Race Review: Monaco E-Prix 2024

"You can't overtake in Monaco." This is the common perception some motorsport fans have when it comes to racing around the streets of the principality that lays along the Mediterranean coast. In truth, you can overtake in Moncao, but maybe it's feature dependent on the racing series, as yet again, with just under 200 overtakes during the course of the 2024 race, Formula E has proved that it is in fact a possible feat.

Drama evolved early at this year's Monaco Formula E weekend, with McLaren's Sam Bird coming a cropper in the opening practice session, injuring his hand in the process. Unfortunately for him, it also marked an early end to his weekend and was therefore replaced by McLaren's reserve driver; Taylor Barnard, who, at only 19-years-old, now holds the record for youngest driver to ever start a Formula E race. Despite racing full time in Formula 2, Barnard quickly got to grips with the Formula E race car, and the Monaco circuit which he was yet to drive. He qualified the race in 22nd, before climbing 8 places to finish in 14th and ahead of teammate; Jake Hughes. An impressive debut by the youngster.

Of course, this wouldn't be Monaco without further drama, with plenty of bumps and taps between drivers as they raced around the narrow streets. Nyck de Vries, coming out of the first turn on lap one, was first to receive front wing damage. But, he wasn't the only one. Throughout the race Norman Nato, Jake Hughes, Jake Dennis and Robin Frijns were also some of the other more notable victims.

Safety Cars are also a given during a race in Monaco. Again, this race was no different, with the first being brought out after Edoardo Mortara found himself wedged in the barrier at the Swimming Pool Chicane, a technical issue thought to have a played apart in his one-man crash. A second safety car was brought out late on on Lap 25. This was to recover the stricken Abt of Nico Mueller after a collision with Hughes left him in the wall at Rascasse. Hughes would go onto receive a five second time penalty.

Despite the drama of cars in walls and games of bumper cars, the race was made equally entertaining by the numerous overtakes, strategy masterclasses and intense battles that were ongoing up and down the field. A common theme with Formula E so far in 2024, is the early incentive for drivers to activate their attack modes early. Pascal Wehrlein took the opportunity as soon as he could, activating it twice in the space of a few laps, dropping the Porsche driver to 4th. However, for the DS Penskes of Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne their first attack modes were slightly interrupted by the first Safety Car, enabling the Jaguar team to begin their strategy masterclass that ultimately gifted them with a 1-2 finish come the end of the race.

And, it was a strategy like no other, and one that warrants it's own paragraph. With both Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy passing Vandoorne in little to no time after the first Safety Car restart, it would be Cassidy that would hold the charging pack up, letting Evans speed away, using up his attack modes in the process. The duo would then switch positions, before starting the process all over once again. But, after a dominant drive by both Evans and Cassidy, it would be the former to take the chequered flag, with Cassidy just inches behind. A massive improvement from the Jaguar team who have, so far, shown difficulties in 2024.

Jaguar wasn't the only team to come alive in Monaco. DS Penske, who have been notorious for struggles in recent years started the Monaco weekend with an incredible qualifying. Vandoorne would start 2nd, Vergne 5th. Both drivers would spend the race in the top five, battling "two by two" with Jaguar in 1st and 2nd, DS in 3rd and 4th, Porsche in 5th and 6th and Nissan in 7th and 8th. Although Jaguars positions looked sealed, 3rd down was anyone's. Vandoorne would hold off his charging teammate; Vergne, as well as the Porsches and Nissans to complete the podium positions - his first with DS Penske. Vergne would finish fourth, giving DS Penske their best finish in Formula E to date, as well as proof of their much needed improvements.

Formula E has, once again, provided us with a race that makes you wonder why people speak so negatively of the series. FE seems to be giving us what a certain "pinnacle of motorsport" series is failing to do so. All I can say to the "haters" is to give Formula E a go. It's chaotic, crazy and unpredictable. The Monaco E-Prix is no different.

Next up: Berlin.

Opinion: Is Time Up For Lance Stroll?

The internet is a cruel, cruel place, with the Formula One online community no exception. Several drivers have found themselves going through the wrath of cancel culture, death threats and the harsh words of keyboard warriors protected by a screen. And, once again, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll is in the firing line, after a disastrous Chinese Grand Prix that saw him crash into the back of RB’s Daniel Ricciardo during a Safety Car period. Although a large percentage of people’s comments are uncalled for, are their perceptions right in that Stroll just isn’t good enough for Formula One?

