The Monaco circuit is one of the oldest and most established formula 1 tracks. Although it is by no means the oldest of all venues it certainly would qualify as the most antiquated of circuits as the topography, which determines the outlay of the track, has not changed in any significant way since the first race was staged in 1929. Chicanes have been added, like on all other tracks, in the interest of safety, and some changes were made in the 70’s when the harbour was reshaped. In essence it is the same circuit that it was for the last 70 odd years.

The track is narrow and treacherous. In a sport where the smallest mistake can easily end in disaster Monaco guarantees it. Precision is essential and the slightest lapse of concentration inevitably results in kissing a wall.

The drivers do not like the circuit. Most will agree that in recent history all races were a procession and almost all agree that the track has not been able to keep up with the changes necessary to modernise it. It is hard on most street circuits to provide the safety features of the modern F1 track, in Monaco where most of the city was established more than 100 years before the first race it is even harder.

Everyone admits that a season without Monaco is unthinkable. What it lacks in modern track design, overtaking opportunities and high-speed sections is more than compensated for in atmosphere and tradition.

Monaco has always had a reputation as a difficult circuit to overtake on. I do not see that as a particular problem for this year’s teams as they have all accepted the fact that overtaking on the race track is something that cannot be planned for, even on the average circuit. The race will again be campaigned during qualifying, the start and pit stops.

It is a very slow circuit. The fastest part of the circuit is the small straight leading up to the first chicane after the tunnel and I will be surprised if the fastest cars reach 180km/H (110mph). There are two other straights (pits/starting grid and the lead up to Massenet) that may exceed 170km/H (115mph) but the rest of the track is a series of short squirts between slow, sharp bends.

Monaco has 12 corners (depending on how one defines a corner) of which the tunnel is the only one that can be navigated at more than 130km/H (80mph). All the rest are well below 130km/H (80mph) and two are below 50km/H (30mph)!

This track will not favour high downforce configurations as they are not nimble enough to negotiate the slow corners. It is also not a power circuit so we may be surprised by some of the teams that do not have the horsepower to build high downforce configurations.

Ferrari.

I believe that Ferrari still do not have as much power as McLaren and because of that were forced to build a car with some mechanical grip as they could not afford the drag that comes with maximum aerodynamic downforce. Their performance in the wet at the last race (European Grand Prix at Nurinburg) tends to confirm that they have more mechanical grip.

If this is the case (and I have not seen any evidence to the contrary) they have to be the team to beat at Monaco.

Two years ago Ferrari built a special, short wheelbase, chassis for the slower, tighter tracks. I believe that they have just built another two chassis. I wonder if they are trying a purpose built chassis again.

Michael Schumacher

Since 1994 Michael Schumacher has won at Monaco 4 times and has been on pole twice. The two races that he did not win were 1998 when he damaged his rear suspension while battling for third place in the not so successful short wheelbase Ferrari specifically designed for the slower circuits and 1996 when he crashed after starting from pole.

Michael is very fast in Monaco and, if I am right in assuming that Ferrari have more grip than McLaren on this circuit, has a very good chance of winning this race.

Barrichello.

Although Barrichello has not been as fast as Michael has in this, his first, season with Ferrari, he is no slouch in Monaco. He finished in second place in 1997 while driving for Stewart.

This could be where he shows why he is driving for Ferrari. Barrichello seems faster in qualifying on the slower circuits and has consistently started well this season. If he can qualify close to the front he could easily start in the first three positions and with Ferrari’s superb pit work and strategy he could do very well.

McLaren.

McLaren may still be the fastest cars on the circuit but they may not be the fastest cars on the slowest circuit.

McLaren may have decided to exclude a win at Monaco from their plans when they designed this year’s car.

The car seems hard to drive in the rain and on tight corners we have heard both drivers complain of push (understeer), all indications that McLaren have designed for aerodynamic grip.

If that is the case we may see a repeat of last year. They may qualify well but race poorly.

Hakkinen

In my opinion the best qualifier. Mika is the only driver that has the ability and the car to threaten Michael Schumacher’s lead.

Hakkinen has only won one race at Monaco since 1994, but has been on pole for the last two years. I do not think that this is one of his favourite tracks and if he struggles as much with the McLaren as he did last year I can not see him win the race. Providing he makes it to the end he will not be far behind.

On the other hand I can see him qualify in pole and, provided he does not get overtaken in the pits, it is possible that he could win the race.

Coulthard

I also do not expect Coulthard to win for the same reasons as Hakkinen. It is not that I doubt either driver’s ability – I do not believe that their cars can be optimised for Monaco.

