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00:39Well, after a truly international start for the Formula 2 Championship, which has taken us to Australia, Miami and Canada,
00:49we are now into our European leg here for round four of the season on the streets of Monte Carlo.
00:56Welcome, everyone, to Formula 2 practice. 45 minutes to drivers get to get up to speed or familiarize themselves once
01:05again with this famous layout of circuit.
01:08We're going to have 30 sprint laps and 42 laps on Grand Prix Sunday for the feature race.
01:14It's just the one DRS zone. Our sprint winner last year was Cushmine. Alex Dunn took pole position in what
01:21is the most crucial qualifying session we have.
01:25You can see the drives are getting out. They'll be split into two groups for qualifying tomorrow, but today it's
01:30all about practice.
01:31And once again, here to call you through the action, myself, Chris McCarthy. Alex Brundle is alongside me.
01:35Looking down on some of motorsports most famous streets, Chris, down there at the hairpin, which has had many, many
01:44names throughout the years that Formula 1 and indeed the Vita Series have been racing here in Monte Carlo.
01:51This is an incredible challenge for these young drivers, a curveball, the shortest circuit in terms of distance throughout the
01:59full season of Formula 2 and the tight confines of Monaco are a great opportunity for young drivers to prove
02:06their mettle.
02:08With 42 minutes left of their single free practice of the weekend. And for those of you looking at your
02:16television and then looking at your calendar, you are correct.
02:19We start a day early here in Monaco because of how packed the schedule is. The only time throughout the
02:26year that Formula 2 practice occurs the day before Formula 2 qualifying.
02:31How is it for a driver as well, getting out onto the streets of Monte Carlo? A lot of these
02:36drivers would have had experience here in Formula 2 or Formula 3, but nevertheless, it's something special, I'm sure.
02:42It's a very specific experience, this. The paddock of Formula 2 very much plumbed in to the principality. They're actually
02:52in a sort of underground car park, actually just beyond Rascas.
02:56So you sort of commute to the circuit and back again because there's so little space within the confines of
03:04the actual racetrack. That's your first challenge.
03:07So getting down there and operating on the cars. Formula 3 further away still in another parking structure over in
03:164B8. So it is really an interesting one for the team.
03:22They have plenty of space down there. And then, of course, they've all got to work in what is one
03:27of the tighter pit lanes of the year as well.
03:30Great opportunity then for Colton Herter, who is no newbie in terms of street racing, but it will be a
03:40fantastic experience for him to be out around the Monagasc streets.
03:43Yeah. One of three drivers who's going to be making their debut around this circuit is Colton Herter.
03:50So it's going to be a bit of a challenge. Nico Verone, one of the others, and Emerson Fittipaldi, the
03:55third.
03:55So for them, they've got a lot to learn. And I think that's why we're seeing Colton Herter in a
04:00bit of a rush to get out there and get some laps in.
04:03Trying to get as much experience as he possibly can. Has focused this weekend on improving his qualifying performance, Colton
04:11Herter.
04:11It's another interesting factor throughout this weekend. Two different qualifying groups that they're going to have throughout the weekend.
04:22In group B in qualifying will be Laurence van Hooten. You mentioned about those qualifying groups before the weekend.
04:27We spoke to Laurence van Hooten about that. Let's hear what he had to say.
04:33Shame, of course. I wanted to do it much differently than that. It was a small mistake with a very
04:39big consequence in the end.
04:40But, yeah, like you said, there are a lot of positives to take from the weekend. I mean, we had
04:44really good pace.
04:45I was on pole. We scored some good points in the sprint race. Apart from the mistake I made in
04:51the race, it was a really good weekend.
04:52So, I think we just focus on that and take all that to Monaco where I think we can do
04:57a good job again.
05:00Laurence van Hooten, speaking about his Canada weekend there, Alex.
05:04Of course, he crashed into the famous Wall of Champions from the lead of the race.
05:09And that took him out from what was a pole position for him, took him out of the race.
05:14So, a place where he's joined some legends of the sport in crashing into there.
05:18But lost him out on a great opportunity and has the chance now to bounce back here at Canada.
05:23Potential for a good result there, unfortunately.
05:25Laurence van Hooten, though, sits sixth still in the championship.
05:29Two podiums to his name.
05:30So, but in the 2026 Formula 2 season, of which we are only in round four, can you believe, Chris?
05:37For the start of a European leg, which will end up at the new venue in Madrid before they head
05:44on to Baku
05:45and then out to the Middle East for the end of the season.
05:48But circuits that these drivers, and even Monaco, because most of them have come through the Formula 3 series,
05:55will know much better now.
05:57So, they're going to have the benefit of that.
06:00So, few of the drivers who've actually done laps around Canada.
06:04So, maybe Van Hooten will be able to use a little bit of his experience of Monaco to get a
06:09decent result this weekend.
06:11Someone who got a decent result at Canada, of course, was Martini Estenchel.
06:15And it felt an overdue podium that he picked up in the sprint.
06:18And then he went on to win the feature race as well.
06:20And it's elevated him from what was 16th in the championship up to P4.
06:25So, how a double podium can change things for you, particularly this early into the season as well.
06:31This is a great opportunity.
06:32You get two points for taking pole, 25 for the win, 26 and it's the fastest lap.
06:37So, you can make a big difference to your season with a good result here.
06:40That was a great weekend for Rodin in general, wasn't it?
06:43Back in Canada, Martini Estenchel.
06:46No exception to that as he makes his way down into to back towards the end of the circuit.
06:54One of two corners where you've really got to take apex speed here in Monaco.
06:58The other one being the way in to macinate a massive differentiator between the drivers.
07:04getting off the brakes and rolling speed through, having the bravery against the ins, firstly inside.
07:09And then the outside wall.
07:12Checking in with the Trident of Laurence van Hoepen.
07:15Eagle-eyed amongst you will have seen them exchanging a set of soft tyres in the pit lane very early
07:20on
07:20after the virtual safety car test right at the top of free practice.