Unfortunately for Lance he is shrouded by the fact that he is hired by his own father, with some under the opinion that “Daddy Stroll” bought the team to keep his son in the sport rather than him earning his place on merit. While this is likely the case, Stroll’s on-track antics have done nothing but keep him constantly under scrutiny and under the watchful eyes of fans and pundits alike. What happened during the Chinese Grand Prix isn’t the first time that Stroll has found himself being criticised and, if anything, has opened a can of worms, with Aston Martin coming under increased pressure to drop the Canadian to benefit themselves in the long run.

But, what actually happened in China that caused Stroll’s rapidly declining reputation to decline even further?

Simply put, it was a standard end to the Safety Car period, with cars bunching up as they entered into the hairpin. But, where everyone else braked, Stroll then accelerated, crashing into Ricciardo’s RB and causing a chain reaction in which saw Ricciardo retire from the race and Oscar Piastri’s McLaren gain performance effected damage. Although a mistake on Stroll’s behalf, it was one mistake drivers racing at this calibre shouldn’t be making.

For Lance, it’s not just the accident which has rubbed people up the wrong way, but his refusal to accept blame for the incident, as well as branding his ten second time penalty “a joke” and even going as far as calling Ricciardo and those ahead “idiots” for bunching up like they did. After the race he said:

“The concertina effect – someone braked at the front of the pack, I don’t know who, and then everyone stopped. The car in front of me stopped from 60 to zero, and boom. A really stupid incident.”

As easy as that is to believe, on board replays have proven that the Aston Martin driver wasn’t exactly concentrating, looking in a different direction to the slow moving RB ahead of him.

“As soon as we start braking, you can see his helmet turn right and he’s looking at the apex at Turn 14. He’s not even watching me and then, when he looks back, he’s in the back of me. So I don’t know what he’s doing, where his head is, but all you have to do is worry about me in that situation – and he clearly wasn’t.” - Daniel Ricciardo

This is just one of several incidents to plague Stroll in his struggling motor racing career. Yes, career. It hasn’t just been in Formula One in which incidents have troubled the young driver. Take European Formula 3 in 2015, where several avoidable incidents led to a race ban for the third race of the weekend at Spa-Francorchamps.

Nevertheless, despite his issues and constant speed deficit to teammate Fernando Alonso, Stroll has, at times, shown speed and potential. To date, he has scored three well earned podiums - a 3rd place at the 2017 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, another 3rd at the 2020 Italian Grand Prix, and a final 3rd at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix. And, not to forget, his stunning pole position, in the damp conditions, at the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix. When his head is in the right place, he can do it. He can do it well.

There is no saying as to why Stroll struggles like he does. And, what seems relatively evident is that his passion for racing is slowly fading. Is it mentally becoming too much for the Aston Martin driver? Is the harsh criticism to blame? With Formula One’s constant growth in popularity and online resources constantly evolving, there seems to be no hiding from scrutiny. Motorsport is a notorious world after all, and mental health isn’t the number one priority.

In no disrespect to Lance, if Aston Martin are serious about moving forward as a team they either need to sort out their driver or get a new one. As always, things are easier said than done. And, until Lance is ready to move on, rumours have circulated that he’d consider a career in tennis, I don’t think he’s going anywhere anytime soon.

I can’t defend Lance for his incident in China. I can’t defend his reaction to it either. But, I do feel for the kid. As established, his whole career has never been easy and the comments he gets on social media can be hard to read. However, right now, his performance doesn’t warrant being an F1 driver and his chances of being champion, ever, are pretty much nada. For his sake, and the sport's sake, I hope he starts to turn things around.

Race Review: Chinese Sprint Race and Grand Prix 2024

After 5 long years, thanks to the Covid pandemic, the Chinese Grand Prix has finally returned to the Formula One calendar, and with it, brings the first Sprint Race Weekend of the season.

Although, not necessarily, the most interesting of racing circuits, the Shanghai International Circuit has been missed during it's absence from F1. Whether it's because of the influx of street circuits since Liberty Media's takeover, or the fact that it's a tricky layout that can catch out even the smartest of drivers, think Lewis Hamilton in 2007; there has been an eagerness for it's return and now, in 2024, it is here. Unsurprisingly, there were a handful of drivers that were yet to race here until this weekend and, thanks to the added Sprint race shenanigans, with only one practice session, plenty of action was to be expected.

