Fernando Alonso is still enjoying an exciting qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. One thinks the race weekend in Monaco is one of the highlights of the season, while the other hates the circuit where it is almost impossible to overtake. So Alonso clearly belongs to that first category and believes that the qualifying session that took place yesterday proves why the event should always be on the calendar.
Alonso himself looked on his way to his first pole position for Aston Martin after beating the times of Charles Leclerc and Esteban Ocon. In the end, the Spaniard still had to acknowledge his superior in reigning world champion Max Verstappen. In the last part of qualifying it was clear to see that the drivers were pushing the limits. Verstappen hit the wall several times in his pole lap, while Sergio Pérez crashed early on.
On Sunday, however, it is difficult to overtake a slower predecessor, which means that there is an almost annual discussion about whether the Monaco should still be on the calendar. Another challenge is the lack of space for the infrastructure for the teams, resulting in logistical challenges. This contributed, among other things, to the fact that Red Bull Racing was unable to find the right tire set for Daniel Ricciardo quickly enough in 2016, as a result of which the Australian missed out on victory.
Top drivers enjoy an adrenaline rush
Alonso is clearly a fan of the weekend, telling Autosport: “This lap is very adrenalin, and when you see what it looks like on television, I think it’s a unique place. When I was in the car, I saw how on TV you can see Monaco in its entirety. Last year there was talk that Monaco might not be on the calendar in the future. That just doesn’t sound right. Monaco must be on the calendar, always,” said the experienced Spaniard.
Verstappen also enjoyed the unique challenges the drivers face in Monaco. “Every time you jump in the car, your heart probably beats a little faster than when you do a qualifying lap on other circuits,” the Limburger explains the special experience. ‘You know here that if you make a small error of judgment, you end up in the wall. Of all the street circuits we’ve been on, Monaco is definitely the hardest to do a fast lap, and you can feel it when you jump out of the car. You’re still full of adrenaline and your heart rate is higher than in other qualifications.’