07:23That's just to put a scrub on them to try to just take a little bit of the surface temperature
07:30out of the tyres
07:31at the beginning of their stints when they run them in the races.
07:35That can be a problem here in Monaco, particularly with the rear tyre in the traction zones.
07:41Generally, a low degradation circuit, but you need to try and keep those temperatures down.
07:46How is the approach for the drivers come, a practice session like this?
07:49I mean, we've seen that in F3, there was a crash which brought out a red flag pretty early into
07:57the session.
07:57It was around here.
07:58One of those tracks where you have to build up throughout the practice session.
08:02But eventually, of course, you do want to get some qualifying runs.
08:05Got to build up throughout the weekend here in Monaco.
08:08All about that final lap across the line in qualifying.
08:13We know, of course, how beneficial pole position is here.
08:17Although in Formula 2, there is strategy still to play with, and a lot can happen in the pit lane.
08:22We know how hard it is to pass.
08:24So all of these drivers have a target in their mind of the final lap across the line in quali.
08:30And then it's a case, especially in these early stages of free practice, of gaining your experience, understanding the car,
08:38without doing any damage.
08:39And critically, without costing yourself the rest of the time.
08:43Because you do put yourself behind the game if you bend it, basically, in quali.
08:49So that's why we're seeing these paced, but tiny bit conservative laps.
08:55As a Formula 2 driver, understand what's underneath them throughout free practice and then really go for it in qualifying.
09:02Yeah.
09:02This is one of the areas of the circuit where you can get away with a bit of a mistake
09:06down to Newell chicane.
09:07I'm sure we'll see many throughout the weekend taking to that escape and going across the chicane.
09:13But as you mentioned, Lorenz van Hooppen just building up slowly.
09:16It's been very impressive so far at the start of this season, in his first full season.
09:22And already putting himself amongst the title contenders.
09:26Yellow flag there down at the second part of the swimming pool.
09:30That's Oli Gertha, who was parked it down at the swimming pool.
09:34I don't see any tyre marks that he's...
09:38So I don't know what's happened to him there.
09:40And that's going to be a red flag whilst we retrieve that car.
09:44So that's a shame for Oli Gertha.
09:45We were just speaking about having to build into the weekend.
09:49And Oli Gertha is now going to be on the back foot if he cannot get going throughout the remainder
09:55of the session.
09:56And there he is, climbing out.
09:57Looks like he's hopping out.
09:58I'm Pablo Montoya, making the absolute most of his pit lane pass there.
10:03To watch at the second best place in motorsport to watch Formula One cars.
10:13The best place is over the other side of the track.
10:17On the apex of the second part of the swimming pool, where there's a sort of ankle-height wall.
10:24And you can peer into the cockpit of the cars as they go through at racing speed.
10:29Quite incredible experience.
10:31Interesting, though, for the teams.
10:33Great experience for the teams.
10:34You see James Fowles there, look.
10:35Standing next to Luke Browning, back of shot.
10:39That they actually get to see some action from the pit wall rather than just the cars whizzing by.
10:46It's a track where we've seen drivers picked up before from performances they've put in in other championships.
10:52Isaac Hadjar was noticed here by the Red Bull team when he won in Formula Regional and has ever since
10:58had a relationship with them and now races for them, of course.
11:02I'm sure watching at that swimming pool section as well, it's got to be one of the most terrifying corners
11:07in motorsport because we always see them having a bit of a wobble on through there.
11:12And there is James Fowles with Luke Browning, who was racing in this championship last year.
11:17Just having a bit of a chat at the pit wall, watching the action.
11:22Big weekend for James Fowles to restore a little bit of form at Williams.
11:30Checking in once more with Laurence Van Hoopen.
11:34Warmish out there today.
11:36Airtemp 24 degrees, track temp 34.
11:39That's why the leaf blower, the mini leaf blower, appropriately sized leaf blower, is in operation.
11:47Into the helmet.
11:50We're just over a minute away from getting this session back underway.
11:54A quick clear-up process to retrieve the car of Oli Gertha.
11:58A real shame for him.
11:59He loses the one and only practice session before they go qualifying tomorrow.
12:03With Gabriele Mini, three podiums in a row.
12:06There's only a number of drivers that have done that in this championship's history.
12:10What form he's hitting.
12:12It seems ever since he got that win at Miami, which came after a really tough battle,
12:18Gabriele Mini, to get that.
12:19He has just grown the confidence that we've seen him have in other championships before.
12:23Like F4, where he was a champion, and Formula Regional, where he was a vice champion.
12:27Likewise in F3 as well.
12:28It seems on his second year in a championship, he really gets going.
12:31Well, he's hit the top of the championship as well.
12:3457 points at the moment for Gabriele Mini.
12:37And 36 for Rafa Kamara.
12:40I think the Solov is next up, but he's tied at the moment.
12:43With Martinis Stenshaw, 35 points apiece.
12:48Not really got going yet, have they, in this session.
12:51But the Paraguayan, Joshua Dirksen, sitting in the pit lane in 14th place for what it's worth.
13:00Massively beneficial here for Invicta, who find themselves at the exit end of the pit lane,
13:06and will therefore get to control the pack on their way out of the pits, which will be really helpful.
13:11You also get a lot more time on track, because you can see how much you have to queue if
13:15you're down that far end to actually get out on track.
13:18And all of these seconds in free practice, but more importantly in qualifying, are potentially losing you a critical lap.
13:28Relatively short qualifying sessions here.
13:29We started to tell you that they're in two groups.
13:32So they don't both get half an hour.
13:34It's the qualifying session cut in half.
13:36So every lap you can possibly get is beneficial.
13:39And if you have to queue out the pit lane, you might lose one.
13:41And it's the odd numbers who will go first.
13:43That's drawn in the driver's briefing.
13:45The even numbers will go second in qualifying.
13:49We'll see, I'm sure, examples of it in this session.
13:51When you come round Brascas, you can sometimes hit a bit of a queue.
13:55So that is why you want to be at the front, because that can queue up and delay you a
14:00bit of time.