Ok, we're not all fans of Sprint races, but from start to finish there was something to talk about. Take Lando Norris' treacherous start that saw him go wide in turn one, losing the lead and dropping down the order in the process. Or, the lap sixteen battle between Fernando Alonso, Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc. A fantastic battle that tested the incredible attack and defense skills of each driver. A small touch between Alonso and Sainz would mark the beginning of the end for the former, marking a DNF for damage. For Perez and Leclerc, it was like a win, with both taking advantage, moving up the field in the process. Surely Perez's move on Alonso and Sainz could vouch for Overtake of the Year thus far? Regardless, as for the winner, that was Max Verstappen. Even a DRS train couldn't keep the triple World Champ at bay...

Yep, DRS Trains. One of the bains of F1's existence and something that this track is notorious for causing. Surprisingly, despite long DRS Trains in the Sprint, they barely made a appearance in the Grand Prix, itself, with DRS doing it's job good and proper, causing numerous "argy bargy" moments that gave us some interesting talking points. Take the final hairpin as an example. In the Sprint we saw the two Ferrari's of Leclerc and Sainz get their elbows out with each other. In the Grand Prix, there were similar instances there once again. However, the end of a DRS activation zone didn't lead to every "argy bargy" moment.

One collision that occurred outside of DRS was between Lance Stroll and Daniel Ricciardo towards the end of a Safety Car period. Not only did this begin a chain reaction of further events, it also opened a can worms, once again, in Stroll's capabilities as a Formula One driver. With the Canadian consistently unable to match his team mate, Fernando Alonso, and instead find himself fighting for non-point paying positions or trying to stay out of the wall/other cars, the question of whether it is time for Stroll to be replaced resurfaces again. Although, looking back at the incident in which Stroll found himself rear ending Ricciardo going into the hairpin, it's easy to see why people are quick to blame the Aston Martin driver. But, with cars in front backing up, there was no where for Stroll to go. Regardless, one could argue he should have reacted quicker and should have been looking in the right direction...

Despite Stroll's antics resulting in a DNF for Ricciardo and a ten second "what a joke" penalty for himself, the Canadian did, at one point, keep us on our toes as he went wheel to wheel with the Haas of Kevin Magnussen. With two aggressive drivers going head to head, the chances of it all ending in tears was pretty high. Nevertheless, they raced fair and square for several laps, until Stroll won the battle. It's just a shame that it was for the final positions and not for the lead... Not the best look for the "pinnacle of motorsport," may I add.

Stroll was't the only driver to receive a penalty during this race. Ironically, Magnussen was another. He took out Yuki Tsunoda (a double RB DNF) after acting the reckless optimist and sending one down the inside. It was ten seconds for the Dane. Logan Sargeant in the Williams also found himself in hot water after a safety car infringement. And all this a result from the first safety car because of Valtteri Bottas' mechanical failure that would lead to a DNF.

In similar scenarios to last time out in Japan, this race was heavily influenced by strategy and Safety Cars. A great start from Alonso saw him, momentarily, challenge for the lead. But, a decision to throw on the Soft tyre early on meant a further pitstop. He eventually finished 7th. Those who started the race on the Softs found that they were not quick, Lewis Hamilton being one of them. After starting from a miserable 18th, the expectation was that the multiple World Champ would fly through the field. That was not to be with a car that wasn't excelling come race day. Sergio Perez and the Ferraris were others to struggle on a strategy that was aced by others. But, after "bottling" the Sprint Race they day before, it would be Lando Norris to take full advantage of Safety Cars, jumping not one but two cars, finishing on the podium in second place - something we've become accustomed to seeing. It's no surprise to see that he was voted "Driver of the Day." How long will it be until he wins his first race?

At the end of the day, this was another of Verstappen's races. His first win in China, believe it or not. But this is his era, just like Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Schumacher etc, who have all dominated seasons in the past. It's a part of Formula One that comes with the technical side of who can make the best car. His teammate, Perez, is good, but Verstappen can do things with that car that others only dream about. It's a shame that some fans are so blind sided by hate they can't appreciate what we are witnessing.

Before I wrap things up, the real winners of this weekend were Alex Albon's helmet and the home favourite Zhou Guanyu. Albon's lid was pure genius and worked wonders on certain camera views. As for Zhou, this crowd loved seeing a Chinese driver racing on home turf. He is their hero, and Zhou's emotions say it all.

Next up, Miami. See you then!