the worlds best young drivers fighting for a place in Formula 1

The insider
round 5 Monaco, 24-26 may 2012
gp3 heroes fabio onidi jolyon palmer the gallery supplier to gp2/gp3

Time to shine
Ceccotto and Palmer take maiden victories in Monaco
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vainio takes championship lead after monaco win

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Gp3

tyre regs shift strategy

The GP2 Series saw a shift in its tyre regulations at the Monaco Grand Prix. As had been announced during pre-season, Monaco was always going to be a special affair, with two sets of each compound tyres available to every driver, rather than the regular three sets of prime and single set of options. However, a new change to the rules was made for Monaco, and will stay in place for the rest of the season. Rather than having to save one fresh set of prime tyres for the Sprint race, tyre usage is now completely free with drivers able to use whichever compound tyre they wish for any session. The relaxation of the regulations has created the possibility of a new twist in tyre strategy, and Monaco already gave a good impression of the kind of interesting split strategies which could become common place in GP2 this year.

the blog // by the water cooler

Marcus Ericsson thought hed done enough, only to be pipped for the top spot in the one lap dash after the red flag in the second session. They told me over the radio when I was coming back, and I thought they were joking: I had to ask them five times before it sank in... Still, as anyone who read the Barcelona blogs knows, he owes me a podium. I know, he said as Dillmann denied we talked in the truck, maybe Valsecchi a fourth win tomorrow is the day...

After a disappointing start to the season, the Venezuelan came good on the most important weekend of the season. Pole, race win, mission accomplished!

johnny ceccotto

Ceccotto stepped out of his fathers shadow in Monaco

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DRIVER STANDINGS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Davide Valsecchi Luiz Razia Max Chilton James Calado Esteban Gutirrez Fabio Leimer Marcus Ericsson Johnny Ceccotto Stefano Coletti Fabio Nasr Jolyon Palmer 141 110 79 75 60 41 34 31 29 28 27 Giedo van der Garde 85

racecard // MOnaco
race report monaco // race 1 winner: johnny ceccotto // race 2 winner: jolyon palmer
On the streets of Monte Carlo, Johnny Cecotto and Jolyon Palmer stepped out of their fathers shadows, taking their first career GP2 Series wins and beginning new chapters in their familys racing history. GP2 featured a split qualifying system for the first time in Monaco, and the format worked well, providing a thrilling battle for pole. Ultimately, the fastest time went to Cecotto who topped the second group. He was joined on the front row by Max Chilton who topped the first group of qualifiers, with neither championship leader Davide Valsecchi nor his main rival Luiz Razia on the front two rows. When the lights went out, Cecotto held the lead as Marcus Ericsson blasted into second with Giedo ven der Garde in third. With passing tricky at the best of times in Monaco, strategy was going to be key. Valsecchi was embroiled in a scrap with Esteban Gutierrez over eighth, but a masterstroke of strategy saw the Italian leap up to fourth ahead of Chilton, Palmer, Calado and Richelmi who took the reverse grid pole after Gutierrez crashed his Lotus trying to lap Fabrizio Crestani. Razia, who had also been in the points, picked up damage in the aftermath and Valsecchi was able to stretch his championship lead. The second race saw a first lap of chaos. Calado touched Richelmi at Turn 1, forcing the Monegasque driver out along with his countryman Stefano Coletti. On the run up to Massenet, Cecotto spun after picking up damage in the first turn and the resulting carnage saw Valsecchi, amongst others, in a multi-car crash. The safety car came out, but Calado refused to pit his damaged Lotus. When racing got back underway, his damaged front wing fell into a progressively worse state of repair, until he was shown the black and orange flag. Calado later retired with bent steering. The final laps saw Chilton chase down Palmer, who had kept his nose clean in the chaos and pulled out a huge lead. Van der Garde made it two podiums in a row and three in two weekends. Valsecchi now leads the standings by 31 points after 10 races, with van der Garde third.

ceccotto and palmer come of age

1:21.195s johnny cEccottos

The regulation changes allow twists in strategy

monaco // The stats

After a start to the season which had been hugely frustrating for iSport, a podium and a win was both reward and relief for all the boys in blue and red.

