Monaco GP Preview: Will Ferrari and McLaren Upstage Brawn GP?

This Sunday, the most prestigious race in motorsport will be occur. However, in the last two days most of the focus was on the legal suit filed in the French courts by the Ferrari team against the FIA’s budget cut proposals and the aftermath that resulted from the French court rejecting the verdict.  

Ferrari continues to insist that they may pull off the season. They are not alone in this battle against the FIA as teams like Renault, Toyota, Red Bull, Toro Rosso and even BMW also have issues with the courts. 

Now, let’s get back to the actual sport and leave alone the politics that comes with it as we go to the streets of Monaco to find out who will emerge as the king of the street circuit.

The track has favored McLaren as of late. The last time Ferrari won was in 2001 when the Red Baron Michael Schumacher took home the win.

Though Ferrari and McLaren both have been quick in practice, we all know how deceptive this can be. We have to go by practice timing, then Rosberg and his Williams would have won the races and now Brawn and Red Bull. 

Jenson Button and Brawn GP would once again head the field as favourites as even as during Spanish GP. Everyone wondered if they would do well once the European season begins, but the team has proved that they are no flash in the pan and they are a true Cinderella story as the favorites to win the championship.

Two things may go against them though. One is the internal battle which is brewing after Barrichello suspected that he lost the Spanish GP after team orders. Brawn GP has denied this until now.

The other threat is from the fast improving Red Bull whose young driver Vettel is showing that race after race he is the heir to Schumacher’s crown and could possibly spoil the party for Brawn GP.

Vettel is not the only threat, as Webber finally has a car with which he can challenge for race wins. Monaco could be the place where he wins his first race of his Formula One career. 

Though overtaking the streets will be next to impossible, last year we did see some sensational moves from Barrichello on Webber. So, overtaking will be done this year, especially with the inspired Spaniard, who surely will want to go fighting as his Renault is yet to challenge the front runners.

His partner Piquet needs another good showing as his career depends on every race. Renault will feel good if they manage to do better than BMW's Williams and Toro Rosso. 

Toyota has been very consistent this season, but they are still after their elusive first win. They need this win to continue in F1. Even without the current crisis, if the team fails to win they will most probably pull off F1 and at the most may supply engines to teams.

BMW seems to be on a rut after the first race and they will be once again counting on luck to score points during the race. The car is struggling and they need to something spectacular to pull it off from there.

 
Both Ferrari and McLaren have claimed that they are good to win, but if Massa somehow manages to get pole, he could win the first race of the season for Ferrari

Kimi, without a race win after a year, needs to pull off a near-impossible task to win the race. Hamilton is not affected by any new controversy now and with everyone focused on the FIA-Ferrari battle, he has been in pretty good form this season. If McLaren manages to pull off a Monaco special car, he too will be in the reckoning for a race win. 

Williams once again dominated the practice sessions, but for Rosberg this should be the race where he should make the call if he wants to continue in Williams or not. If he manages not to score a podium finish, I think he should just quit the team.

He surely will have a lot of offers for a racing seat. Again, a win here will end the long draught for the team and their future could well be secured for another season. 

Toro Rosso had a disastrous Spanish GP, where both their drivers were knocked out of the first lap. It will be very interesting to see how Buemi handles the streets of Monaco. Bourdais will be desperate to score points. The team’s patience with him is running out and he could be back in Indy racing very soon. 

Last year, if Kimi had not taken out Sutil, Force India could have scored its first points. This year could be the best time for the team to cause an upset and score points.

The budgets caps of FIA will benefit teams like Force India but they need an amazing show from their drivers to score points.

It should once again be a battle between Vettel and Button. On paper Button will be the favorite, but Vettel may just pull off an upset.

Also, don’t count Webber out yet, he should be the dark horse of the race. Kimi, Massa and Hamilton should fancy their chances, but they need flawless drives to pull it off.