Hot on the heels of a positive weekend at Imola, this week we make the relatively short hop to Monaco for Round 5 of the FIA Formula 2 Championship.
Everything about racing on the streets of the principality is special. While several high-profile races have been added to the calendar in recent years, Monaco remains the ‘jewel in the crown’, an intoxicating fusion of a rich racing heritage, iconic landmarks, lavish yachts and a breathtaking 360° vista. At the heart of the on-track experience, a narrow 3.337km street circuit that is narrow, full of elevation shifts and tight corners, and one of the biggest tests of the skill of the drivers over the power of the cars.
We head into Round 5 with Paul Aron maintaining a firm grip on second in the drivers’ standings, only five points adrift of the leader. He has finished on the podium in every round of the season so far. Hitech are third in the battle for the teams’ title, just seven points shy of the top spot.
The in-season test in April provided the team and drivers with plenty of opportunity to prepare for the European rounds, which come thick and fast now through the summer months alongside the F1 calendar. This preparation included the unique demands of the Circuit de Monaco, a challenge Paul relishes as we saw when he featured on the Formula 3 podium last season.
Looking ahead to this weekend, Paul says he is happy with the progress so far this season but there is always room for improvement. “There is no specific weak point for me or the team,” he commented. “The race performances have been really strong but it takes a lot to put together the complete weekend and qualifying is an area we know we can work on. Monaco is the track to do that because qualifying is key here, as everyone knows.”
Amaury Cordeel will be looking to build on an impressive performance in Imola in each session and race, which demonstrated the progress he has made in the first three rounds and the test in Barcelona.
Schedule
Thursday 23 May
15.00 Free Practice
Friday 24 May
15.10 Qualifying Session Group A
15.34 Qualifying Session Group B
Saturday 25 May
14.15 Sprint Race
(Grid set by reversing Top 12 of Qualifying results)
Sunday 26 May
09.40 Feature Race
(Grid set by Qualifying results)
(All times local)
