In the round-up: Oscar Piastri admitted he has not yet found his rhythm around Monaco after Friday practice
In brief
Piastri admits he’s ‘not in a rhythm yet’ around Monaco
After ending Friday practice 13 places further down the order than McLaren team mate Lando Norris, Piastri admitted he had a “tricky day” around the difficult street circuit.
“A bit off the pace, but I think it’s just about putting it together,” he said. “Especially around here with all the low speed corners, you have a little bit here and there and it can add up very quickly. So we’ll work on it overnight, see what I can do better.
“I think you’ve got to get yourself into a rhythm, which I don’t think I’ve really got myself into yet. From FP1, I improved on the areas I needed to, now it’s just catching up a bit in the rest of the places. So, I’m confident we can make a good step tomorrow.”
Sato sets pace on Carb Day
Two-times Indianapolis 500 winner Takuma Sato was the fastest driver during Carb Day, the last warm up session ahead of Sunday’s race.
Sato set an overall best lap speed of 227.855mph in an accident free session, ahead of Chip Ganassi team mate Scott Dixon with Will Power third. Graham Rahal covered 77 laps for his first run in Stefan Wilson’s Dreyer & Reinbold Racing car.
Vesti on pole for F2 feature race
Frederik Vesti will start on pole position for the Formula 2 feature race in Monaco on Sunday after setting the overall quickest time in group qualifying.
After the field was split between even and odd numbered cars, Vesti set the fastest time in the second second session with a 1’21.053, beating Theo Pourchaire by half a tenth after Clement Novalak brought out the red flags after spinning into the barriers in Portier in the final minutes.
Arthur Leclerc also crashed out of the opening session at Anthony Noghes, before Victor Martins set the fastest time. That means Martins will start alongside Vesti on the front row for Sunday’s feature race, with Pourchaire third and Jack Doohan fourth.
Mini storms to F3 pole
Gabriele Mini secured pole position for the FIA Formula 3 feature race during yesterday’s qualifying session by a wide margin.
Mini’s best time of a 1’23.278 in the second session was over six tenths quicker than Dino Beganovic who secured the fastest time in the opening group. Beganovic topped the first session ahead of Luke Browning and Sebastian Montoya, who stopped on track at the exit of the Swimming Pool in the final minute of the session with damaged rear suspension.
Mini will therefore line up on pole ahead of Beganovic on the front row, with Paul Aron third and Browning fourth.
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Links
Motor racing links of interest:
Lando Norris wants to be making history at McLaren, not just celebrating it (ESPN)
“Whether you win in Le Mans at any point, whether you win at Indy at any point, whether you win Monaco, or a Formula One world championship, all are extremely difficult to do but very different. McLaren is a team to have done that, so just celebrating the history of McLaren. But at the same time I’d love to be a part of the history and creating the history, not just celebrating the past of it… creating it in the present. So I’d prefer to be doing that, but it’s lovely and an honour to be part of.”
Modernising Monaco: how to get more F1 overtaking at the Grand Prix? (Motorsport Magazine)
“Extending the Monaco circuit could be taken drastically further by visiting other areas of Monte Carlo. This example would divert the field away from Casino Square and weave toward a straight which could house a second DRS zone. Cars would then dive back down toward the original circuit, rejoining shortly before Mirabeau Haute. This would certainly introduce a new challenge for the drivers, but would force organisers to spend more time developing and preparing the circuit ahead of an F1 grand prix.”
MGM Resorts International Becomes Official Partner to MoneyGram Haas F1 Team (Haas)
“MoneyGram Haas F1 Team and MGM Resorts will offer exclusive fan activations at select properties including team and driver meet and greets, at-track offerings including garage tours, and a full program over the course of the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix, held on November 16-18.”
“Formula 1 on Friday provided an updated timeline of lane closures for track paving ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix. According to a news release, the updated timeline was provided as there will be no road closures in place during Memorial Day weekend. The pause in closures will run from the morning of Friday, May 26 through Monday evening on May 29.”
Zane Maloney aiming to maximise after ‘adrenaline rush’ Monte Carlo Qualifying (F2)
“For sure there was quite a lot more time left in it. From the first to the second lap, there was a big jump of lap time. And then the second to the third lap, I actually went one-tenth slower, because I made two big mistakes on that second lap. So for sure if I put the third lap together then, I don’t know how much time but for sure, I’d have been a big chunk quicker again.”
British drivers gear up for Indy 500 (Motorsport UK)
Jack Harvey: “As big a race as the Indy 500 is, I actually feel the least amount of pressure now, because there were moments where I didn’t think we were going to be in the race. Now, it’s just a bonus, so we can allow ourselves a bit more risk in our strategy. Obviously I don’t want to get into any crashes, but I think the attitude is one of pretty low pressure, and we’re just going to go out there and have some fun.”
The IndyCar Series is testing out a new sustainable racecar tire rubber made in Arizona (KJZZ 91.5)
“A Memorial Day Weekend tradition takes place Sunday with the 107th running of the Indianapolis 500. The IndyCar Series is experimenting in slower speed races with a highly sustainable new tire whose production leaves a relatively small carbon footprint. The Show trekked out to Eloy and rural Mesa to see how this tire is made.”
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Social media
Notable posts from Twitter, Instagram and more:
Good to see you again, Seb. 💚 pic.twitter.com/6DqdksMelU
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) May 26, 2023
Making Monaco happen. 🙌
The #MonacoGP features many unsung heroes, who work tirelessly and volunteer their time to help make this spectacular event possible. From fire marshals to medical workers, we spoke to a few to hear their stories. pic.twitter.com/30sIsb0Tsq
— Aston Martin Aramco Cognizant F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) May 26, 2023
📻 “what’s your limitation yuki?”
“traffic is my limitation!”
we feel that, yuki 😮💨
— Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) May 26, 2023
“Excuse me, sir. You can’t park there.”#F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/fpU6rgfosQ
— Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake (@alfaromeostake) May 26, 2023
🧡The @McLarenF1 drivers are at the MGP Live Fan Zone chatting with fans!
🎤 @OscarPiastri shared his journey to @F1 👀
#MonacoGP #F1 #MonacoCircuit pic.twitter.com/QbJ6gePeBI— Automobile Club de Monaco (@ACM_Media) May 26, 2023
The second session started without the barrier being completely repaired. Marshalls signalling it wasn’t finished. Odd
— Roy Calley (@RoyCalley) May 26, 2023
I asked Herta if there’s any drivers who are being overlooked and he said Canapino. Says the rookie still has learning to do, but has a fast car.
— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) May 26, 2023
We have got a fast car 💯💯💯
— Romain Grosjean (@RGrosjean) May 26, 2023
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Happy birthday!
Happy birthday to Graigchq!