14:00I'm sure a bit of tyre temperature as well.
14:03Well, that's why they do it, isn't it?
14:04The nature of the circuit here means having all 22 Formula 2 cars out there at the same time would
14:12be tricky for these young drivers to get a representative lap in.
14:18It's so important to be up front in Monaco.
14:19So to give the drivers the chance to give a good account of themselves, they cut qualifying in half.
14:27They'll fight for what row of the grid they're going to start on as well.
14:30We'll still reverse it for the sprint race, reverse the top 10.
14:33So essentially, you want to be within the top five of your group.
14:37Rafa Kamara, disappointing feature race for him last time, wasn't it?
14:41Had that incident, so picked up damage, but had to continue on to serve the penalty.
14:47So it didn't carry over to the next feature race, which is a new rule for this year.
14:52But we'll look to try and get back going.
14:54Let's jump on board with him.
14:56Heading then down towards Sandovat to curved straight, essentially.
15:00Church on the outside gives the corner its name.
15:03Roll over that inside curb, then point the car as straight as you can.
15:06It is so bumpy on the run up to Massonet.
15:10It's really important to get off the brakes and roll the car in as you position it to the left
15:15-hand side,
15:16down near the flat part of the barrier for the right-hander of Casino Square.
15:19Watch the bump on the exit as you make your way down to Mirrovo.
15:23You can roll the car in and use the camber on the inside.
15:27At the hairpin, open the corner up as much as you can.
15:30Climb the curb on the inside and then climb the curb again on the way down to the lower Mirrovo.
15:36Open up the apex of Portier.
15:37Look for the cone on the inside, which helps you spot the apex.
15:41And then listen to the Mechachrome reverberate as you make your way through the tunnel
15:45and then down towards the Nouvelle Chicane.
15:48Bumpy again on the right-hand side.
15:49You can see the rear of the car moving around.
15:52Point the car straight and make the traction work for you through the exit.
15:56It's off the brakes again through the apex of to back and then wind the throttle in and try and
16:01stay flat through the first part of the swimming pool.
16:04Open up the second part.
16:06Watch that left-hand curb, which can catapult you into the outside wall as you make your way towards the
16:11end of the lap.
16:12Down to Rascash.
16:13You've got to be neat and tidy on the throttle.
16:15Anthony Nogues is left.
16:17Use the cone again on the top of the barrier and then use the throttle and the shortest distance all
16:22the way to the line.
16:24Absolutely beautiful stuff from both Rafa Kamara, Alex Brundle.
16:28Thank you very much for that lovely stuff.
16:30And we're talking about the view you get.
16:32You can see Fittipaldi are watching on.
16:34A good weekend for AIX Racing, wasn't it?
16:36They had two fifth places with Fittipaldi and Kian Shields as well.
16:41They would have been very happy with that.
16:42Yeah, great result for Fittipaldi, wasn't it?
16:45It's the best result of the season so far and picking up his first point behind the wheel of a
16:51Formula 2 car.
16:53Previous pole sitter, Alex Dunn, finds his way to the top spot as we start to wind in a little
16:57bit to this free practice session.
16:5924.4 was that lap from Alex Dunn.
17:05Yeah, Alex Dunn taking that pole last year.
17:08We'll give him confidence going into qualifying as we jump on board with Kamara.
17:13And like you said, Rodin had a very good weekend at Canada.
17:16A one-two finish for them in that feature race.
17:20Heading up towards the back corner here.
17:22They're definitely just winding it up a little bit more now.
17:25And going purple there was Rafa Kamara.
17:27To give you a feel, pole position, albeit on the softer compound of tyre last year, was a 1.21
17:35.1 for Alex Dunn.
17:38So that's how far we are away from the absolute limit around Monaco.
17:41Gain a lot here from the softer compound, of course.
17:44So much mechanical grip is required.
17:47Kamara does a little bit of a better lap.
17:49We're just about to break, I think, into the 23s with Laurence van Hoopen,
17:54who looks to have had a nice couple of sectors.
17:58And indeed we do.
17:5923.9.
18:00Yep, van Hoopen going up to first.
18:02John Bennett, his teammate, fifth place.
18:03A real shame for him that he walked away with two non-finishes from Canada.
18:08Was on for a top five finish, John Bennett, in the sprint race before having contact.
18:13And then had contacts in the pit lane in the feature race.
18:16Just a really unfortunate weekend for the British driver.
18:20But positive for the team in terms of pace.
18:23And another unfortunate feature race, wasn't it, for Dino Viganovic coming to a stop when he was on for a
18:29podium finish.
18:30Just doesn't seem he can get any luck in Formula 3 or Formula 2.
18:34Yeah, he didn't have bad luck.
18:35He'd have no luck at all, Dino Viganovic.
18:38You really feel for him.
18:39Did a great job again.
18:41The Ferrari junior.
18:42Have been on the podium once this season.
18:45And Bart has put himself in the position for way better results than that.
18:49Let's hope that Monaco works out for him.
18:52And the great casino that is this place repays a little bit of that luck as Paul Aaron watches on
18:58from the wall of the panic.
19:01Good to see Paul Aaron watching on, associated with the Alpine team.
19:06Bit of power to just behind his teammate, Kian Shields, building up into this session.
19:10We can see one of the Alpine juniors just ahead, which I think is Alex Dunn.
19:16Oh, and almost going for a bit of a move there.
19:19Bit of a disagreement as to who was going to do the leading between Fittipaldi and Shields.
19:23It was after me, sir, wasn't it?
19:25Down towards the new chicane.
19:27After you, down towards the tobacconists and along the port side.
19:32A great experience for Fittipaldi, this.
19:35But you can see how tricky it is to find yourself a position to do a lap here.
19:41Fittipaldi is going to grab some track position.
19:45We've got two purple sectors for Alex Dunn.
19:47And although the track is relatively well set up and maintained in and clean and tidy,
19:52they do put the rubber down at an astonishing rate,
19:55which means this circuit is going to move forward as well all the way to qualifying.
