Monaco GP preview

The principality of Monaco is the location for the sixth round of the 2011 F1 season and what a fascinating prospect we have in store. Sebastian Vettel, winner of four of the first five races of the season, is gunning for his maiden victory around the streets of Monte Carlo, while team mate Mark Webber is not only hoping for his first victory this season, but also his second in a row around this famous circuit. Nevertheless, from what we have seen from the first two practice sessions, Vettel's biggest threat to a first Monaco victory lies elsewhere. Fernando Alonso has looked immensely fast in the rapidly improving Ferrari and was quickest in Yesterday's second practice session ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who has acknowledged this circuit as one of his favourites.

Monaco is probably the only event on the calendar where driver skill can outweigh the performance of the car. Okay, occasionally drivers can push their cars beyond the limit but the streets of Monaco often rewards those who attack with bravery and precision (as we saw with Robert Kubica last year and Webber in the 2006 Williams). Alonso and Hamilton, along with Jenson Button and perhaps Nico Rosberg, will feel this weekend offers them the best chance of victory since it limits the performance advantage the Red Bulls have. Vettel has yet to win F1's duel in the crown and that may be something which could play on his mind this weekend (although let's face it, he is only 23). He drove a masterful race on his F1 debut here in 2008, hauling the Toro Rosso to fifth in tricky conditions. However, he crashed in 2009 and was comprehensively beaten by Webber last year so there are some scores to settle around this famous racetrack.

Alonso, one must think, has an outside chance of victory on Sunday. If he does win the race, he will be the first driver to win around the streets of Monte Carlo for three different teams, after his successes here for Renault and Mclaren in 2006 and 2007, respectively. His Ferrari struggled woefully on the harder compound last week, but is confident that the switch to the softer rubber for Monaco will play into their hands. Alonso looked on course for a good result last year, maybe even the win, but his crash in FP3 ruled him out of contention as he was unable to qualify. He will be eager to make amends this weekend.

As for the Mclarens, they will be buoyed by their result last week in Spain. Hamilton was able to harass Vettel's Red Bull for much of the afternoon but was unable to get by. A former win here in 2008, will be hell bent on taking his second Monaco victory and with a car which is only second best to the Red Bull is surely Vettel's nearest challenger. Hamilton had a quiet race last year and finished fifth. That will not do for the 2008 champion.

Meanwhile Button, who also won here in 2009, managed to make the most of his three-stop strategy to finish on the podium to secure a 2-3 for the team. Button had a miserable race in Monaco last year, after he was forced to retire early from the GP because a cover had been left on one of his radiators which overheated. With overtaking nigh on impossible around Monaco, less stops may well prove advantageous and if one man can make it work it's the 2009 champion.

The tyre situation in Monaco is an intriguing one. The softs and super-softs hung on more than expected during yesterday's practice sessions, but due to the unpredictable nature of the Pirelli tyre this may not occur in qualifying or in the race. Pirelli have said the super-soft could last as few as ten laps before going off the cliff, yet that was not seen during practice. If so, we may see drivers attempt a long stint on the soft tyre, which could prove problematic. However, the lack of overtaking opportunities means drivers may be able to hang on with worn tyres, although if too damaged they may fall foul of the Monaco Armco. It will be a very difficult dilemma for the strategists as they look to weigh up the most ideal plan for such a unique occasion.

Out of the current crop of drivers, six of them have been victorious at the principality. Will we see a seventh join them on Sunday?

Josh.