2024 Monaco Grand Prix: What the Teams are Saying Ahead of the Weekend

Components 1 heads to Monte Carlo this weekend for the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix and Spherical 7 of the FIA Components 1 World Championship.

Max Verstappen and Oracle Purple Bull Racing cleared the path in each the Drivers’ and Constructors Championships however up to now two rounds in Miami and Imola, we’ve seen stern challenges from McLaren F1 Workforce and Scuderia Ferrari. Lando Norris, particularly, has been in good from, successful in Miami and ending underneath a second behind Verstappen on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

Monaco is the jewel within the Components 1 crown and may be one of the vital thrilling races on the calendar. Learn what the groups have been saying forward of the weekend, together with Ferrari and McLaren.

Fred Vasseur — Scuderia Ferrari

“A couple of days in the past, it was our residence race in Imola and this weekend, Charles might be on residence turf in Monaco, a race that’s unfinished enterprise for him and we’d like to assist him put it to mattress. 

“Carlos additionally loves racing within the Principality, the place he took his first podium on the wheel of a Ferrari, so they’re each very motivated. 

“It’s typically accepted that, with the present era of vehicles, overtaking is more durable right here than at another observe on the calendar, which suggests qualifying takes on even better significance than traditional. 

“We are going to subsequently be seeking to make a step ahead on this self-discipline, as to date this season we’ve lacked what it takes to be quickest of all. 

“With this in thoughts, we’ve been working exhausting within the simulator and through engineering conferences, getting ready every part right down to the smallest element and we absolutely intend to be front-runners.

Lando Norris — McLaren F1 Workforce

“Monaco up subsequent! It’s one of the vital difficult weekends on the calendar. It’s not the simplest observe to overhaul, however qualifying right here is among the most enjoyable challenges in motorsport. It’s all about hitting the bottom operating and constructing confidence proper from FP1.

“It felt good to have the ability to struggle for the win in Imola, so we’ve a lot potential transferring ahead. Monaco will even be a particular race for us as we might be racing in a tribute livery to Senna. It seems to be superb, and I can’t wait to race round this particular observe in it.”

Oscar Piastri — McLaren F1 Workforce

“It’s going to be an honour to race across the streets of Monaco in our particular Senna livery. He was a grasp of this observe with six victories and it’s necessary to pay tribute to such a task mannequin of our sport.

“I’ve additionally give you a particular helmet design and I’ll be auctioning off certainly one of my helmets to lift funds for the Ayrton Senna Institute, which does such nice work in offering alternatives and remodeling lives.

“The previous two race weekends in Miami and Imola have been amongst my strongest in F1 and it’s an thrilling prospect to be heading to Monaco with good momentum.”

Toto Wolff — Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Workforce

“The small step ahead we took in Imola was encouraging. The crew has labored extremely exhausting to convey our current updates to the observe, and it was a transparent efficiency acquire. That being mentioned, others have improved too.

“We’re nonetheless a step behind the entrance three groups subsequently, and there’s loads of work nonetheless to do. However, we’ve a transparent path and developments within the pipeline. We now have a extra strong platform to construct on now and we’re assured that, in time, we will get ourselves into the pack forward. 

“That work continues this weekend in Monaco. It’s a distinctive circuit and a unbelievable problem for the crew and drivers. It’s at all times exhausting to foretell anticipated efficiency, however we’ll look to execute a clear weekend and maximise the automotive we’ve.

“It’s at all times a particular weekend, and we sit up for placing on a great present for the followers, and our companions and visitors throughout our in depth hospitality programme in Monte Carlo.”

Nico Hulkenberg — Haas F1 Workforce

“I’ve lived in Monaco since 2015, this might be my eleventh Monaco Grand Prix, and I’ve watched the race many occasions rising up. Monaco is iconic, it’s all about custom; the palace, the lodges, and lots of locations that also have a costume code to have the ability to get in. The historical past and the heritage there, everybody embraces and respects that, which I like.

“There’s at all times a bit extra concentrate on qualifying right here in Monaco. Nevertheless it’s the identical each weekend, from scratch it’s essential to attempt to get a great feeling for the automotive, and the problem with qualifying in Monaco is that you really want to grasp the lap and put all three sectors collectively. It’s a experience on a knife edge and difficult yearly and certainly one of my favourite tracks to drive, I sit up for the experience and the problem.”

Kevin Magnussen — Haas F1 Workforce

“It’s the perfect observe on the calendar to drive, it’s simply phenomenal on these little tight streets with partitions in every single place. The sensation of driving a Components 1 automotive in Monaco, to me, is the perfect of the yr. We all know there’s no overtaking within the race, so it does really feel now with all these different races the place overtaking is fairly good and racing is fairly good, that it’s a little bit of a bizarre one as a result of there’s so little.

“Perhaps there might be extra qualifying classes or a Dash to throw a curveball. The Monaco Grand Prix is part of the triple crown, it’s a type of races the place when you win that, it’s additional particular, and having pushed round there it’s so particular, so I hope it stays on the calendar.

“At different races, you’re doing laps to discover completely different strategies, you’ve discovered the restrict rapidly. In Monaco, you’re simply getting nearer and nearer to the restrict, and because it’s a observe that’s actually getting used, it’s obtained a lot observe evolution.

“Monaco is one the place all of the partying that’s occurring, it’s fairly seen. At different races, the events are occurring in golf equipment within the metropolis, in Monaco, they’re occurring on the observe in Rascasse, and individuals are spilling drinks on the observe! I like Monaco, it’s my favorite race.”

Esteban Ocon — BWT Alpine F1 Workforce

“Reflecting on Imola, I’d say it was a difficult race for us as a crew, and we weren’t ready to struggle with the opposite vehicles round us. The automotive felt extra aggressive over a single lap, and we had been once more inside attain of constructing it into Q3, however within the race we had been hindered by a scarcity of straight-line pace. 