19:59And it's a huge jump when they eventually get there in the amount of grip that's down on track.
20:05Alex Dunn going across the line.
20:06Half a second quicker than anyone right now.
20:10Kamara trying to close in on that.
20:12As you mentioned, it's one of the trickiest qualifying sessions of the season.
20:16We are split in half, but every position becomes twice as more valuable, doesn't it,
20:20when you're in a split qualifying format like that?
20:22You know that it's massively high stakes as well for these drivers.
20:28Kamara just cosying up to that outside walk through the exit of the Nouvelle Chicane.
20:33And you really see them used towards the end of the races.
20:37Wow.
20:39Dancing about on the way into the swimming pool.
20:42Now with Formula 2 racing.
20:43It took us a little minute, but we're really going for it now.
20:47Two green sectors for Kamara.
20:49Uses that bit of grippy tarmac through the exit of the Rascas.
20:53Makes his way down alongside the wall to finish up this qualifying lap.
20:59Sector 3 wasn't all that, interestingly.
21:02But Ganovich now purple through that first sector.
21:06Four of the eight feature races so far, one from pole.
21:09So it is very valuable.
21:10But there is still a chance, isn't there, of some strategy here.
21:14Getting that first lap in after a stop is absolutely crucial.
21:18And timing where you're going to come in so you're not released into traffic is crucial, isn't it?
21:23It's certainly a race here where you've got to position the car.
21:29And did we have a couple of dams tripping over each other slightly there as Dina Beganovic was trying to
21:35do his lap?
21:35Yeah, not so much of a decent first sector.
21:40And clings onto it through the swimming pool.
21:43Yeah, and now he will have to slow up because he has caught a load of drivers just queuing up
21:48and waiting to start their lap.
21:50Just two sectors at a time, stuff, isn't it?
21:52And that's the problem that they've got.
21:55Look at this from Beganovic.
21:57I think we're going to see Beganovic come through the swimming pool.
21:59Yeah, and it was Colton Herter ahead, wasn't it?
22:01And I think he actually caught his teammate, Miata, in the pit lane.
22:05What's happened here?
22:07Alex Dunn, is it trying to get down the inside of one of the AIX drivers?
22:10Yeah, I think he makes contact with the left-hand, left-front tyre there with the wall.
22:15Joshua Dirksen.
22:16Joshua Dirksen.
22:19Believes he can fly through the middle of the swimming pool there.
22:25Was working hard there to make sure that he didn't get the full car.
22:29Over that second kerb because that's the one that catapults you into the wall.
22:35We've seen plenty of brilliant qualifying laps end in that way.
22:41Sebastian Montoya will blast past Dad.
22:44He's standing just on the wall of the pit lane in a few seconds' time, using all of the road
22:51on his way into the swimming pool.
22:52And we'll be hoping to try and finish this one if the AIX can get out of the way in
22:57time.
22:57He cannot say Montoya arcs into the pit lane.
23:00Yeah, Montoya, a really good feature race, wasn't it, last time out for him?
23:05Managing to get a fourth-place finish.
23:07Had a podium here last year, of course, which he only found out when he got back into the pit
23:13lane.
23:14Do you want to remember the pictures of that one?
23:16But hopefully that result for him should get him going a little bit now, and the Prima team.
23:20It's been a bit of a difficult start to the season for them, but they'll take some confidence from that
23:25fourth place.
23:2621, 23-1.
23:28Gabriele Mini, a nice lap.
23:30Kamara's found himself a lovely area of the racetrack to play with, and we were talking about the benefit of
23:35being out front of the pit lane.
23:37It really is this.
23:38You can go and control the lovely big gap in front of you on track, and it's getting some great
23:44experience here, cutting that second curb and using all of the road.
23:49They are really grip-limited through that first part of the swimming pool in Formula 2.
23:53You'll see drivers flat through there in a Formula 1 car, but in F2, they really have to manage the
24:00car through there.
24:02It's, again, another performance differentiator.
24:05Decent job for Kamara.
24:06Puts himself up to P4 in the Invicta.
24:09It's probably hard to pick what is the most challenging part of this track, because it all is.
24:13But would you say that swimming pool section has got to be one of the most difficult where it can
24:18change your qualifying performances?
24:20We watched an example there of Kushmany almost into the back of one of the Van Amma sportswear to get
24:24out of the way.
24:25You have to have so much belief.
24:26You've only just recovered from getting off the brakes as much as you need to in the middle of tabac
24:33and getting on the throttle as mining almost makes the outside wall through Anthony Nose as well.
24:39And then you have to stay relatively close to flat out and point it at what looks like a piece
24:45of dockside on the left-hand side of the racetrack.
24:50You'll see it come up just here.
24:52It's actually got there.
24:53There's actually a wall there now.
24:54It used to be just a piece of dock.
24:58Right.
24:58And you basically, you have to be so accurate at such a high speed, having recovered really from catching the
25:06car in the middle of tabac and keeping it out of that outside wall.
25:10And then, of course, once you've finished doing that, you immediately then have to get in the brakes and make
25:16sure you get the braking right for the second part of the swimming pool.
25:18There's just so much going on for the driver in that section of racetrack.
25:23It is massively challenging, yes.
25:25Yeah, you get no brake around here as well.
25:27You've got the DRS section down towards turn one.
25:30That you could class as a bit of a brake, but you're on the DRS through there as well.
25:34And then the tunnel, I wouldn't call that a brake either because it changes massively, I'm sure, when you go
25:40in and come out.
25:41What's that like as we're on board here with Central when you come out the tunnel here into a downhill
25:46braking zone?
25:47It's a tricky braking zone, firstly.
25:49It feels like one of the wider areas of the racetrack when you drive it.
25:52So you get down there.
25:54What blows your mind as you go through the tunnel the first time, particularly on the first lap of the
25:59race, is the reverberation of the sound of the cars around you.
26:06So when the field goes through there the first time, it's incredibly loud, the tunnel actually steals away a little
26:13bit of your concentration.
