2022 F1 Grand Prix of Monaco: qualifying is the key to success
The seventh round of the 2022 F1 World Championship will be held this weekend in the city of Monaco.
The Monaco Grand Prix is the most famous race on the F1 calendar, but it is also a bit of an anomaly due to its low speed on the narrow roads of the principality. Only 42% of each lap is driven at full throttle. Overtaking is very difficult in these conditions, making qualifying at Monaco more important than at any other circuit.
The race first appeared on the F1 calendar in 1950 and has been a regular race since 1955 The layout of the 2.1-mile Monaco circuit has changed little over the years, with the biggest update coming in 2004.
The tight layout and close proximity to the walls means that mistakes are not tolerated and drivers must keep their full concentration at all times, even at low speeds. Braking late, even by just 1.5 meters, could ruin the entire weekend. If you are lucky, you will be able to go out on the Escapade. If not, the car will be wrecked.
In Monaco, there are approximately 80 steering direction changes and 52 gear changes per lap. Considering the constant repetition of throttle and brake paddle inputs, one can see how hard the drivers work each lap.
The circuit also has low grip levels because the public roads open in the evening during race weekends. Therefore, high-downforce specifications are used at Monaco to maximize grip.
The combination of slippery surfaces and low speeds means minimal tire wear and degradation. As a result, Pirelli has nominated the softest compounds: white hard for C3, yellow medium for C4, and red soft for C5. According to the weather forecast, Saturday's qualifying session will be sunny, but Sunday's race may be wet.
Coming into the weekend, Red Bull Racing's Max Verstappen leads the 2022 drivers' championship with 110 points. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari is second with 104 points and Sergio Perez of Red Bull is third with 85 points. In the constructors' championship, Red Bull leads with 195 points to Ferrari's 169 and Mercedes-Benz AMG's 120. Last year's Monaco winner was Red Bull's Verstappen.
