The Formula One season 2001 moved over to Monaco, called the Principality of the Mediterrean for the seventh round. The race track moves through the streets of Monaco, which is the home for many Formula One drivers. In fact, 14 of the 22 drivers in Formula One reside here. The glamour and the hype of the circuit makes it the key feature of the season. The circuit has the reputation of being the slowest amongst all in the Formula One calendar. The circuit sees drivers making an awesome 300 gear changes per lap in the circuit. Obviously, the track is hard on the cars' engines. The circuit is also the smallest amongst all circuits officiated by the FIA for the Formula One season, ranging in the 3.9 km mark. One more distinction about the track is that it is so narrow, that it is almost impossible to overtake here. The number of turns and twist are so many that the average speed is around 140 km/hr in contrast to 240 km/hr at Austria. To add more to the excitement, there are no tyre walls or gravel traps in Monaco. So it means that even the slightest mistake will mean dashing your car into the walls and making it the end for the race. In short, driving this circuit is described in analogy with riding your bicycle in the Living Room!!!
The qualifying on saturday was very interesting as David Coulthard stole the honours from Michael Schumacher for pole position, while team-mate Mika Hakkinen finished 3rd. The qualifying sesion looked very much in control of Mclaren, having come fresh from the Austrian Grand Prix victory.
The race in Sunday was expected to be a Mclaren dominated one, but unfortunately for Mclaren, it was not to be. Misfortune struck at the very begining when David Coulthard failed to get his car going on the warm up lap. A frustrated looking David Coulthard was banging the steering in disappointment as he had to start the race from 22nd place, all of the hard work done in qualifying, thus going in vain. So, the race started with Michael Schumacher gifted with pole position and Mika Hakkinen on second. Barrichello was on third and Ralf on fourth place at the initial stages. Everything seemed to be going well until Juan Pablo Montoya, who was in 5th place, crashed against the wall after the famous hair pin curve. Shortly after the debris from the carsh was cleared, Nick Heidfeld crashed at the very same spot, which meant yellow flags to be waved yet again.