26:15When I raced here in GP3, I wasn't ready for how loud it would be to go in and out
26:22of the tunnel.
26:22And then that braking zone, you're just trying to get it right.
26:25But actually, if you want to talk about a brake, a little bit of a brake around the lap, you've
26:30got to nail the braking zone.
26:31But it's one of the places where you don't feel like if you get it wrong, you're going to crash
26:34the car immediately because you can go straight across the new chicane.
26:37So you think you can potentially think about that as a bit of a brake in Monaco terms.
26:44Have we got a car on the wall?
26:45Rafael Villegomez had such great pace at Canada, but it was a crash in the sprint race, which cost him
26:53a podium.
26:53And then he had an incident in the feature race as well, and he's not gone off to the best
26:58start here.
26:58He's crashed.
26:59Just trying to identify which part of the track that is on exactly.
27:03I think that's coming up the hill.
27:04It's a casino, yeah.
27:06So, well, the barriers would probably make that obvious, but Villegomez is off.
27:14Wide there in matinee and hit one wall and then ricocheted across the road and hit the other one.
27:21But rather than speculating, should we watch it?
27:24Yeah.
27:24There we go.
27:26A little bit wide through the middle of matinee and then is actually, where he actually ends up is very
27:32much where he's coasted to.
27:34He's crashed that before.
27:37He's got slightly too wide on the way in and through the weekend it actually gets worse and worse as
27:44the outside of the track has a bigger grip delta to where you need to be.
27:48And we're going to go to a red flag because of the debris there on the apex of Casino, unfortunately.
27:53Yeah.
27:54So, they'll get that car retrieved, get the debris out as well.
27:58The clock will keep running, of course.
28:00So, 17 minutes to go and that will remain the same.
28:03But disappointing that for Rafael Villegomez.
28:07He's out the car now.
28:08Had such a great opportunity, didn't he, in the sprint race at Canada.
28:14We saw him go into the wall on the exit of turn four and then had an incident in the
28:19feature race as well.
28:21Yeah.
28:21Four straight retirements, actually, for Rafael Villegomez going into this weekend.
28:26And up on the skates that they use up there, you can see the marshals have plenty of clever techniques
28:35here.
28:35The super high cranes that are around the circuit, the magic cars out of the racing line.
28:41And then up there they have a set of skates they can pick up damaged cars and roll them away.
28:48Great opportunity to practice a pit stop as well for Rodin down there with Alex Dunn.
28:55I'm sure a nice scooter ride back, even though it's been a crash to get back from that part.
29:02Long wait.
29:02Yeah.
29:03See if they let you take the scooter in the lift you have to use to get down from there.
29:10You're, yeah, that's a, from there to the paddock is sort of a 30-minute walk.
29:17Right.
29:18Yeah, that's a long way.
29:19It's a, it's a, it's a very long way.
29:21Ooh.
29:21But that's a deep old break on the way into Sandovop.
29:25Laurentian Hupin did well to get that stopped.
29:28And this is Dino Boganovich out of the tunnel, down into the Nouvelle chicane.
29:32Lockup going into there.
29:34Speaking of, that is something that can play a part, both the sprint race and the feature race.
29:38You put a big old flat spot on one of the tyres, you're going to really feel that round here.
29:42Close to the wall for Nikola Solov.
29:46And you can see the load of the car as it makes its way over that crest.
29:51If you brake at just the wrong moment, you get that front tyre unloaded, then it'll start to lock up.
29:56But one of the factors of having the 18-inch wheels is the inertia of getting the wheel back rotating
30:02again is harder than a smaller wheel.
30:04They have more mass.
30:05So once they've stopped, you've got to overcome their inertia again.
30:08And because there's more mass of the wheel, it doesn't unlock as easily.
30:14So that's the factor that some of the drivers had pointed out when we moved to them.
30:19Right.
30:20Yeah, we do see some lockups down there, then we plenty.
30:25And there'll be more throughout the weekend.
30:26Montoya, his dad watching on, just back in the pit lane.
30:31We are currently pit exit closed due to the incident we had for Rafael Villagomez up at Casino.
30:38You did mention four DNFs in a row for him.
30:40So a driver who will be knocked with confidence right now and will just want a clean run of things
30:46this weekend.
30:46Let's have a look at it one more time.
30:49Coming in from the far outside of the track and just takes in slightly too much speed, has to correct
30:55the car and never really quite gets it in, does he, to the apex of Masson 8.
31:01Villagomez jumping over the wall.
31:05We saw Roman Belinsky, I think it was, have an incident up there last year.
31:11Villagomez, shame for him.
31:14That will be his practice session and his day done.
31:16But for the rest, it looks like we are back green once again.
31:20And we have just shy of 14 minutes to go in the session.
31:25Back underway.
31:27And even though it's the early stage of the weekend, smattering of crowd out, sat there by the swimming pool,
31:35which, in case you thought we were making it up, gives the swimming pool its name.
31:42Often we don't realise, do we, that, well,
31:45I think, you know, people don't realise that it's not just a fun name for that bit of a track,
31:50there's swimming pool there.
31:51Yeah.
31:52So, that sits just down towards the absolute middle of the racetrack.
31:59Onigurther jumps up into what I'm sure is invited access to the Ferrari section of the pit lane down there.
32:10Onigurther, previous Red Bull Junior, is now with MP Motorsport once again this season.
32:18And Alex Dunn, what looks to be a new crash helmet as well for Alex Dunn, looking very good.
32:22Currently leading the way with a 122.7 in this session.
32:27So, we've got a black and white flag for mining, for track limits.
32:34Has he gone swimming or something?
32:38Well, I'm sure, has he just, the only thing you can think of is he's gone across the Nouvelle Chicane
32:43multiple times.
32:45Must have gone across the, yeah.
32:46But that's one of the first times I think I've seen that one.
32:49Yeah, that's an interesting one, isn't it?
32:51Particularly in a practice session.
32:53Yeah, struggling with the braking zone in either Nouvelle Chicane or the second part of the swimming pool and just
33:00escaping across the escape roads more than they would like.
