The Monaco race may be one of the most glamorous and historic events on the Formula One calendar but that’s not why the drivers love it so. The real draw for them is in the challenge of the Monte Carlo circuit’s twists and turns, which rewards the brave and punishes the tiniest of mistakes. They and their teams explain why they can’t wait to get started on Thursday…

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
2011 Qualifying - 1st, 2011 Race - 1st
“It’s something special to race in Monaco; it’s tight and there’s no room for error. It’s rough and, as it’s a street circuit, the road surface is uneven so you get shaken in the car and there is no room for mistakes. You have to push yourself and the car to the limit to be fast, you have to push as hard as on other tracks, but there’s no room. You can almost feel it when you are just missing the wall and just get through - but it’s a nice feeling. You need to be fully focused on track, it’s a special thing to win in Monaco.”

Mark Webber, Red Bull
2011 Qualifying - 3rd, 2011 Race - 4th
“Monaco is a really special track, it’s an old circuit in terms of when it was first designed and the layout hasn’t changed too much since. It’s got a bit easier from when I first joined Formula One ten years ago, but it’s still a test of man against the track and with the car. You’re racing other people, but it doesn’t always feel like it because the track is always asking you to give more. If you bite and try to give it more then you crash so it’s a very, very challenging circuit mentally. Physically it’s quite straightforward, but in the mind you need to be very disciplined and that’s the challenge around Monaco.”

Jenson Button, McLaren
2011 Qualifying - 2nd, 2011 Race - 3rd
“My win at Monaco in 2009 remains one of my favourite victories in Formula One. Monte-Carlo is a place where every driver wants to win, but achieving it is so satisfying because you know you’ve conquered one of the toughest circuits in motorsport. Winning the Monaco Grand Prix will always be really special.

“I remember last year having a fantastic car beneath me and feeling really confident that I could challenge for the win. As it happened, circumstances beyond our control worked to pull that opportunity away from us, but I go back to Monte-Carlo with a little bit of unfinished business. I’d love to win for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, the team has a great history around Monaco and I’d love to add my name to McLaren’s Monaco winners’ list.

“This year, we’ll be running Pirelli’s Supersoft compound for the first time - which should be interesting. And while our car isn’t especially suited to the tighter confines of a track like Monaco, I’m optimistic of getting on top of the balance issues that have affected me for the past two races. It’s going to be a fantastic weekend.”

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
2011 Qualifying - 9th, 2011 Race - 6th
“Monaco is a very special circuit. It’s up there with Silverstone as the place where I most want to do well at. Even though Monaco has the slowest average speed of all the circuits we visit in a season, it always feels incredibly quick. That’s because the acceleration is so rapid and the walls so close: there really is no room for error. Apart from the run-off at Ste Devote, and the tiny escape roads at Mirabeau and the harbour chicane, there’s no room to make a mistake. But when the stakes are at their highest, I just find it more exciting.

“Still, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that, despite pushing for the win, consistency and scoring decent points is currently the most sensible way to tackle this world championship. I’ve scored points at every race, and I’m only eight points off the lead of the championship. That’s a really encouraging statistic and it’s reassuring to see my approach is paying off. Nevertheless, I’m coming off the back of two relatively disappointing results and there would be no better place for the cards to fall in my favour than at Monaco.”

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal
“I’m incredibly proud of the team’s record at Monte-Carlo. We’ve won the Monaco Grand Prix more than any other team, and it’s a race we all regard as incredibly special, and integral to the sporting image of Formula One. This is a unique event in so many ways - it places unique demands on the driver, the car and the team. Accordingly, winning in Monaco is considered a more significant victory than a win at other circuits.

“Both our drivers will arrive in the paddock feeling particularly determined this year: Jenson, because he will be determined to set the record straight after losing a victory in 2011 that many felt he rightfully deserved; Lewis, simply because he has been driving brilliantly all season and a victory at his favourite circuit would be just reward for all his speed and commitment.

“For the entire Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, too, we travel to the south of France feeling determined to string together a faultless weekend and to demonstrate our full potential. I have absolutely no doubts that the team is feeling very strong, and a win at Monaco would be the perfect fillip for their efforts.”

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
“Monaco is a little bit different and it’s hard to say how it will go there. It’s useless to put races in different categories, because all of them are as important to me. However, as a special race there is nothing like Monaco. There is no better feeling than to get things going well in there. To race in the streets of Monte Carlo is really different from everywhere else; a challenge I look forward to every year. It is very, very difficult, almost impossible, to have a clean weekend there.

“I’ve only managed to get it right once before, you really do get the greatest feeling by winning it. My win in 2005 ranks up there with my most memorable. So to win it again would be just as special. It’s such a twisty and narrow track. You have to be extra sharp and focussed in every single metre you go fast there. It gives such a good feeling a fast lap in Monaco. Overtaking has been almost impossible there in the past so to really enjoy racing there you have to be at the front.

“Monaco is always special. It’s an interesting place to go to, with a lot of fans and a lot of parties going on - or so I’m told. It’s a completely different atmosphere from anywhere else.

“We have to focus on qualifying. It’s a difficult place to race as it’s so narrow and passing is nearly impossible. I was stuck behind Rubens [Barrichello] in 2009 and we had KERS then, but you just couldn’t get past. We’ll have to see how the tyres perform and if there are any good strategies to be made, but the most important thing is qualifying well. It’s difficult to know how good the car will be in Monaco as you can’t simulate its characteristics, certainly not at any of the circuits we’ve visited so far this year. We can say the E20 has been fast everywhere else so let’s hope it’s also fast at Monaco.”

Romain Grosjean, Lotus
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
“I think Monaco is going to be a fantastic event and it is a special race for me for sure. There are certain to be a lot of French fans, and I’m looking forward to their support. It’s also a very special event in its own right, and the atmosphere is quite crazy! As a driver you have to stay calm and relaxed and try to do your job. It’s a track that doesn’t allow any mistakes. You have to respect it and that is the key there I think. Hopefully we can have another good result.

“I think Monaco is a specialist track and it’s very difficult to say if a car will suit there or not. It’s bumpy on the straights and it’s a very low-grip track surface. All these things mean that you never know what to expect. On a more normal racetrack you know more what you are going to have. I hope we will have a pleasant surprise and that the car will suit Monaco’s unique challenges. That would be nice.”

