Jukka Mildh explains why he believes Valtteri Bottas will reach highs in time despite engine problems. Technical concerns overshadow the competition for those using Ferrari and its engines.
All the essentials about the iconic Monaco and its legendary street track have been said and told over the years. One of the highlights of the F1 season is again ahead, with time trials on Saturday.
Sports F1 expert Jukka Mildh has been on the spot in Monaco countless times before, but this time there is exceptional vibration in the air, according to Mildh.
– There are up to 30 percent more people here than before. Already on the spot, I noticed that American formula fans in particular are on the move, Mildh describes.
– Competition is clearly expected. One local said he has been involved in organizing the race for 26 years, and there has never been a similar commotion during that time, he continues.
You can expect a strong time trial from Bottas – despite engine problems
Saturday’s time trial is even more important in a race like Monaco than the race itself, although the unstable weather predicted for Sunday can mess up the race itself. It is difficult to overtake on a narrow street track, and the differences between the cars do not appear in the same way on Sunday as when driving on a normal motorway.
Ferrari was extremely strong in the Friday practice. A favorite of the home audience Charles Leclerc kept the best pace in both the first and second exercises. Ferrari driver’s teammate Carlos Sainz also drove into the top three on two occasions.
Alfa Romeon Valtteri Bottas was only 13 in other exercises. Mildh still trusts the Finnish pace. A meeting with Bottas at the depot confirmed Mildh’s image that Alfa Romeo’s car would fit in Bottas ’hand.
– He really likes to drive it. Monaco needs to be temperate and nervous: it can go a long way, Mildh recalls.
Confidence in the car is even more important in Monaco, as the track compensates for the differences in performance between the top stables and the middle pack.
However, technical concerns are a cause for concern. Bottas completely lost his first practice on Friday due to engine problems.
“Of course it can’t be unaffected when you lose 30 laps of track time, but I rely on a strong time trial for Bottas,” says Mildh.
Ferrari’s problems are also Alfa Romeo’s
Alfa Romeo uses Ferrari engines in its cars. The previous race in Barcelona saw the worst possible situation for the Italian team when Leclerc, who was fighting for the world championship, had to be suspended for engine problems.
– Discussions with Alfa Romeo revealed that the problem is not only with Ferrari, but also with the engine fittings. The stable and Ferrari, of course, don’t reveal where the problem really is, Mildh recalls.
According to Mildh, Leclerc’s problems in Barcelona were alarming. They will inevitably cause concern for all the stables that utilize Ferrari’s power source.
– However, it is always a whole. When we talk about the whole power source, in addition to the internal combustion engine, it has an electric side. For each car, the power source is attached to the cooling system individually and this can lead to various faults. It looks like Alfa Romeo is still in a state of slower development than Ferrari, Mildh explains.