For sure the steward's decision will have lasting effects on Formula 1 - a dangerous precedent has been set. What about the blocking incident between Jacques Villeneuve and
Giancarlo Fisichella a few weeks ago, couldn't that be construed as 'blocking the track"?
Be that as it may, Michael started at the back while Alonso set off into the distance. Kimi Raikkonen could have challenged... but.... wait for it, his Mercedes let go. Ditto for original third-place runner Mark Webber in his Williams. As it turned out, Alonso won the Monaco Grand Prix in his Renault - his fourth win of the season. Juan Pablo Montoya finished second in his McLaren-Mercedes, and no one looked happier on the podium than David Coulthard in the Red Bull for a show.
Behind the top three came the moving pylon, Rubens Barrichello, who at the start of the race was lapping some three seconds a lap slower than Alonso, holding up everyone behind him. Michael had a strong run through the back markers, finishing fifth, while Fisichella was sixth, Nick Heidfeld seventh, and rounding out the points was Ralf Schumacher in eighth.
And what of our Jacques Villeneuve? After launching what most will agree was
a justified attack on MS after qualifying, as recorded by Autosport, he went on to languish in 14th behind American Scott Speed - and just about everyone else on the track less Tiago Monteiro behind the wheel of his MF1 and Franck Montagny in his Super Aguri - one of his worst results of the season, exacerbated by teammate Nick Heidfeld's 7th place points paying finish. Certainly his focus was centered more on fiancée (now wife) Johanna, who he wed this week. The old Jacques was back in form vocally at least, his verbal assault much more exciting than his race performance:
"I hope it [Schumacher's crash] was deliberate, because if that was a mistake he should not even have a
F1 superlicence," Villeneuve raged to Autosport. "If you can make a mistake like that, you shouldn't drive a race car. There's no way you could make a mistake like that.
"It's the kind of thing I couldn't dream of doing myself. I don't know what goes through your mind when you decide to do that, when you know that the rest of the world can see. I don't understand it, it's stupid.
"It shows that you can only give the benefit of the doubt to someone so many times. Sometimes it makes you realize that every time it happens there is a reason behind it.
"He didn't need to do that, he's a seven times world champion; he was on pole
position. Why do that? It's only going to make him look bad."
"This is so obvious. When you do something on purpose like that it is very extreme. You should not be allowed to drive a race car when you do stuff like that.
"This is embarrassing. Embarrassing for a world champion. It would even be embarrassing for Ide."
Hmmm... there still seems to be some friction between JV and MS, no doubt lingering from Jacques' 1997 Championship run that saw Michael deliberately bowl him off the road during the second to last race of the season - one of F1's lower sportsmanship moments - an incident that ironically left MS in the gravel and allowed JV to walk away with the Championship, uncontested.
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| King Coulthard, a master of Monaco, drove his Red Bull to third spot on the podium - a miracle drive. (Photo: Red Bull F1) |
Be that as it may, Michael started at the back while Alonso set off into the distance. Kimi Raikkonen could have challenged... but.... wait for it, his Mercedes let go. Ditto for original third-place runner Mark Webber in his Williams. As it turned out, Alonso won the Monaco Grand Prix in his Renault - his fourth win of the season. Juan Pablo Montoya finished second in his McLaren-Mercedes, and no one looked happier on the podium than David Coulthard in the Red Bull for a show.
Behind the top three came the moving pylon, Rubens Barrichello, who at the start of the race was lapping some three seconds a lap slower than Alonso, holding up everyone behind him. Michael had a strong run through the back markers, finishing fifth, while Fisichella was sixth, Nick Heidfeld seventh, and rounding out the points was Ralf Schumacher in eighth.
And what of our Jacques Villeneuve? After launching what most will agree was
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| American Scott Speed struggled throughout the race, but nevertheless beat Canada's Jacques Villeneuve. (Photo: Red Bull F1) |
"I hope it [Schumacher's crash] was deliberate, because if that was a mistake he should not even have a
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| Looking good in qualifying, JV had plenty to say about his old nemesis MS after the final session. (Photo: BMW Sauber F1) |
"It's the kind of thing I couldn't dream of doing myself. I don't know what goes through your mind when you decide to do that, when you know that the rest of the world can see. I don't understand it, it's stupid.
"It shows that you can only give the benefit of the doubt to someone so many times. Sometimes it makes you realize that every time it happens there is a reason behind it.
"He didn't need to do that, he's a seven times world champion; he was on pole
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| With a setting like Monaco, it's no wonder JV had his upcoming honeymoon more on the mind than racing. (Photo: BMW Sauber F1) |
"This is so obvious. When you do something on purpose like that it is very extreme. You should not be allowed to drive a race car when you do stuff like that.
"This is embarrassing. Embarrassing for a world champion. It would even be embarrassing for Ide."
Hmmm... there still seems to be some friction between JV and MS, no doubt lingering from Jacques' 1997 Championship run that saw Michael deliberately bowl him off the road during the second to last race of the season - one of F1's lower sportsmanship moments - an incident that ironically left MS in the gravel and allowed JV to walk away with the Championship, uncontested.