Eric Boullier, Lotus team principal
“We are celebrating our 500th Grand Prix in Monaco so what a story [winning] would be! Monaco is a unique event and it really is the jewel in the Formula One crown. Historically Enstone teams have shown good pace in Monaco, but last year’s car wasn’t strong in slow-speed corners so we may have some work to do. In terms of the team and our drivers, we’re all ready for a win. We’re looking at every aspect of the car and how we run it and we’re all focused tremendously on achieving our goals. A win would be a fabulous thing.”

James Allison, Lotus technical director
“We’ve got a bigger rear wing as you need more downforce at Monaco than you need anywhere else. If you look closer, or if you are a very keen fan of bodywork changes then you’ll see that the area around the side pods and the rear drums will be different too. We have to make modifications to the suspension to enable the necessary lock to get around Loews Hairpin and Rascasse. We have also made some changes, for Kimi in particular, to make the steering a little more reactive for Monaco.

“Perhaps if we look back, of the five races we’ve done so far, the race where we were least impressive was China and that’s a track with relatively few sweeping corners and lots of lower-speed traction events. So there is a train of thought that Monaco might not play to the strengths of our car.
However there are other things about Monaco that are different entirely, which are much harder to gauge. For starters the corners are so slow that the strength we’ve seen in very fast corners compared with moderate corners is not really any sort of form guide for competitiveness around Monaco’s twists and turns.

“Secondly, driver skill plays a relatively bigger part at Monaco than at most tracks, and we are fortunate to have a pair of decent peddlers. Finally, a large part of Monaco is confidence from the driver. Confidence that they can lean on the car and know that it’s not going to misbehave. So far, the E20 has proved to be a very predictable, straightforward car to drive - a quality it shares with the R30. So hopefully they will be able to lean on it to good effect. We’ll have to see.”

Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber
2011 Qualifying - 12th, 2011 Race - 5th
“I have good memories of Monaco. I finished fifth there last year, which was really great. Monaco is a very special track for the drivers. Our car seems to be strong on most of the tracks. Now it will be interesting to see how competitive it will be on a street circuit, but I’m quite confident it will be strong there as well. In Monaco a lot of things can happen, therefore it’s important to stay out of trouble and make it to the end. If we do that then I’m sure we will be able to fight for points.”

Sergio Perez, Sauber
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
“This Grand Prix is the most special one for me. I have been waiting to race in the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix all my life and, of course, after what happened last year I am looking forward to it even more. I strongly believe on this track the driver can make more of a difference than on any other track. As a team we are in good shape and I want to keep that momentum for Monaco. I also think our car can perform quite well on that unique city circuit. Of course I also think back to the accident I had in Q3 last year. To me it is like a watershed event in my career. There is a time before and a time after the accident. I learnt a lot from what I had to go through and I think it made me stronger. I really want to show what I can do in Monte Carlo.”

Matt Morris, Sauber chief designer
“The Monaco track is probably the one where the driver has the most influence on the overall performance. Last year both our drivers were competitive – Sergio until his accident in Q3, and Kamui finished a strong fifth in the race. The main challenge for setting up the car will be to optimise the mechanical grip. I’m confident we will be able to handle this. The development package that we ran for the first time in Barcelona will also be used again in Monaco, so we will be able to carry over its performance gain. Pirelli will provide us with the soft and the super soft tyres. This is actually the first time this year that we will be using the super soft compound during a race weekend. We tested it briefly during winter testing in Barcelona, which is a track that’s not exactly suited to this tyre, but I don’t see us having any problems in managing this tyre compound. The track has been resurfaced in some areas, for example in the braking zone after the tunnel, so we have got rid of the bump there. That’s something the drivers have to get used to, but, if anything, it should be easier. One of the design considerations of the C31 was to improve it over the kerbs, so we should be stronger at kerbing compared to last year. We have been competitive so far this season, and I’m confident we can be very strong in Monaco as well.”

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes
2011 Qualifying - 5th, 2011 Race - DNF
"Monaco is just a circuit of its own very unique character. In a way, you could look at it with a big portion of irony with regards to the contradiction that, for so many years we have successfully campaigned for more track safety, and then we deliberately race in Monaco. But in my view this is justifiable once a year, especially as the circuit is really so much fun to drive. Every time you go there, you just look forward to finally getting out and driving the track. Of course, knowing that I will lose five positions on the grid does not add to this feeling but this just means that I will have to try even harder. I'm actually quite confident that we should look reasonably good in Monaco due to the hard work that everybody in the team is putting into the development of our car. So let's make the best out of the weekend."

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
2011 Qualifying - 7th, 2011 Race - 11th
"I love the Monaco Grand Prix weekend and it's a great feeling to be driving at home, knowing that all my friends and family are watching. I have always been quick around the streets here, and I believe a good result is possible for us next weekend. The nature of the track should suit our car but as we have seen at every race so far this season, tyre management will be crucial. With five different winning teams so far this year, at least ten drivers have the chance to win in Monaco so this could be one of the most interesting races there for years."

Ross Brawn, Mercedes team principal
"The uniqueness of Monaco makes it one of those tracks where anything can happen, particularly in a season that has proved to be almost impossible to predict so far. Despite the logistical challenges of the weekend, Monaco is a race that everyone on the team and the drivers really enjoy, and the experience of winning in Monaco is something very special indeed. After Nico's win in China, we have had two more difficult race weekends, but I am confident that we will start to see an improvement in Monaco as the developments that we have brought to the car recently take effect."

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"With five different winners from five different teams in five races, it has been an exciting and unexpected first quarter of the 2012 season. Now Formula One visits the most atypical circuit of all, Monaco. It makes unusual, one-off demands of the cars: there are fast and narrow sections, but also eight corners taken at under 100 km/h and over 4,500 gear changes during the race. It is also incredibly challenging and rewarding for the drivers. In Monaco, more than any other circuit, the driver can really make the difference, especially on a single qualifying lap. Both Nico and Michael have shown a great feeling for the circuit and the ability to master it in recent seasons. After all the talk of unpredictability of the teams' performance levels this year, there are also clear facts: three of five races have been won from pole position, including Nico's victory in China. What's more, the five drivers who have completed every race lap are all in the top seven in the current championship standings. Strong qualifying speed has been rewarded at every race, and consistently finishing races appears to be even more important in 2012. In the last three races, Nico has scored a total of 41 points, the second highest total in the field after Sebastian Vettel with 43. Our focus in Monaco will be to extract the maximum from our further developed technical package. Giving the drivers a car they can trust and feel confident in is worth more here than at any other circuit on the calendar."

Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham
2011 Qualifying - 17th, 2011 Race - 14th
"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 hard-core 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. On track it's one of the races where the pack bunches up a bit and that might give us a chance to do something special. Last year I finished 14th, one of our higher finishes of the season, so hopefully we can improve on that this year. We have KERS this year and a car that has good race pace, and as our car is slightly easier on the tyres than some of the teams ahead, maybe that will help us achieve a high race finish."

Vitaly Petrov, Caterham
2011 Qualifying - 10th, 2011 Race - DNF
"I’ve raced a lot in Monaco, not just in Formula One. I had a podium there in GP2 when I finished second in 2009, which was good. In F1 I’ve raced there twice. The first time wasn’t so great but last year was pretty good, right up until the point I crashed! That was so disappointing, but I couldn’t avoid it. We had a good strategy and I’d had a good race up to that point, but that’s how racing goes sometimes. Monaco is an unbelievable place though. Normally, between Barcelona and Monaco we have just one week and I’d leave Barcelona on Sunday night and drive to Monaco, because on the Tuesday of the race week we have the football match for the F1 drivers, which is always great. The track itself is always a little bit dirty at the start of the weekend and it’s quite difficult to get tyre temperatures up during the lap. It’s tricky because the walls are so close. If you make one mistake or have a little bit of oversteer, you don’t even get a chance to correct it - you’re in the wall. It takes quite a bit of mental preparation and you need to be totally focused for every single lap of every session. The race itself? The atmosphere in the race is incredible. It’s just an amazing place to drive a racing car and I really love it."

Mark Smith, Caterham technical director
“Monaco is a unique challenge, for the drivers and the teams. The fact we are in very different garage conditions to normal, and in a cramped paddock, makes it a tough race for the truckies, the mechanics and the engineers, but it is a race we all look forward to and one that everyone wants to do well at. The short length of the lap and the limited high-speed sections means there is much less difference in lap times than at somewhere like Barcelona. We all use high downforce settings, and we have a specific aero configuration we will use in Monaco and probably Hungary, but the days of cars sprouting all sorts of special wings just for Monaco are behind us. The cars may not look hugely different to how they appeared in Spain, but we do have as much downforce as we can find for the whole weekend in Monte Carlo.

“The other challenges are managing the brake cooling and tyre wear. Even though it’s a stop - start lap, the brakes are not put under huge strain as the speeds never get as high as a normal track, but there is a real emphasis on making sure we cool the brakes as efficiently as possible, and that is something we worked on at the Mugello test, so we are happy we have a good solution for that. For the tyre wear we have planned as well as we can, but we have seen so far this season that until we are actually out on track it’s almost impossible to know which teams will be hard on the tyres and which teams will be able to manage the degradation levels well. We have the soft and the supersoft compounds in Monaco, and if the wear rates on the softs are anything like we saw in Spain, strategy will be critical.”

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Sergio Perez can't wait for the Monaco Grand Prix next weekend, and while he has admitted his accident there last year was a 'watershed event' for him, he is still really looking forward to it.

Perez crashed violently during the top-ten shootout, when he went off line as he exited the tunnel and was pitched into the right-hand barrier. Although he suffered no serious injuries, he had to sit out the race due to concussion, and he was also forced to miss the event in Canada two weeks later as well, after complaining he felt unwell following first practice.

The Mexican now reckons though that the events of 12 months ago have made him 'stronger' and following the disappointment in Spain last Sunday, where he recorded his first DNF of the season, he is eager to bounce back.

He is also confident Sauber have a car that will allow them to shine at F1's most famous and prestigious event.

“This Grand Prix is the most special one for me,” Perez stated in the countdown to the sixth round on the 2012 F1 calendar. “I have been waiting to race in the Monaco F1 Grand Prix all my life and, of course, after what happened last year I am looking forward to it even more.

“I strongly believe on this track the driver can make more of a difference than on any other track.

“As a team we are in good shape and I want to keep that momentum for Monaco. I also think our car can perform quite well on that unique city circuit.

“Of course I also think back to the accident I had in Q3 last year. To me it is like a watershed event in my career.

“There is a time before and a time after the accident. I learnt a lot from what I had to go through and I think it made me stronger. I really want to show what I can do in Monte Carlo.”

By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Michael Schumacher believes the risk of racing at the Monaco Grand Prix is "justifiable once a year".

Although very few serious accidents have happened there, the street circuit does not conform to F1's usual safety requirements.

"For so many years we have successfully campaigned for more track safety and then we race in Monaco," he said.

"But in my view this is justifiable once a year - especially as the circuit is so much fun to drive."

The Sauber F1 car after an accident in Monaco last year

The Mercedes driver, who has won five times in Monaco, added: "Every time you go there, you just look forward to finally getting out and driving the track."

Despite the tight confines of the circuit around the streets of the Mediterranean principality, safety is taken as seriously there as at every track, with improvements made on a regular basis.

In recent years, impact-absorbing barriers have been adopted at many points along the track.

The walls that used to define the edges of the track at the 150mph swimming pool chicane have been moved back and the corner before the penultimate Rascasse hairpin has been eased.

Sauber's Sergio Perez suffered concussion in an accident at the Nouvelle chicane last year, where safety barriers have been made more effective since similar accidents to Jenson Button in 2003 and Karl Wendlinger in 1994.

No driver has been killed at the Monaco Grand Prix since Ferrari's Lorenzo Bandini died in a fire in 1967.

Schumacher will be demoted five places on the grid in Monaco this year

after being found guilty of causing his collision with Williams driver Bruno Senna during Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix.

However, he remains confident of a strong race next weekend.

"Of course, knowing that I will lose five positions on the grid does not add to this feeling (of enjoying Monaco) but this just means that I will have to try even harder," he said.

"I'm actually quite confident we should look reasonably good in Monaco due to the hard work that everybody in the team is putting into the development of our car, let's make the best out of the weekend."

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Perez reflects on Monaco crash

Schumacher's team-mate Nico Rosberg, who like many F1 drivers lives in Monaco, said: "I love the Monaco Grand Prix weekend and it's a great feeling to be
driving at home, knowing that all my friends and family are watching.

"I have always been quick around the streets there, and I believe a good result is possible for us next weekend.

"The nature of the track should suit our car but, as we have seen at every race so far this season, tyre management will be crucial.