“It meant we weren’t in a position to make progress on our beginning place or defend from these behind. We tried completely different methods with each vehicles to present ourselves a chance to make up locations, however finally, we lacked the required tempo. 

“I prolonged my first stint to permit for a one-stop and hoped we might soar any of these two-stopping however ultimately that didn’t occur. What Imola confirmed is that we should preserve bettering and dealing exhausting to grasp the automotive extra − extracting essentially the most from the set-up on the various kinds of circuit we go to, beginning already this week in Monaco. 

“Monaco is such a particular place on the calendar and is synonymous with Components 1 and the historical past of motorsport. As a driver, it’s a weekend that it’s essential to be at your highest and stayed targeted all through. 

“Monaco is a observe the place the motive force can actually make a distinction. Should you really feel comfy within the automotive and the automotive is compliant and turns the way you need, you may run near the boundaries and discover additional time. 

“That’s what occurred final yr, the place I felt good within the automotive already from the primary Follow session. I’ve very fond recollections of this place, particularly from the rostrum end final yr. And not using a race in France, this may be thought of a little bit of a house race for us, alongside Silverstone. 

“Realistically, I don’t suppose we will repeat the efficiency from final yr, however we’ll give it our all to realize the perfect outcome this weekend.”

Pierre Gasly — BWT Alpine F1 Workforce

“I positively had combined emotions travelling residence on Sunday evening after Imola. On one aspect, it’s a step in the suitable path as I felt very comfy within the automotive via Friday and Saturday. 

“It’s most likely essentially the most dialed in I’ve been all season to date. I made a small mistake in Qualifying in Q2 when it mattered – I used to be barely distracted into the ultimate corners by one other automotive and I misjudged my line. 

“That’s on me, and it could have been attention-grabbing to see the place we’d have ended up as my Q1 lap time was very sturdy and inside the highest ten. These are simply small issues to get proper and I do know we’re getting there as a crew. 

“Sunday’s race was much less optimistic for us and it uncovered our weaknesses throughout our automotive package deal. We lacked tempo to essentially make something from the race. There’s loads for us to assessment however clearly not the way in which we anticipate issues to go. We now have a right away probability to race once more this weekend. It’s most likely as shut as we get to France all season, so whereas it’s not a house race, that’s saved for Charles, it does really feel particular for the crew and us drivers in Monaco with a lot French assist. 

“It’s the race I most sit up for on the calendar. It’s excessive threat with excessive rewards, as we skilled as a crew final yr. I’ve some unfinished enterprise on my aspect from twelve months in the past, so I’m positively able to get occurring observe. It’s a legendary place. World well-known and essentially the most iconic place in motorsport. 

“We’re going to work exhausting to stand up to hurry as rapidly as potential and construct up some confidence within the automotive throughout Follow. From there, we’ll want a little bit of magic on Saturday and see the place we’re at from there. I’m prepared for it!”

Alex Albon — Williams Racing

“As we head to Monaco this week as a part of the doubleheader, I’m actually wanting ahead to driving on this iconic observe once more and it’s at all times thrilling when the race is in your doorstep. 

“Monaco has at all times been a observe that our automotive has struggled with, so I’m to see how the FW46 performs given our change in traits to make it extra versatile throughout completely different tracks. 

“Monaco is at all times attention-grabbing with the climate being unpredictable, in addition to overtaking being a problem, so it ought to make for an attention-grabbing weekend.”

Logan Sargeant — Williams Racing

“It’s at all times particular to race across the streets of Monaco. The observe is extremely slim, leaving no margin for error, so it’s essential to construct up confidence through the Free Follow classes. 

“Securing observe place is vital with it being tough to overhaul, making Qualifying in Monaco one of the vital necessary of the season. We’ll be seeking to make the most of any alternatives as a crew.”

Valtteri Bottas — Stake F1 Workforce Kick Sauber

“Monaco is particular, in each approach. It’s such a throwback to a special period of motorsport, each when it comes to the circuit itself and of every part that takes place across the occasion: it’s a giant date on the calendar and one that’s at all times pleasant. Plus, residing in Monaco itself, I get to go residence each night, which is one thing you positively don’t get to do in another race within the season! 

“Monaco is a giant problem for a driver: it’s a spot that not solely requires approach and precision – it additionally calls for absolute psychological focus for each inch of tarmac.

“There may be not a single place the place you may loosen up or shift your consideration to one thing else – and each mistake is punished: it’s powerful, however it’s a enjoyable problem. 

“Additionally, whereas qualifying is essential in each race, in Monaco it acquires an much more pivotal function: add to this the climate, which might change usually and immediately, and you’ve got so many components of potential jeopardy in a single single race. That is what makes this race what it’s, and it’s a problem I relish.”

Zhou Guanyu — Stake F1 Workforce Kick Sauber 

“Racing in Monte Carlo is among the stuff you dream of whenever you’re a toddler aiming for Components One: it’s one of the vital particular moments within the season, it’s a race even non-fans would find out about, and I’m actually wanting ahead to doing it once more this weekend. 

“Imola was a tricky weekend however one which has at the least given us classes to be taught for the longer term: whereas Monaco is a very completely different observe format, there are nonetheless many components we will implement to enhance and enhance our competitiveness. 

“Right here, greater than anyplace else, qualifying is a large a part of your finish outcome, so it’ll be necessary to hit the bottom operating from the very first session and maximise all we will in apply, in order that we may be ready for Saturday. 

“Even then, this can be a observe that may throw surprises at each nook: a Security Automotive is rarely too far, so technique might also present alternatives. We are going to have to be ready for something which will occur, however I’m assured we will play our playing cards proper.”