iSport

p o l e p o s iti o n

SPRINT race

Contrasting Fortunes for Graduates in Monaco

Just two weeks after taking his maiden Formula 1 victory, much was expected of Pastor Maldonado at Monaco, a track on which he regularly excelled during his GP2 Series days. However, the Venezuelan made contact with his 2010 GP2 championship rival Sergio Perez in third practice and received a 10-place grid penalty for doing so. Perez also qualified at the back of the field when he crashed in qualifying, and he and Maldonado would start from the final row after both changed their gearboxes before the race. And if that wasnt bad enough for the Spanish Grand Prix winner, Maldonados race was over on lap one after he made contact with the HRT of Pedro de la Rosa. Joining him in a first lap retirement was Romain Grosjean who was tagged by Michael Schumacher on the run down to Ste Devote. The 2005 GP2 champion Nico Rosberg (right) had slightly more luck and was rewarded with a podium in second position. Another ex-GP2 champion Lewis Hamilton had looked to be on for third place, but his strategy saw him finish fifth, with 2009 champion Nico Hulkenberg eighth and Bruno Senna taking the final point in 10th. Rosberg remains one of the most consistent drivers of the season thus far, with only two-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel having scored more points than Rosberg over the past four races.

A front row start in Monaco, but no win for Chilton. For that hell be frustrated. But his pace over the course of both races was impeccable, and he shone all weekend.

Max chilton

TEAM STANDINGS
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 DAMS Lotus GP Carlin Caterham Racing 169 135 95 91 Arden International 111

Tremendous Dams strategy saw the Italian make the most of a disappointing qualifying performance. Caught in the melee in the Sprint race for his second DNF of the year.

davide valsecchi

FEATURE race

Palmer kept his cool in the chaos of the Sprint race

A weekend to forget for Esteban. A late race smash as he lapped a rival in the Feature saw his shot at a decent result vanish. Picked up the final point in the Sprint.

esteban gutierrez

Racing Engineering 68 iSport International 61 Scuderia Coloni 41

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Gp3

Q&A Jolyon palmer fabio onidi I wouldnt be here without...

SCUDERIA COLONI

iSPORT INTERNATIONAL
Jolyon Palmer, Monaco winner: how does that sound to you? It sounds incredible! I think weve been pretty quick all weekend, and Im pretty confident around here, but its still an incredible track to take your first win on! My first main series podium as well, and Im really thankful for the team: the car has been really quick, finally its been reliable, and its really, really paid off! You hesitate to say any race is easy, although this one looked a little like that from the outside: how was it from inside the car? Yeah, it could have been harder, but at the same time no race is easy: Max Chilton was behind me once Calado had to pit, and I was just managing the gap and I didnt want to take any risks, so I was just chipping away to the end of the race really, making sure he couldnt get too close. I wasnt really fussed about the winning margin: I was just making sure I got the win! He did close the gap up a lot in the end: were you just managing the gap and the tyres, making sure it was under control? I pushed quite hard early on to build the gap, and my tyres

were suffering a little bit towards the end, but if he had got there in the end its so hard to pass here, as I found out yesterday. I was confident and making no mistakes, and it was easy with him not being there really, so I just had to keep a gap. Second yesterday and first today for the team: what has this weekend meant for you and the team after all the bad luck you suffered earlier in the season? Its unbelievable: as a team the whole weekend has been unbelievable! Weve been really quick. The four previous weekends, I think we have had the worst luck ever in the history of motor racing [laughs], and Ive only managed to start three races before this weekend from the grid. So to have this weekend, and with Marcus on form as well, it puts us back in the mix for the rest of the season, so hopefully well be there.

No flying lap from Fabio Onidi, after he crashed out of the Feature race

... well, its very difficult for me to say. I only started racing for fun, but it then became serious. My dream is to go to Formula 1, but we know how difficult it is for anybody to get there. I know that I can be good enough but even if I dont make it to Formula 1 I want to have a career racing something, somewhere. There have been many people helping me in my career, but for me my Dad is the most influential person. He helps me to make decisions. When I was younger he would decide things for me, but now Im 24 so we can decide on the direction of my career together. Its really good to have him with me, to keep me grounded and to help me in the difficult times to make the right choice and take the right path.