"With five different winning teams so far this year, at least ten drivers have the chance to win in Monaco so this could be one of the most interesting races there for years."

Team boss Ross Brawn added: "The uniqueness of Monaco makes it one of those tracks where anything can happen, particularly in a season that has proved to be almost impossible to predict so far.

"Despite the logistical challenges of the weekend, Monaco is a race that everyone on the team and the drivers really enjoy, and the experience of winning in Monaco is something very special indeed.

"After Nico's win in China,

we have had two more difficult race weekends, but I am confident that we will start to see an improvement in Monaco as the developments we have brought to the car recently take effect."

The Monaco race may be one of the most glamorous and historic events on the Formula One calendar but that’s not why the drivers love it so. The real draw for them is in the challenge of the Monte Carlo circuit’s twists and turns, which rewards the brave and punishes the tiniest of mistakes. They and their teams explain why they can’t wait to get started on Thursday…

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
2011 Qualifying - 1st, 2011 Race - 1st
“It’s something special to race in Monaco; it’s tight and there’s no room for error. It’s rough and, as it’s a street circuit, the road surface is uneven so you get shaken in the car and there is no room for mistakes. You have to push yourself and the car to the limit to be fast, you have to push as hard as on other tracks, but there’s no room. You can almost feel it when you are just missing the wall and just get through - but it’s a nice feeling. You need to be fully focused on track, it’s a special thing to win in Monaco.”

Mark Webber, Red Bull
2011 Qualifying - 3rd, 2011 Race - 4th
“Monaco is a really special track, it’s an old circuit in terms of when it was first designed and the layout hasn’t changed too much since. It’s got a bit easier from when I first joined Formula One ten years ago, but it’s still a test of man against the track and with the car. You’re racing other people, but it doesn’t always feel like it because the track is always asking you to give more. If you bite and try to give it more then you crash so it’s a very, very challenging circuit mentally. Physically it’s quite straightforward, but in the mind you need to be very disciplined and that’s the challenge around Monaco.”

Jenson Button, McLaren
2011 Qualifying - 2nd, 2011 Race - 3rd
“My win at Monaco in 2009 remains one of my favourite victories in Formula One. Monte-Carlo is a place where every driver wants to win, but achieving it is so satisfying because you know you’ve conquered one of the toughest circuits in motorsport. Winning the Monaco Grand Prix will always be really special.

“I remember last year having a fantastic car beneath me and feeling really confident that I could challenge for the win. As it happened, circumstances beyond our control worked to pull that opportunity away from us, but I go back to Monte-Carlo with a little bit of unfinished business. I’d love to win for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes, the team has a great history around Monaco and I’d love to add my name to McLaren’s Monaco winners’ list.

“This year, we’ll be running Pirelli’s Supersoft compound for the first time - which should be interesting. And while our car isn’t especially suited to the tighter confines of a track like Monaco, I’m optimistic of getting on top of the balance issues that have affected me for the past two races. It’s going to be a fantastic weekend.”

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren
2011 Qualifying - 9th, 2011 Race - 6th
“Monaco is a very special circuit. It’s up there with Silverstone as the place where I most want to do well at. Even though Monaco has the slowest average speed of all the circuits we visit in a season, it always feels incredibly quick. That’s because the acceleration is so rapid and the walls so close: there really is no room for error. Apart from the run-off at Ste Devote, and the tiny escape roads at Mirabeau and the harbour chicane, there’s no room to make a mistake. But when the stakes are at their highest, I just find it more exciting.

“Still, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that, despite pushing for the win, consistency and scoring decent points is currently the most sensible way to tackle this world championship. I’ve scored points at every race, and I’m only eight points off the lead of the championship. That’s a really encouraging statistic and it’s reassuring to see my approach is paying off. Nevertheless, I’m coming off the back of two relatively disappointing results and there would be no better place for the cards to fall in my favour than at Monaco.”

Martin Whitmarsh, McLaren team principal
“I’m incredibly proud of the team’s record at Monte-Carlo. We’ve won the Monaco Grand Prix more than any other team, and it’s a race we all regard as incredibly special, and integral to the sporting image of Formula One. This is a unique event in so many ways - it places unique demands on the driver, the car and the team. Accordingly, winning in Monaco is considered a more significant victory than a win at other circuits.

“Both our drivers will arrive in the paddock feeling particularly determined this year: Jenson, because he will be determined to set the record straight after losing a victory in 2011 that many felt he rightfully deserved; Lewis, simply because he has been driving brilliantly all season and a victory at his favourite circuit would be just reward for all his speed and commitment.

“For the entire Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, too, we travel to the south of France feeling determined to string together a faultless weekend and to demonstrate our full potential. I have absolutely no doubts that the team is feeling very strong, and a win at Monaco would be the perfect fillip for their efforts.”

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
“Monaco is a little bit different and it’s hard to say how it will go there. It’s useless to put races in different categories, because all of them are as important to me. However, as a special race there is nothing like Monaco. There is no better feeling than to get things going well in there. To race in the streets of Monte Carlo is really different from everywhere else; a challenge I look forward to every year. It is very, very difficult, almost impossible, to have a clean weekend there.

“I’ve only managed to get it right once before, you really do get the greatest feeling by winning it. My win in 2005 ranks up there with my most memorable. So to win it again would be just as special. It’s such a twisty and narrow track. You have to be extra sharp and focussed in every single metre you go fast there. It gives such a good feeling a fast lap in Monaco. Overtaking has been almost impossible there in the past so to really enjoy racing there you have to be at the front.

“Monaco is always special. It’s an interesting place to go to, with a lot of fans and a lot of parties going on - or so I’m told. It’s a completely different atmosphere from anywhere else.

“We have to focus on qualifying. It’s a difficult place to race as it’s so narrow and passing is nearly impossible. I was stuck behind Rubens [Barrichello] in 2009 and we had KERS then, but you just couldn’t get past. We’ll have to see how the tyres perform and if there are any good strategies to be made, but the most important thing is qualifying well. It’s difficult to know how good the car will be in Monaco as you can’t simulate its characteristics, certainly not at any of the circuits we’ve visited so far this year. We can say the E20 has been fast everywhere else so let’s hope it’s also fast at Monaco.”