33:04Or, indeed, if you roll through the apex of Sandovot, they don't like it much either.
33:09Yeah.
33:10So, you can escape to the right across the apex of Sandovot there.
33:17And you see the lights, they are made aware, aren't they, of cars coming back on.
33:21Yeah, that's cars coming out the pit lane.
33:23That light to help the drivers.
33:27Really tight exit of the pit lane.
33:30And you bump and bounce your way up the hill.
33:35This gives us an idea of what they are racing around as well.
33:39It's very tight and twisty out there for the drivers.
33:44The hardest challenge they're going to take on this season around the streets of Monte Carlo.
33:48And the one there is going to be the top of their list, isn't it, for wanting to win.
33:51This is one, whatever level you win at this circuit, is one that will always stay with you.
33:56Yeah, it's a special race.
33:59It's a special event.
34:00And they'll have fans, supporters, sponsors, family here enjoying the principality.
34:08It's a great event, you know, if you are a driver who has partners to bring those partners to and
34:15to be able to win in front of them is obviously beneficial for your ongoing racing career.
34:20And indeed, just the joy of picking up a trophy on the iconic podium here, which the Formula 2 drivers
34:28get to do, as anybody else who takes a podium in Monaco.
34:32So they'll be looking forward to that.
34:34But here's a driver who's won here twice in Formula 3, Gabriele Mini, Nikola Solov likewise.
34:39So two drivers who know how to win round here.
34:41Now we've had a turn three incident involving Shields and Miney.
34:45We saw a replay of that, didn't we?
34:46The Alpine junior, Cushmine, trying to get down the inside of Shields.
34:50And that will be investigated after the session for driving erratically.
34:53Here's Sebastian Montoya heading down the inside of Dissanopol, Inchipuvizak.
34:58And Inchipuvizak there taking a bit of his front wing off.
35:01Surrendering a bit of front wing to the hairpin there.
35:04And Inchipuvizak tries to give him a space.
35:06But they're just, well, maybe could have rolled slightly wider, but there isn't a lot of space.
35:11And a little bit clumsy from the pair of them, really, on what looks to be an outlap.
35:16Virtual safety cars deployed now to take that bit of bodywork away.
35:22Yeah, so that will be retrieved.
35:24And as you said, virtual safety car out.
35:26Good to see Inchipuvizak out there.
35:28Had to withdraw from the weekend at Canada after the crash he had into the barriers at Turn 4 at
35:35Canada.
35:35So good to see he's back out there.
35:38That's mine.
35:40Coming to the wall of a sports bar near you.
35:43Exactly.
35:45The right-hand end fence.
35:49They tend to return them to the teams.
35:51Right.
35:51Although, if they're obviously broken, then the teams are all right.
35:55That's a souvenir.
35:56Yeah, absolutely.
35:58Well, without them, we wouldn't be able to go racing the marshals.
36:01And here, of all places, is one where they do an absolutely superb job to be able to retrieve cars
36:06as quickly as they do.
36:07As was shown an example of us there with the brief, very brief red flag we did have to get
36:14Villa Gomez's car back.
36:16Gabriele Mini, watching him up the hill, championship leader.
36:20He's now the one to chase.
36:21And to have a gap like this so early in the season is very impressive.
36:2621 points clear, isn't he, is Gabriele Mini.
36:28And it's because of those three consecutive podiums he's had.
36:31He's been in the points every single race so far.
36:34He's had a great run of things.
36:36And we'll be able to use his experience around here.
36:41Alpine affiliated, of course.
36:43And maybe an opportunity for him if this season continues to go well now.
36:49Gabriele Mini has had a decent length of association with Alpine.
36:56And a couple of great results at the beginning of this year.
37:00Yeah, he has.
37:02We all know how close he came to winning the Formula 3 championship.
37:05Of course, that famous race where Fornaroli got by on the last lap, the last corner.
37:10That is one that will stay with us forever.
37:13And Gabriele Mini has seemingly regained any confidence he may have lost from that.
37:19And he is now showing why he fought for the Formula 3 championship.
37:22And also any other championship he's competed in.
37:25It's been very impressive.
37:26Like you said, we saw Paul Aron watching on.
37:28He is now with the Alpine team and most of the races working with them.
37:33It's a chance for Gabriele Mini to get a similar opportunity.
37:37Plenty of young Alpine drivers around.
37:39Yeah.
37:40In what is one of the larger academy groups, it must be said.
37:46Looking at another one of them.
37:47Maini is a driver who's won races around here.
37:50And he hops over the curbs of the Nouvelle Chicane.
37:53Will he be able to do so again this weekend?
37:57A great opportunity here for drivers who might not necessarily win a feature race elsewhere,
38:03or indeed a sprint race elsewhere.
38:05With the qualifying groups as they are, the track being quirky,
38:09to get themselves up into the top five of their qualifying group,
38:13then rely on the leader of their qualifying group to put them on sprint race pole.
38:20At which point you then end up, so if you end up in a qualifying group,
38:24which is the second quickest, you then end up fifth place in that qualifying group.
38:30You then get put on pole for what is, you know, just over a 30-lap race around Monaco.
38:35Yeah.
38:36And if you're a driver that might not win a race at another venue,
38:40that is a race that you have a great opportunity of winning.
38:43There are no stops in it.
38:45And so, you know, this is one where drivers who might not necessarily
38:50be putting themselves in the top ten week in, week out,
38:53will be hyper-focused on just doing a strong job in qualifying
38:57because they know that they can then take home points,
39:00even if their race pace isn't necessarily where it might be.
39:03Yeah, absolutely right.
39:05This isn't, you know, we had four DRS zones at Australia,
39:08multiple at Canada, multiple at Miami.
39:11This is not the same.
39:12And it's not one of those where you'll see drivers come in,
39:14put a set of super soft tyres from the back of the grid.
39:16There simply is no space to get through, is there?
39:19So it's a very good point.