On reflection, there was more than enough drama at Monaco this weekend

After much bad luck, iSports Marcus Ericsson was finally on the podium

Championship leader Davide Valsecchi was still harbouring hopes of a win at Monaco

monaco // The stats

CARS TAKEN OUT

ON LAP 1 OF THE SPRINT RACE

10

click here for fabios profile

click here for full interview

After Johnny Ceccottos maiden win, you could say his career is blossoming

Giedo van der Gardes two podium finishes were worth celebrating

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Gallery

preview // Valencia // spain // 22-24 june

BACK OF THE NET

paul hembery // pirelli motorsport director

Tyre regs will open up more opportunities for strategy

Taking ultimate responsibility for all of Pirellis motorsport campaigns, including the GP2 and GP3 Series, is the Italian firms motorsport director Paul Hembery. The Englishman is passionate about all forms of motorsport, having first began an interest in the sport as a spectator, watching as the Rally Great Britain passed close by his home in the west of England. Having steered Pirellis motorsport programme for more than 10 years, Paul masterminded the Italian firms move into Formula One and GP2 in 2011. So, Paul, what do you think of the GP2 season so far? Weve had some great racing, which is what its all about. If you look at the number of former GP2 drivers who have made it through to Formula One, this tells you all you need to know about what an excellent preparation it is for the pinnacle of motorsport. And of course we believe that the arrival of our tyres has made it even better. What have Pirellis objectives with GP2 been this year? Since we came on board last year, our goal has been the same: to most closely mirror the tyre rules and regulations in Formula One, in order to give the drivers the best possible chance to be competitive if and when they get there. I dont think anybody would deny that tyre strategy is an important part of Formula One, and if we can introduce the GP2 drivers to this art as soon as possible, it will stand them in good stead for the future.

How have the latest GP2 tyre regulations helped the spectacle? PH: In Monaco, we saw the drivers being able to use two sets of the softer compound for the first time in a one-off rule change and I think they all benefited from that, as it opened up more opportunities for strategy. The other innovation that was introduced, which will remain in place for the rest of the year, was allowing all the drivers freedom to use their tyre allocation in exactly the way they want. Previously, they had to save a new set of the harder compound for the sprint race. Again, this means that the drivers have to think a little bit more about how they use their tyres, and so they learn more for the future. Whats next for Pirelli in GP2? PH: We enjoy an excellent relationship with the GP2 Series organisers, and were in a constant dialogue with them to discuss ways that we can improve things still further. With our involvement in the GP3 Series and Formula One as well, our aim is to create a true ladder of talent capable of taking drivers from the beginning of their international careers all the way up to the top.

Soft and Super-soft compounds for Valencia

TRACK length // 5.340KM 2011 track temp // 46C 2011 race weather // sunny 2011 SPrINT RACE WINNER // romain grosjean (DAms) 2011 FEATURE RACE WINNER // esteban gutierrez (LOTUS ART)
nazionali pIloti
The traditional annual Nazionale Piloti football match took place in Monaco ahead of the race weekend, with a number of GP2 and GP3 stars taking to the pitch. Stefano Coletti, Johnny Cecotto, Ricardo Teixeira, Tom Dillmann, Stephane Richelmi, Julian Leal and Nathanal Berthon represented GP2, while Kevin Ceccon, David Fumanelli and Antonio Felix da Costa came along from the GP3 paddock. Also competing were former GP3 racers Vittorio Ghirelli and Roberto Mehri, and last seasons GP2 Series runner-up Luca Filippi, along with a host of international football stars, racing drivers and F1 pilots. The match was broadcast to over 18 million people on Eurosport, who saw Coletti and Ghirelli score in a 2-2 draw.

A stunning weekend put Aaro Vainio at the top of the championship

ADVANTAGE AARO
Aaro Vainio has emerged from GP3s first weekend in Monaco as the championship leader after a blistering performance on the streets of the Principality saw him topple pre-season favourite Mitch Evans at the top of the standings. Vainios weekend of success started in the early morning qualifying session on Friday. With dawns first light still golden over a sleepy Monaco, the Finn was in unstoppable form to blast his way to pole position in a split qualifying session which saw Kevin Ceccon top the first session and thus start second. At the start of the first race, however, Ceccon dropped behind Tamas Pal Kiss and with passing minimal on the narrow and challenging track, thats the way the podium would be shaped at the chequered flag. Fumanelli and Evans had a good scrap for fifth, with Fumanelli eventually winning that intra-team battle, while Abt finished sixth and Da Costa seventh, with Marlon Stockinger taking eighth and the reverse grid pole. After a tidy first race, the second started, much as the GP2 race, with a big moment. Into Ste Devote, Alice Powell, Alex Brundle and Will Buller all tried to go through together and Buller was tipped upside down into the barriers. The safety car was deployed, and Buller walked to safety. Stockinger led on the restart from da Costa and Abt, and once again there was little movement in the top positions with Evans running home fourth and Fumanelli fifth and