Romain Grosjean, Lotus
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
“I think Monaco is going to be a fantastic event and it is a special race for me for sure. There are certain to be a lot of French fans, and I’m looking forward to their support. It’s also a very special event in its own right, and the atmosphere is quite crazy! As a driver you have to stay calm and relaxed and try to do your job. It’s a track that doesn’t allow any mistakes. You have to respect it and that is the key there I think. Hopefully we can have another good result.

“I think Monaco is a specialist track and it’s very difficult to say if a car will suit there or not. It’s bumpy on the straights and it’s a very low-grip track surface. All these things mean that you never know what to expect. On a more normal racetrack you know more what you are going to have. I hope we will have a pleasant surprise and that the car will suit Monaco’s unique challenges. That would be nice.”

Eric Boullier, Lotus team principal
“We are celebrating our 500th Grand Prix in Monaco so what a story [winning] would be! Monaco is a unique event and it really is the jewel in the Formula One crown. Historically Enstone teams have shown good pace in Monaco, but last year’s car wasn’t strong in slow-speed corners so we may have some work to do. In terms of the team and our drivers, we’re all ready for a win. We’re looking at every aspect of the car and how we run it and we’re all focused tremendously on achieving our goals. A win would be a fabulous thing.”

James Allison, Lotus technical director
“We’ve got a bigger rear wing as you need more downforce at Monaco than you need anywhere else. If you look closer, or if you are a very keen fan of bodywork changes then you’ll see that the area around the side pods and the rear drums will be different too. We have to make modifications to the suspension to enable the necessary lock to get around Loews Hairpin and Rascasse. We have also made some changes, for Kimi in particular, to make the steering a little more reactive for Monaco.

“Perhaps if we look back, of the five races we’ve done so far, the race where we were least impressive was China and that’s a track with relatively few sweeping corners and lots of lower-speed traction events. So there is a train of thought that Monaco might not play to the strengths of our car.
However there are other things about Monaco that are different entirely, which are much harder to gauge. For starters the corners are so slow that the strength we’ve seen in very fast corners compared with moderate corners is not really any sort of form guide for competitiveness around Monaco’s twists and turns.

“Secondly, driver skill plays a relatively bigger part at Monaco than at most tracks, and we are fortunate to have a pair of decent peddlers. Finally, a large part of Monaco is confidence from the driver. Confidence that they can lean on the car and know that it’s not going to misbehave. So far, the E20 has proved to be a very predictable, straightforward car to drive - a quality it shares with the R30. So hopefully they will be able to lean on it to good effect. We’ll have to see.”

Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber
2011 Qualifying - 12th, 2011 Race - 5th
“I have good memories of Monaco. I finished fifth there last year, which was really great. Monaco is a very special track for the drivers. Our car seems to be strong on most of the tracks. Now it will be interesting to see how competitive it will be on a street circuit, but I’m quite confident it will be strong there as well. In Monaco a lot of things can happen, therefore it’s important to stay out of trouble and make it to the end. If we do that then I’m sure we will be able to fight for points.”

Sergio Perez, Sauber
2011 Qualifying - n/a, 2011 Race - n/a
“This Grand Prix is the most special one for me. I have been waiting to race in the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix all my life and, of course, after what happened last year I am looking forward to it even more. I strongly believe on this track the driver can make more of a difference than on any other track. As a team we are in good shape and I want to keep that momentum for Monaco. I also think our car can perform quite well on that unique city circuit. Of course I also think back to the accident I had in Q3 last year. To me it is like a watershed event in my career. There is a time before and a time after the accident. I learnt a lot from what I had to go through and I think it made me stronger. I really want to show what I can do in Monte Carlo.”

Matt Morris, Sauber chief designer
“The Monaco track is probably the one where the driver has the most influence on the overall performance. Last year both our drivers were competitive – Sergio until his accident in Q3, and Kamui finished a strong fifth in the race. The main challenge for setting up the car will be to optimise the mechanical grip. I’m confident we will be able to handle this. The development package that we ran for the first time in Barcelona will also be used again in Monaco, so we will be able to carry over its performance gain. Pirelli will provide us with the soft and the super soft tyres. This is actually the first time this year that we will be using the super soft compound during a race weekend. We tested it briefly during winter testing in Barcelona, which is a track that’s not exactly suited to this tyre, but I don’t see us having any problems in managing this tyre compound. The track has been resurfaced in some areas, for example in the braking zone after the tunnel, so we have got rid of the bump there. That’s something the drivers have to get used to, but, if anything, it should be easier. One of the design considerations of the C31 was to improve it over the kerbs, so we should be stronger at kerbing compared to last year. We have been competitive so far this season, and I’m confident we can be very strong in Monaco as well.”

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes
2011 Qualifying - 5th, 2011 Race - DNF
"Monaco is just a circuit of its own very unique character. In a way, you could look at it with a big portion of irony with regards to the contradiction that, for so many years we have successfully campaigned for more track safety, and then we deliberately race in Monaco. But in my view this is justifiable once a year, especially as the circuit is really so much fun to drive. Every time you go there, you just look forward to finally getting out and driving the track. Of course, knowing that I will lose five positions on the grid does not add to this feeling but this just means that I will have to try even harder. I'm actually quite confident that we should look reasonably good in Monaco due to the hard work that everybody in the team is putting into the development of our car. So let's make the best out of the weekend."

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
2011 Qualifying - 7th, 2011 Race - 11th
"I love the Monaco Grand Prix weekend and it's a great feeling to be driving at home, knowing that all my friends and family are watching. I have always been quick around the streets here, and I believe a good result is possible for us next weekend. The nature of the track should suit our car but as we have seen at every race so far this season, tyre management will be crucial. With five different winning teams so far this year, at least ten drivers have the chance to win in Monaco so this could be one of the most interesting races there for years."

Ross Brawn, Mercedes team principal
"The uniqueness of Monaco makes it one of those tracks where anything can happen, particularly in a season that has proved to be almost impossible to predict so far. Despite the logistical challenges of the weekend, Monaco is a race that everyone on the team and the drivers really enjoy, and the experience of winning in Monaco is something very special indeed. After Nico's win in China, we have had two more difficult race weekends, but I am confident that we will start to see an improvement in Monaco as the developments that we have brought to the car recently take effect."

Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport
"With five different winners from five different teams in five races, it has been an exciting and unexpected first quarter of the 2012 season. Now Formula One visits the most atypical circuit of all, Monaco. It makes unusual, one-off demands of the cars: there are fast and narrow sections, but also eight corners taken at under 100 km/h and over 4,500 gear changes during the race. It is also incredibly challenging and rewarding for the drivers. In Monaco, more than any other circuit, the driver can really make the difference, especially on a single qualifying lap. Both Nico and Michael have shown a great feeling for the circuit and the ability to master it in recent seasons. After all the talk of unpredictability of the teams' performance levels this year, there are also clear facts: three of five races have been won from pole position, including Nico's victory in China. What's more, the five drivers who have completed every race lap are all in the top seven in the current championship standings. Strong qualifying speed has been rewarded at every race, and consistently finishing races appears to be even more important in 2012. In the last three races, Nico has scored a total of 41 points, the second highest total in the field after Sebastian Vettel with 43. Our focus in Monaco will be to extract the maximum from our further developed technical package. Giving the drivers a car they can trust and feel confident in is worth more here than at any other circuit on the calendar."

Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham
2011 Qualifying - 17th, 2011 Race - 14th
"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 hard-core 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. On track it's one of the races where the pack bunches up a bit and that might give us a chance to do something special. Last year I finished 14th, one of our higher finishes of the season, so hopefully we can improve on that this year. We have KERS this year and a car that has good race pace, and as our car is slightly easier on the tyres than some of the teams ahead, maybe that will help us achieve a high race finish."

Vitaly Petrov, Caterham
2011 Qualifying - 10th, 2011 Race - DNF
"I’ve raced a lot in Monaco, not just in Formula One. I had a podium there in GP2 when I finished second in 2009, which was good. In F1 I’ve raced there twice. The first time wasn’t so great but last year was pretty good, right up until the point I crashed! That was so disappointing, but I couldn’t avoid it. We had a good strategy and I’d had a good race up to that point, but that’s how racing goes sometimes. Monaco is an unbelievable place though. Normally, between Barcelona and Monaco we have just one week and I’d leave Barcelona on Sunday night and drive to Monaco, because on the Tuesday of the race week we have the football match for the F1 drivers, which is always great. The track itself is always a little bit dirty at the start of the weekend and it’s quite difficult to get tyre temperatures up during the lap. It’s tricky because the walls are so close. If you make one mistake or have a little bit of oversteer, you don’t even get a chance to correct it - you’re in the wall. It takes quite a bit of mental preparation and you need to be totally focused for every single lap of every session. The race itself? The atmosphere in the race is incredible. It’s just an amazing place to drive a racing car and I really love it."

Mark Smith, Caterham technical director
“Monaco is a unique challenge, for the drivers and the teams. The fact we are in very different garage conditions to normal, and in a cramped paddock, makes it a tough race for the truckies, the mechanics and the engineers, but it is a race we all look forward to and one that everyone wants to do well at. The short length of the lap and the limited high-speed sections means there is much less difference in lap times than at somewhere like Barcelona. We all use high downforce settings, and we have a specific aero configuration we will use in Monaco and probably Hungary, but the days of cars sprouting all sorts of special wings just for Monaco are behind us. The cars may not look hugely different to how they appeared in Spain, but we do have as much downforce as we can find for the whole weekend in Monte Carlo.

“The other challenges are managing the brake cooling and tyre wear. Even though it’s a stop - start lap, the brakes are not put under huge strain as the speeds never get as high as a normal track, but there is a real emphasis on making sure we cool the brakes as efficiently as possible, and that is something we worked on at the Mugello test, so we are happy we have a good solution for that. For the tyre wear we have planned as well as we can, but we have seen so far this season that until we are actually out on track it’s almost impossible to know which teams will be hard on the tyres and which teams will be able to manage the degradation levels well. We have the soft and the supersoft compounds in Monaco, and if the wear rates on the softs are anything like we saw in Spain, strategy will be critical.”

More to follow.

For tickets and travel to 2012 Formula One races, click here.
For Formula One and F1 team merchandise, click here.

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By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Formula 1 will introduce some form of additional driver head protection in the not-too-distant future, race director Charlie Whiting says.

Governing body the

FIA 

is conducting research on methods of head protection and Whiting believes F1 must adopt one.

"There has to be something to try to prevent a wheel hitting a driver's head," Whiting told

BBC Sport.

He added that roll-over protection in front of the driver "is the most likely option in my opinion".

Continue reading the main story

“We must do everything we can to protect the sport and its business model”

Charlie Whiting
Head of the F1 technical department

But he emphasised that "the research should be done first, so we are able to come up with something that works".

Researchers at the FIA Institute have so far tried two types of jet canopy and a forward roll-hoop.

The roll-hoop, made of titanium, was the most effective. It deflected the wheel, as well as puncturing the tyre, which makes it stop much more quickly than if it stays inflated.

The jet-style canopies were both flawed to varying degrees.

A 30mm polycarbonate windshield deflected the wheel but shattered, while a canopy from a jet fighter worked effectively but would cause other problems, including distorted vision.

Whiting said: "The canopy has potential problems, particularly in that there were very likely to be visibility issues as it may create a distorted image for the driver.

"There are also the issues of weight, driver egress and driver extraction."

F1 cars already include wheel tethers, which have drastically reduced the likelihood of wheels becoming detached from cars in the event of an accident, but they are unlikely ever to be foolproof.

"We have done our best to stop a wheel coming off and we are constantly working hard to come up with better ways of making sure wheels stay attached to cars," Whiting said.

"If you are travelling at speed and pushing things to the limit, there will always be a risk, it's just I am against the categorical phrase 'It will never happen - my car will never have a roof'"

Alexander Wurz, former F1 driver

Another concern is a similar type of accident to that

which left Ferrari's Felipe Massa with a fractured skull and a brain injury

when he was hit by an errant suspension part at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix.

A roll-hoop in front of the driver would not totally defend against that, but would offer partial protection.

A week before Massa's accident,

Formula Two driver Henry Surtees,

the son of 1964 F1 world champion John Surtees, was killed when a wheel hit his head.

There has been opposition to the idea of additional head protection, especially if it takes the form of a canopy, on the basis that F1 has always been for open-top cars.

But

former grand prix driver Alexander Wurz,

who is working closely with the FIA and F1 drivers on the subject, said that was an outdated argument.

Wurz said: "I've heard comments of 'it's against tradition'. Should we all drive with engines at the front and with leather hats and no seatbelts and parts not in quality control?

Ferrari's Felipe Massa suffered a serious head injury after an accident at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix

"We must do everything we can to protect the sport and its business model.

