not enough space to go after the faster starting Alonso squeezed him to the left.

10. Paddock rumors continue on who's going where in 2013 and beyond.
Webber to Ferrari? Hamilton to RedBull? Alguersuari to Force India? Di Resta to Mercedes? Vettel to Ferrari in 2014? Perez to Ferrari? I don't know about you guys but I think I would enjoy Mark driving beside Fernando and especially watching Lewis in the same car as Sebastian.


see you guys in 2 weeks time in the Canadian GP!

10 Conclusions from the 2012 Spanish GP

1. Williams needed that win.
Williams, with its rich history, went from winning to selling shares in less than a decade. Pastor Maldonado saved the team with a brilliant win over Ferrari and Alonso's fans.

2. The season continues to be unpredictable.
Most thought that with the European leg, we would be able to see the real pecking order in F1. Spain just made things more confusing with a Williams winning for the first time since 2004.

3. The German World champions need to control their temper.
Sebastian said cucumber, Michael said idiot. The German heroes are definitely not hiding their colours form the public.

4. Maldonado the pay driver is an F1 winner.
He showed that just because you are a pay driver you can't win. Pastor Maldonado does not deny that he pays to drive but now surely no one can also deny his talent and skill.

5. Lewis is not a tyre-eater.
Hamilton was able to make his tyres last despite following cars in dirty air and overtaking quite a lot of drivers. It was a remarkable feat to start last and finsih 8th with only 2 pit stops compared to most who had 3.

6. Mercedes, like this season, is so unpredictable.
They were the class of the field in Shanghai and in Spain they were not fast enough. Yes, the long straight in China helped, but it was confusing that Williams and a Sauber were faster than them.

7. Massa needs to step up or it's goodbye for him.
We could say that Fernando was overperforming the Ferrari but Massa is also underperforming. In the race, Alonso was fighting for the win while Felipe was battling with midfielders.

8. Mclaren needs to tidy up their pitstops.
The pitstop blunders in Mclaren continue and they need to clean up their act immediately and grab back all their lost points in the first 5 races.

9. Disappointed Kimi is not disappointing.
Kimi was disappointed of not winning the race because he knew they could have won if the right strategies were played. Kimi's return to F1 just proves he is a pure skilled racer, now with back to back podiums under his belt.

10. It's Monaco baby.
One of the most anticipated races of the season is coming next and everyone is hungry for a prestigious Monaco win. Will we see a 6th new winner in Raikkonen or Hamilton? Can't wait for the 27th!