01/06/2003

Monaco Grand Prix - Race Report

Panasonic Toyota Racing driver Cristiano da Matta narrowly missed out on a points finish in his first Monaco Grand Prix placing ninth in a race where the first three finishers were separated by just 1.1s at the chequered flag.

The challenge of Monte Carlo is unique on the F1 calendar with success dependent on an error-free weekend that is so difficult to achieve on a first visit. Da Matta to his credit did not put a mark on his Toyota TF103 all meeting.

Attrition is usually another feature of the Monaco Grand Prix. In 1964 for example only four cars made it to the end. Unfortunately for Da Matta and Toyota however the leading four teams in Formula 1 all got both cars to the end depriving the Brazilian of a deserved point.

"I have to be satisfied with my result but it's a shame that the leading teams all made it to the finish! I very lightly brushed a barrier on Thursday but that was my only contact this weekend. In the race I did the best I could and I had some oversteer to contend with. I don't think this was one of the better circuits for our car and we will be looking to make a performance step forward."

For Olivier Panis however the race did not bring any of the joy of seven years ago when he was first past the chequered flag. From the start of the weekend the Frenchman had grip problems that made it impossible for him to attack the circuit in the manner to which he is accustomed.

"We took the decision to fuel the car up for second qualifying and go for a one-stop strategy explained the Frenchman, but the car proved even more difficult to handle with heavy fuel. My lap times were not at all competitive and we will have to closely analyse the grip problems that I have now experienced at two successive races. This was not the only problem. There must have been something else wrong in the car for me to have finished four laps from the winner but we will have to investigate this further. I am far from happy and we have to improve many things to get better."

With overtaking almost impossible around the streets of the tiny Principality the 61st Monaco GP was all about strategy. World Champion Michael Schumacher for example qualified with a heavier fuel load but he paid the price when he spent much of the first portion of the race trapped behind Jarno Trulli's Renault. That allowed Juan Montoya who started third to score the first Williams win in Monte Carlo since Keke Rosberg exactly 20 years ago.

Kimi Raikkonen extended his championship lead to four points with second place for West McLaren Mercedes with Schumacher finishing right on his tail for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro. Ralf Schumacher the pole position man and early race leader had to be content with fourth place in the second Williams ahead of the Mild Seven Renault F1 entries of Fernando Alonso and Jarno Trulli. David Coulthard and Rubens Barrichello claimed the final points for McLaren and Ferrari respectively.