"You see how (in) our society, corporate social responsibility is moving nowadays, it's becoming so important. I just simply don't accept stopping looking into safer solutions just because they break tradition.

"If you are travelling at speed and pushing things to the limit, there will always be a risk, it's just I am against the categorical phrase 'It will never happen - my car will never have a roof.'

"That doesn't mean the canopy or forward roll-hoops which are coming and potentially around the corner needs to happen.

"But we can't stop the research because you learn so much from focusing on one area, like protecting the driver's head.

"Maybe we (will) learn something along the way which is a very simple solution."

Wurz said that adding some form of head protection, whether it be a canopy, roof or forward roll-hoop of one kind, would have no effect whatsoever on F1's position as the pinnacle of motorsport or on the challenge of driving the cars.

The Monaco race may be one of the most glamorous and historic events on the Formula One calendar but that’s not why the drivers love it so. The real draw for them is in the challenge of the Monte Carlo circuit’s twists and turns, which rewards the brave and punishes the tiniest of mistakes. They and their teams explain why they can’t wait to get started on Thursday…

Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham
2011 Qualifying - 17th, 2011 Race - 14th
"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 hard-core 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. On track it's one of the races where the pack bunches up a bit and that might give us a chance to do something special. Last year I finished 14th, one of our higher finishes of the season, so hopefully we can improve on that this year. We have KERS this year and a car that has good race pace, and as our car is slightly easier on the tyres than some of the teams ahead, maybe that will help us achieve a high race finish."

Vitaly Petrov, Caterham
2011 Qualifying - 10th, 2011 Race - DNF
"I’ve raced a lot in Monaco, not just in Formula One. I had a podium there in GP2 when I finished second in 2009, which was good. In F1 I’ve raced there twice. The first time wasn’t so great but last year was pretty good, right up until the point I crashed! That was so disappointing, but I couldn’t avoid it. We had a good strategy and I’d had a good race up to that point, but that’s how racing goes sometimes. Monaco is an unbelievable place though. Normally, between Barcelona and Monaco we have just one week and I’d leave Barcelona on Sunday night and drive to Monaco, because on the Tuesday of the race week we have the football match for the F1 drivers, which is always great. The track itself is always a little bit dirty at the start of the weekend and it’s quite difficult to get tyre temperatures up during the lap. It’s tricky because the walls are so close. If you make one mistake or have a little bit of oversteer, you don’t even get a chance to correct it - you’re in the wall. It takes quite a bit of mental preparation and you need to be totally focused for every single lap of every session. The race itself? The atmosphere in the race is incredible. It’s just an amazing place to drive a racing car and I really love it."

Mark Smith, Caterham technical director
“Monaco is a unique challenge, for the drivers and the teams. The fact we are in very different garage conditions to normal, and in a cramped paddock, makes it a tough race for the truckies, the mechanics and the engineers, but it is a race we all look forward to and one that everyone wants to do well at. The short length of the lap and the limited high-speed sections means there is much less difference in lap times than at somewhere like Barcelona. We all use high downforce settings, and we have a specific aero configuration we will use in Monaco and probably Hungary, but the days of cars sprouting all sorts of special wings just for Monaco are behind us. The cars may not look hugely different to how they appeared in Spain, but we do have as much downforce as we can find for the whole weekend in Monte Carlo.

“The other challenges are managing the brake cooling and tyre wear. Even though it’s a stop - start lap, the brakes are not put under huge strain as the speeds never get as high as a normal track, but there is a real emphasis on making sure we cool the brakes as efficiently as possible, and that is something we worked on at the Mugello test, so we are happy we have a good solution for that. For the tyre wear we have planned as well as we can, but we have seen so far this season that until we are actually out on track it’s almost impossible to know which teams will be hard on the tyres and which teams will be able to manage the degradation levels well. We have the soft and the supersoft compounds in Monaco, and if the wear rates on the softs are anything like we saw in Spain, strategy will be critical.”

More to follow.

For tickets and travel to 2012 Formula One races, click here.
For Formula One and F1 team merchandise, click here.

Stories suggesting that Bruno Senna could be replaced by Valtteri Bottas, either at the end of the 2012 season or more imminently, have been vociferously dismissed by Williams team shareholder Toto Wolff.

Speaking to Austria's SportWoche, Wolff - who, coincidentally, manages Bottas' career - said there was no basis to rumours that Senna's seat was in danger, even though the Brazilian will hand his car over to his Finnish team-mate for Friday morning practice at 15 of this year's 20 races. Speculation has grown since F1 driver-turned-commentator Mika Salo revealed that, following an interview with Sir Frank Williams, he felt that the team was poised to pull the trigger on such a move 'this season'.

"That story is bullsh*t," Wolff, who holds a 15 per cent stake in Williams, insisted, "Right now we need to get behind Bruno and support him. Let's not mess up our strategy. We have a job to do, and we'll keep doing it."

Senna's cause was weakened in Barcelona when not only did team-mate Pastor Maldonado out-qualify him and put his FW34 on the front row, the Venezuelan went on to win the event despite heavy pressure form Ferrari's Fernando Alonso. Senna, meanwhile, was taken out of the race by Michael Schumacher early on. The Brazilian, however, remains unbowed.

"I'd like to say a big thank-you to all my fans and supporters for the messages," he wrote on his Twitter feed after the Barcelona weekend, "It's learning and 1 bad weekend won't bring me down! Push!!"

Senna was seen a something of a surprise signing by Williams for 2012, having been selected ahead of both veteran Rubens Barrichello and Force India refugee Adrian Sutil. His only previous F1 experience came in an abortive season with HRT in 2010 and a handful of races with Lotus Renault towards the end of last season, which produced mixed results.

However, with two new Finnish sponsors being added to Williams' portfolio ahead of the Spanish race, and both having close links to Bottas, it's not exactly a long shot to suggest that Senna's place is in jeopardy for 2013, even if Wolff and the rest of the team will not confirm it.

By Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Spanish GP winner Pastor Maldonado sees no reason why he cannot continue his good form in Monaco next weekend.

The Venezuelan took his

maiden victory at the Circuit de Catalunya

on Sunday.

"All the teams and the championship are so close, but we are getting better and better every time," he said.

"We don't have the quickest car but we are doing our best. Why not [win Monaco]? F1 is changing all the time. It's going to be difficult but we will try again."

The victory, which he delivered following

a close fight with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso,

has changed perceptions of Maldonado within F1.

