Five races, five pole positions and five race wins. If your Formula One affinity is with anyone but Mercedes F1, the first couple of months of the 2014 season have been a little bit sobering. The action this year has been described as too slow, too predictable and too dull.
So on the face of it, it looks like a bad thing that the next stop on Formula One’s journey is in Monte Carlo, for a race which often produces dull, uninspired racing. But fear not! There are plenty of reasons to be excited for this most prestigious of race weekends.
1) The Mercedes team battle
It seems that most of this year’s winners will come from a group of two, with the Silver Arrows drivers battling for the top step on the podium, while the other 20 ‘competitors’ scrap for the minor places. Now, that may not be an ideal situation, but it is far better than the championship being claimed by one man year after year, with little to no resistance.
For the last four races, Lewis Hamilton has led teammate Nico Rosberg home for a Mercedes 1-2, with their nearest challenger (sometimes literally) miles behind. However, the racing between the two has often been outstanding, with their duels in Bahrain and Barcelona particularly thrilling. Except another tight contest between the two in Monaco.
2) BECAUSE IT’S MONACO!
Yes, the racing in Monaco can be tame, but there are often some great races around the streets of the principality, with the 2012 race seeing the top four drivers separated by less than two seconds, while the 2011 edition was denied a cracking finish only by a mass pile-up towards the end. Yes, a pile-up made the race LESS exciting.
Aside from the perils of the tight track, there is the whole glamour of the occasion that is the Monaco Grand Prix, where the rich and famous get together to contribute to an incredible spectacle. A little overhyped? Maybe, but this race is one of the ‘blue ribbon’ events on the Formula One calendar, and we can’t wait for it.
3) Vettel vs. Ricciardo
Admit it, we’ve all enjoyed seeing the four-time world champion struggle, haven’t we? After benefitting from an incredible car for his 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 world title wins, Sebastian Vettel has still not fully got to grips with the 2014 edition. What makes this all the more intriguing is the fact that his teammate has outperformed him at at least three of the races this season.
Daniel Ricciardo is renowned for having a smile so big, it has its own gravitational pull, and so far it has pulled Vettel into a world of pain. Ricciardo was unfancied to beat his illustrious colleague at the start of the season and, although he remains behind the German in the standings, he has been impressive and claimed his first F1 podium last time around in Spain.
4) Come on feel the noise…
In one of the more bizarre moments of the season, in response to complaints that the sport had become too quiet due to new engine regulations, Mercedes this week tested a ‘trumpet’ exhaust with the aim of making a louder sound. It didn’t really work, but it suggests that the teams are going to start looking for ways to make the 2014 season a little bit louder.
For me, I don’t care what the cars sound like, as long as the action speaks for itself and for the most part, it has. However, if the public demands more ‘racey’ sounds from the cars on show and the team can meet the demands, all the better for the sport. Monaco isn’t exactly a ‘full throttle’ circuit, but don’t surprised to see the teams bring a few more upgrades to usher out the quiet days of Formula One.
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