39:21Someone like Colton Herter, for example,
39:23this could be a good opportunity for him to fight for his first podium in Formula 2.
39:28You look towards the drivers in and around the top ten of the standings.
39:33This is a great opportunity for them.
39:35Intrapova Zak, let's find out what happened to him.
39:38Is he going to take to the escape road at San De Vos?
39:41No, he's going to go through the inside.
39:43He's going to just realise he's not going to lock up and he's not going to make it
39:47and point it directly over the inside kerb to try and keep himself out of trouble.
39:52Interesting to see what Race Control have to say about that,
39:55whether they like drivers managing that.
39:58Plenty of lock-ups, aren't there?
39:59Down towards the new chicane.
40:02Keen Shields, the latest.
40:04And they're firing on, then, one set of the super soft tyres here.
40:11This is something we sometimes see because the tyre degradation is so low in Monaco
40:18that effectively you are only going to get,
40:22and also you're only going to get the one set, aren't you,
40:24in qualifying in your group.
40:26So you can't pick and qualify.
40:27So you might as well have a go on them, mind you, in free practice,
40:31which is why, and give you the best preparation for quality
40:34because you're only going to get the chance to run one set.
40:36So that's why we're seeing the super soft tyre
40:39for kind of a mini qualifying effort at the end of the session.
40:43Yeah, great observation into the last five minutes.
40:45This is going to be a bit of a test run for them at qualifying.
40:49And Van Hoopen so far is the one that is setting the timing screens alight.
40:53Lots of drivers on personal best, but he is purple.
40:55Into the swim pool section he comes now.
40:58We get the look from over that section, up towards Raskas.
41:02Very clean so far, this from Laurence Van Hoopen.
41:05Currently in P10, but this looks like it could be good enough
41:08to put him all the way to the top out of the final corner.
41:11That was nice and tidy.
41:13Down towards the start-finish line he comes now.
41:15Will this put him at the top?
41:16Yes.
41:17Two and a half tenths clear.
41:18Oh, well, Joshua Dirksen's gone off,
41:21and that will be that for him, will it?
41:23Let's find out.
41:24Looked like he was just about getting the tyres fired up,
41:27but no one will be able to improve on their next laps.
41:29So he either just left or just stalled the engine.
41:32And by the fact the yellow flag's still out,
41:34I would say he's just stalled the engine there.
41:37Let's see what Martinus Stenshorn can do
41:39on his set of Supersoft tyres across the line.
41:42On the best feel for qualifying they'll get in practice all year then.
41:46Low fuel and Supersoft tyres.
41:49And are we going to see the Invicta parked on the outside of Turn 1 still?
41:53Well, they're still going at it.
41:54Two green sectors for Gabriele Mini
41:57as he wakes his way down towards Arascas.
41:59Yeah, Mini coming through the final corner now.
42:03It's fellow Alpine junior, Cushmine, leading comfortably.
42:06And Gabriele Mini, we almost lost him with the camera there,
42:09thought he was going to go into the barriers,
42:10but it's clean and tidy from him.
42:12And it's second place in this practice session.
42:15Yellow flag's now no longer out.
42:17Clear track at the first corner.
42:19Seven drivers who did have to abate their pace though,
42:21weren't they, through that first sector.
42:25Solov across the line, good enough for P6.
42:28Let's have a look at the spin then.
42:31Or just the lock-up for Joshua Dirksen,
42:34who's just had a big inside front lock.
42:37He's not quite got the front tyre working
42:40and then is off into the run-off area.
42:43Finally manages to get it slowed down,
42:46turned round and off he goes.
42:48Let's see what's happened to Rafa Kamara.
42:50Is he going to cut across the apex of the Nouveau chicane?
42:53Yes, he is.
42:55That first corner, we see a lot of that, don't we?
42:57Drivers locking up into there.
42:58Is it the fact that it's quite a bumpy entry
43:01or the fact that it's just the first corner?
43:03You've got a load in the steering wheel
43:04because you're still turning on your way down there.
43:07And also, it's such a short out-lap here
43:09that you see drivers actually in qualifying
43:11improve lap on lap on lap
43:13because they gain tyre temperature and confidence.
43:16So to go out and just deliver is quite difficult
43:19because you've not had any time or any track energy
43:22to put the front tyre temperature in.
43:25So that's why I think we're seeing so many lock-ups
43:27as drivers go, right, now I'm on the super soft tyre.
43:30I want to do a great lap right at the end of free practice.
43:32But they've not had the capacity to build up to it.
43:35Yeah.
43:36It's something we'll see, I'm sure, more of tomorrow.
43:39Oh, Rafa Kamara through the swimming pool.
43:41Every time we watch him through there,
43:42I'm getting slightly nervous
43:44because he is really on the limit, isn't he?
43:47Through the swimming pool.
43:48Pushing it.
43:50And it looks like he's going to be able to close out this lap.
43:53Happy delivery machine ahead of him
43:54who's made his way through the exit.
43:56Let's see where Kamara is going to be after this one up to P7,
44:00missing seven-tenths of a second.
44:03These big gaps are something that is pretty normal for Monaco.
44:09There's lots of time to be lost and gained.
44:11The Cushmine so far setting very, very impressive pace.
44:15I've been a little deep into the Nouvelle chicane
44:18that arc it through the middle.
44:20It might have been slightly slow on throttle.
44:22And through the rest of the weekend,
44:24you'll see them sneak up to that outside wall
44:27to open up the turning in point for the second part of the swimming pool.
44:32It's been a decent lap for Monaco.
44:33Visible the amount of extra traction he has
44:35through the exit of Rascas on the super soft tyre there.
44:39Yeah.
44:40Very good out the last corner,
44:41but it's going to be a bit of a slower lap by three-tenths.
44:46Let's see if Martini and Stenshaw can improve.
44:47Looks up the inside front.
44:49And then I remember the driver sitting a good amount below us
44:54in terms of their eyeline here.
44:56So it's a privileged position.
44:58You're in first class as you sit on the airbox.
45:01The driver very much in economy.