He won his drive at Williams partly thanks to a huge sponsorship deal with Venezuela's state oil company, but team principal Sir Frank Williams has been effusive in his praise of the 27-year-old's driving.

Continue reading the main story

“We don't have the quickest car but we are doing our best. Why not [win Monaco]? F1 is changing all the time”

Pastor Maldonado

For his part, Maldonado said he was not planning to use his improved image to look for a drive at a bigger team.

"I think I will stay in the team for a long [time]," he said.

"We need to be winning, we need a mission, we need to build a championship and after I will see for my future."

Maldonado's win was the first for his Williams team since 2004 and on a visit to the factory on Thursday he said it had been a huge boost to the team.

"Everyone is very happy to see me," he said. "We did a small conference this morning, we were all together, talking with the people of the factory and I am happy to see their happy faces.

"For sure it is a great moment to be back at the factory because we have been working so hard to find this result."

The team entered 2012 after the worst season in their history, but a change in approach in the design and engineering departments

has led to a major turnaround in form.

"We did a great step forward because we changed a lot of things here in the factory, and part of that approach when we get to the track is completely different," Maldonado said.

"I feel a bit more motivated in the team. A lot of things we are putting together in the team to make a real step forward.

"It is not a single part we have changed, we have changed everything. I am really happy to be part of that and to keep pushing."

Some of the shine was taken off the win by a

fire that erupted in the Williams pit as they were celebrating after the race.

Four of their mechanics were taken to hospital - and one is still receiving treatment for burns suffered in the incident.

Maldonado said he had sent a text message wishing the injured man a speedy recovery.

Did you know?

Maldonado was a 300-1 outsider to win the Spanish GP but by overcoming those odds, he has become the first Venezuelan to win a race and the first winner in a Williams since the 2004 Brazilian Grand Prix, 132 races ago.

"I'm looking forward to seeing him back in the team again," he said.

Maldonado was pictured carrying his cousin out of the garage in the immediate aftermath of the fire, and he admitted it had been a worrying time for the team.

"We had a difficult moment after the race especially we were all together in the garage at that moment," he said.

"I was so scared for all of us, but we were so lucky because we don't have any big damage and especially because our people were OK after that.

"For sure it was a scary moment for all of us.

"I saw my cousin with a small injury and I take him away from the [pit].

"What I can say is it was a difficult moment for all the team but we have been so happy after that because of the win.

"It was nearly eight years - a great day."

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Highlights - Spanish Grand Prix

It may have only been a short line near the bottom of an article about the Spanish Grand Prix, but the words published earlier this week on Ferrari’s official website must have hit home to driver Felipe Massa and his legion of fans. “Everyone, he more than anyone, is expecting a change of gear starting right away,” it read.

Despite its brevity, most onlookers decided the message was a loud and clear one - after failing to deliver at the opening five rounds of the 2012 season, the Italian team’s faith in the Brazilian has been severely dented. With team mate Fernando Alonso jointly leading the drivers’ table on 61 points, Massa’s tally of two is putting his tenure at Ferrari under closer scrutiny than ever before. The question everyone is asking is how much longer can he hold on to his seat?

Back in March, the 31 year-old started the season already on the back foot, knowing it was vital he improve dramatically on his lacklustre 2011 campaign if he was to stay at Maranello beyond 2012. It hasn’t, however, been easy. The F2012’s issues have been well-documented - it started around a second off the pace of the frontrunners - but whilst Alonso has driven around and beyond its problems, Massa has struggled.

Poor balance ruined his weekend in Australia even more than his race-ending collision with Bruno Senna, whilst in Malaysia he followed his race-winning team mate home almost a lap down in 15th. In China he fared little better, finishing in 13th, but with his quickest race lap just a tenth off Alonso’s there was at least some reason to believe that he’d finally got to grips with his car.

Massa himself had pretty high hopes for the following round in Bahrain - a race he has won twice - but though he enjoyed his best run of the year to date, his ninth place garnered him just two points. Any vestiges of luck, however, deserted him last weekend in Barcelona. He had a truly miserable time of it and after a drive-through penalty for ignoring yellow flags he finished in 15th. Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel was similarly punished, but the world champion fought back and finished seventh.

After five rounds, Massa is languishing in 17th in the standings, his worst start to a season since he commenced his Ferrari career back in 2006. His haul of two world championship points, meanwhile, is his worst tally at this stage in a campaign since his second year at Sauber back in 2005. It’s certainly a far cry from the highs of 2008 when Massa lost out on the title to Lewis Hamilton by a solitary point.

But Ferrari still hold a great deal of affection for their ‘number two’ driver. After his dramatic crash at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix, the team waited patiently for him to recover sufficiently to return the following season. They again waited patiently for him to return to form in 2010. The problem this year it seems is that, on paper at least, they are still waiting.

Massa certainly hasn’t hit the highs of his pre-accident pace. But, then, Ferrari hasn’t given him a car as good as the F2008 which almost won him the title. 2010’s F10 was a difficult beast to master and then too it was Alonso who got the most from it - while Massa was ruled out of the title fight early on, Alonso was still in the running at the final round. Last year’s 150° Italia proved little better, but somehow Alonso scored more than double Massa’s points tally given identical machinery.

So for the last three years Massa has been down on his luck and struggling to hold his own against his team mate. And when a sport is as competitive as F1 is this season, an effective double act can make a real difference. Look at Lotus: the pairing of Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen may not have won a race yet, but the duo’s combined success means the team lie third in the constructors’ table, one place and 21 points clear of the Scuderia.

All things considered, the pressure - real or imagined - must be spirit-sapping for Massa. But he still has one ace up his sleeve. There’s currently nobody obvious - or available - Ferrari could replace him with, and however cliched it may sound, for Maranello it’s certainly a case of better the devil you know.

Tester Jules Bianchi is still a work in progress and while Sauber’s Sergio Perez (like Bianchi, a Ferrari academy member) has been touted by some, a mid-season switch of teams would likely punish rather than reward the young Mexican’s career.

Holding on to his 2012 seat simply because Ferrari lack a suitable replacement is far from ideal, but it may at least give Massa some breathing space. If he knuckles down now, gets the support he needs from the team and show signs of improvement, he could yet revive his flagging Formula One career. If he doesn’t, Ferrari could easily be saying ciao at the end of the season - possibly sooner. Watch this space.

For tickets and travel to 2012 Formula One races, click here.
For Formula One and F1 team merchandise, click here.