I could be wrong. McLaren may have a configuration up their sleeve for this very situation, and if that is the case they certainly have the power and drivers to take advantage of it.

Williams.

Monaco is not going to be tough on engines. Power does not matter that much and, accordingly I would not be surprised if both BMW motors make full race distance.

Williams have always built great chassis and I suspect that their cars will have the agility to do well at Monaco.

Ralf Schumacher

Capable of very fast starts Ralf may surprise everyone by sitting in second or third place at the end of the first lap. If his car lasts he could do well.

Much will depend on where he qualifies.

Button

I am not sure that Button will have the maturity, this early in his F1 career, to keep the car on the island for the whole race. If he does he could do very well.

Jordan

They have to get faster sometime and Monaco, where horsepower is not that important, could be the place to do it.

Frentzen

Although Frentzen has not finished on the podium in Monaco since 1993, he did qualify on pole in 1997.

Frentzen is a very consistent and accurate driver, which is needed at Monaco where a mistake normally ends in retirement. He could finish on the podium but I am not that sure that the Jordan can.

Trulli

Trulli may not be as fast as Frentzen, but it is difficult to judge in the current season as the Jordan is so unreliable that one never knows why they are off the pace.

Benetton.

This is another team that could do very well in Monaco. They are down on power but demonstrated at the Nurburgring race that they have plenty mechanical grip.

I expect them to do well.

Fisichella

Fisichella came second in 1998.

He is fast and if I am right in my assumption that the Benettons have a lot of mechanical grip, he could possibly win the race.

Wurz

Wurz would have finished in either 3^rd or 4^th place in 1998 if Schumacher did not take him out in a desperate attempt to get in touch with the leaders. I do not think Wurz is as fast as Fisichella but that does not mean that he is slow either. Wurz could do very well, especially as I suspect that the Benetton chassis is well suited to Monaco.

BAR.

I am expecting great things from BAR. I am just getting tired of waiting.

If they have a chassis design problem I do not think that Monaco is going to be a good experience for them.

Villeneuve

He may not have the car but this has not stopped him from trying so far this year.

Apart from coming 5^th in 1998 Villeneuve has either crashed or retired every other time he raced at Monaco.

I do not expect him to do well, he just does not have the car for it. But I do expect him to start well and drive at 110% until the wheels come off. Villeneuve does not give up!

Zonta

He does not have Villeneuve’s ability to make a bad car look good. That does not mean that I believe that he is not fast, we have not seen him in a reasonable car yet.

Sauber.

Another team with a chance of doing well. After all Ferrari won this race last year with the same engine.

Salo

I am not sure that Mika Salo has the right driving style for Monaco. He seems more suited to long, fast corners. He may surprise me.

Diniz

A sensible driver that could have the discipline to be patient and careful. I expect to see him do well.

Jaguar.

This team confuses me. I suspect they are confusing themselves.

Reliability should not be an issue. Theoretically they could do well, but I have been predicting an improvement in this team for so long that I have lost faith.

Irvine

Irvine has done very well at Monaco in the past. Second in 1999 and 3^rd in 1998 and 1997. He is fast at this track, but is the Jaguar?

Herbert

Herbert made it to the podium in third place in 1996, so he could be a force at this track too, but could his car be?

Prost.

If the Prost is still as hard to drive as it was in recent races, as well as being unreliable, we can’t expect much from this all flair, no speed team.

Alesi

Good at Monaco, but that was way back in 1993 when he came 3^rd.

Alesi is very fast in the wet and could easily make it onto the podium if it rains.

Heidfeld

I expect that, even if the car could do it, Heidfeld would be too young and inexperienced to do well at Monaco.

Arrows

They could do well. The car may be down on power but, as I said before, Monaco does not need much power.

This may be the race where they get both cars in the points.

Verstappen

In the past Verstappen had a reputation for crashing. I do not want to put the mockers on him, but that is not a good sign for Monaco where cars crash for reasons that would not have lost a position on other tracks.

De la Rosa

A sensible and fast driver that may well get into the points.

Minardi

When you are as slow as Minardi you must look at Monaco as the track made for you. They may not have the grunt but who needs it at Monaco?

Gene

Fast he may be, but does he have the experience and discipline to keep the car on the race track until the fat lady sings?

Mazzacane

Even faster and possibly riskier.

Both drivers must see this as one of their few opportunities to get noticed. They will be pulling all the stops out.

Power, grip around slow corners, grip to accelerate and grip to brake are the factors that make a car competitive. Because of the rules and a standardisation or normalisation of circuits (for sensible safety reasons) the most effective way of achieving grip has been to employ aerodynamics.