45:03Down in the cockpit can see far less than you can.
45:09Up towards the line, Dino Beganovic goes.
45:11Let's see what the dam's driver can do to end.
45:14And he has improved P4.
45:15And look how much closer the times are getting now.
45:17There's less than two-tenths between the top four drivers.
45:20Is that about to change as Gabriele Mini heads up to the line now?
45:25Currently third goes quickest by two hundredths of a second.
45:28121.8 for the Alpine junior.
45:31Powerful sector for Laurence Van Hoopen.
45:33Solov finds fifth.
45:34But it's Van Hoopen that we're waiting for.
45:37He's ever so slightly up on what Gabriele Mini has achieved so far
45:41to get a read on his pacing through practice.
45:44Checkered flag is out.
45:45And we await Van Hoopen.
45:47I think several drivers here have found the front tyre has come in
45:50as the rear tyre has gone away.
45:52They're going to work on that for qualifying later on.
45:55It is not an improvement then for Van Hoopen.
45:57He looked like he was suffering with exactly that
45:59through the final couple of corners.
46:01P5 for Van Hoopen.
46:03Boyer looks like he's out of time deleted.
46:05Drops down to 21st.
46:06Let's see if Alex Dunn can improve.
46:08The Alpine juniors are one, two and three currently.
46:11Let's watch Alex Dunn up to the line.
46:13He's currently third.
46:14Can he change that order?
46:15Heads around the final corner.
46:17That looked good from Alex Dunn.
46:19Took pole here last year.
46:21Will he be quickest in practice?
46:22No, a little bit slower through the last two sectors,
46:25but stays in third place in this practice session.
46:29Drivers will be talking to the team after this,
46:32giving them a bit of feedback,
46:33but critically trying not to overreact too much
46:37to the balance of their cars
46:39on what is a very dirty track early on in the weekend.
46:42See what's gone on with Mary Boyer.
46:44You can see as they just turn in,
46:45unload that inside front, locks up,
46:47and you end up with the tyre
46:49that you're just about to rely on.
46:52Wow.
46:55That is absolutely locked.
46:58Alex Dunn.
46:59Just to scoop that one up.
47:01Yeah.
47:02That was very, very close for Alex Dunn, wasn't it?
47:06But third place for him.
47:07And as we said, Alpine Juniors, one, two, and three.
47:10It's Gabriele Mini fastest, our championship leader.
47:13Lots of confidence for him right now.
47:15He's been in the points every single race,
47:18three podiums in a row.
47:19He's won here twice in F3.
47:21And the experience certainly showing there
47:23for Gabriele Mini.
47:24Likewise for Cushmine and Dunn.
47:27It's top four, all returning drivers to the championship.
47:30Yeah.
47:31In many ways, unsurprising with the nature of the racetrack,
47:35but they'll be delighted with that.
47:37It'll give them a lot of confidence,
47:39and confidence is a great thing to have
47:42when they have a very long wait now until qualifying.
47:46Way too long to think about it, really.
47:48Yes.
47:49We know it can be a bit of a lottery as well.
47:52If you do have a red flag in your qualifying group,
47:55it can affect the performance of the full qualifying group.
47:58We've seen it there.
47:59They need a bit of time to build the tire up to temperature.
48:01So if you have an interruption in your qualifying group,
48:03it can affect the full group's performance.
48:09But they'll be getting through all of the data
48:12and trying to understand exactly where they're fast,
48:15where they're slow, and how they can improve their cars as well.
48:18Practice starts going on,
48:19and this is the most crucial start of the season, isn't it?
48:23It's a short run up there,
48:24but, of course, you need to absolutely nail it, don't you?
48:29Yes, to a degree.
48:30If you've got clear track in front of you,
48:34then lining up on pole in Monaco,
48:38lining up on the front row in Monaco,
48:40and not taking away a trophy definitely feels like failure.
48:44So you have to really, really have to try
48:48and get off the line if you can.
48:51And all of the drivers who have got qualifying right
48:54or have been reverse gridded right to the front of the field,
48:58Mary Boyer and Martinus Stenshaw,
49:00are playing musical chairs over grid boxes here.
49:04They can't seem to quite agree where they want to start.
49:08You're supposed to go to the next available box.
49:11So, in any case, they both thought that was their one.
49:16Yes.
49:18That's Martinus Stenshaw now heads up
49:20and a bit of a lockout there, just practicing his start.
49:24Yes, you've got to practice getting into the first corner as well.
49:28Let's see how they lined up, Chris, shall we?
49:29Yes.
49:30Let's have a look at the result.
49:32You'll notice new graphics for us, new logos as well,
49:35but no change to who is leading the way.
49:38Gavrieli Mini, 121.809.
49:40Cushmine, second place.
49:42Alex Dunn, third.
49:43Then Dino, Biganovic.
49:44Laurence Van Hoopen, Nikola Solov,
49:46at two tenths between the top six.
49:48Noel Leon, seventh.
49:49Roman Walensky, Martinus Stenshaw on.
49:52Rafa Kamara, P10.
49:54John Bennett just missing out.
49:56Could be one to watch in terms of that reverse grid pole.
49:58Mari Boyer, Ritomo Miata to Santa Point.
50:01Tripuvizak, Colton Herta, 15th on his debut here.
50:04Sebastian Montoya, 16th.
50:06Also making debuts are Verone and Fittipaldi, 17th and 19th.
50:10Joshua Dirksen in the middle.
50:12Had an off towards the end of the session.
50:14Kian Shields, 20th.
50:16Villa Gomez crashing at Casino.
50:19Oli Gertha coming to a stop through the swimming pool section.
50:24So those two will be looking to make up for that tomorrow.
50:28Well, that is that for practice.
50:31Qualifying takes place tomorrow.
50:32A little bit of a wait, but ten past three is when we will have
50:35the first group of drivers out for qualifying.
50:38Two groups they'll be in.
50:39Make sure you join us then.
50:40For now, for myself, Chris McCarthy, Alex Brundle, it's goodbye.
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