race report monaco // race 1 winner: aaro vainio // race 2 winner: marlon stockinger
Vainio back in seventh. But the race was cut short after a monstrous accident involving Conor Daly. The American had made contact with Dmitry Suranovich and dislodged the Russians rear wing. The Manor driver tried everything to keep Daly behind and, exiting the tunnel at compromised speed, appeared to move into the path of the Lotus driver, who was launched over the back of the Manor and into the catch fencing. The Dallara chassis stood up to the punishment superbly, and Daly was able to walk away. But with the fencing damaged, the race was red-flagged and the positions set, with Stockinger confirmed as the race winner. Vainio now leads the championship on 54 points, ahead of Evans on 43 and Stockinger now third on 39.

Miles and Meals

GP2 and GP3 Series tyre supplier Pirelli launched a stunning new cookbook at the Monaco Grand Prix. Entitled Miles and Meals the book features some truly beautiful and mouth-watering creations. How do we know this? Because the book was written by none other than Pirellis head chef Fabrizio Tanfani, who was formerly head chef in GP2 and GP3 hospitality. The whole project has been overseen by Pirelli, GP2 and GP3 hospitality manager Cristian Staurenghi. We know precisely what youre wondering. And the answer is yes the book does include the recipe for Christians world famous and utterly epic tiramisu.

race 2

Monaco
The stats

Hitting the spot: Pirellis cookbook, Miles and Meals

1:28.747 sec marlon stockingers fastest lap IN sprint race

race 1

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Q+A: MARLON Stockinger GP3 to me:

also really happy about that. It was a great weekend, I couldnt have asked for any more. So many times when you start on pole, you think you mustnt let the pressure get to you, but I would be lying to you if I said I wasnt thinking about the prestige of the event and the previous winners who have won here in F1, GP2 and now GP3. But at the end of the day I stepped up and took the victory! Did you feel the pressure from Felix da Costa, especially at the two restarts? I guess here you have to expect in a Series like GP3 that its always going to be very close. I just focused on myself really and made sure I got the proper exit from the corners as its so hard to overtake here. I just wanted to build a gap. Safety cars are always tricky but I prepared myself well and knew where I could push. You are now lying third in the drivers standings, what are your expectations for the rest of the season now? The season is still very long, I know we only have eight rounds, but I think its important we remain grounded, take the season race by race and not look too far ahead of us. What we have achieved so far is really good and I am very happy.

My Hero...

MITCH EVANS
On Lewis Hamilton and Mark Webber... Hamilton came through the ranks when he was very young and its pretty cool to see him achieve his dream of being world champion. Hamilton was who I really looked up to whilst I was karting. Also Mark, as hes from my part of the world and I was there at his debut in F1. Now of course I have a close relationship with him as hes my manager and a few years ago I never would have dreamt I would be as close to him as I am.

DAVID FUMANELLI
On Valentino Rossi... I think he is an amazing talent. I dont necessarily think he is the greatest rider but I think he is the best when it comes to overtaking and making the race happen for him. I also really love his character and the way he celebrates after he wins. The race that stands out for me was when he made an incredible manoeuvre on Jorge Lorenzo on the last corner of the last lap in Barcelona a few years ago.

MATIAS LAINE
On Juha Kankkunen... I was only very young when he was competing, so I have only seen videos of him racing, but he was really fast and very brave. When he was rallying it was a much more dangerous sport than it is now, but I think he was great and so exciting to watch.

Congratulations! Your first win in GP3 and it comes at Monaco, you must be happy? Yes I am! After yesterdays race, when I started sixth and lost two places, I was a little bit unhappy with my start but on the bright side it gave me pole for race two. It was just about making the start work and remaining consistent. Around here, you also need a little bit of luck and I am glad it worked out in the end! I was just glad to bring the car home and do this for my team, all of them did a great job. The car was so nice to drive and I also got fastest lap, which is a few extra points so Im

JOHN BOOTH

GP3 forms a very important part of our commitment to young drivers. We have Marussia Manor Racing in GP3, which is linked with Carlin in GP2 and that route goes all the way to our F1 team. GP3 is a crucial step on the ladder and allows us to bring in young Russian talent, like Dmitry Suranovich.