[00:00:19] Speaker A: Today on the world stage, I bring you the 2024 Formula one Grand Prix of Monaco. Welcome to the real estate and more show. I'm so happy that you're here with us today, and thank you for tuning in. We are in the small principality of Monaco on the 2024 Formula one Grand Prix calendar. We talk about a lot of things on this show, but today we talk about world class racing. The Formula one of Monaco is the iconic race course in the history of Formula one racing. On the show today, we have my partner, Nancy to help out. Welcome to our show, the Formula one Grand Prix of Monaco.
[00:01:05] Speaker B: Hi, everyone.
[00:01:07] Speaker A: Let's get into it. We've got a bit of things to talk about now. Ever since I was a young boy, I loved fast cars and racing cars. I do not know why, but I found myself daydreaming in class, thinking about the day I would be champion racing car driver of the world. I would play with other young friends, and we would zoom around our toy cars, saying out loud, it's Parnelli's Jones once again for the win. Beating out the field in the last lap, I thought to myself, I am going to be a racing car driver one day. And one day, I did not. Formula one, mind you, but another class of pro racing caused adrenaline to flow in my veins. And flow it did, until the incredible expense of it all sidelined my efforts.
[00:01:59] Speaker B: Michael, can we talk about the magic of a Formula one race car?
[00:02:04] Speaker A: Sure can.
[00:02:05] Speaker B: So, first question. What are Formula one cars made of?
[00:02:09] Speaker A: They call it monocoque. It's a composite, carbon fiber, light, sturdy, strong, includes the driver controls and the fuel cell.
[00:02:19] Speaker B: Are Formula one cars safer than in past years?
[00:02:22] Speaker A: Absolutely they are. They now build what they call a cockpit survival cell out of engineered, impact resistant materials. It has a front and a rear roll structure and the now very popular halo secondary roll structure.
[00:02:39] Speaker B: Fabulous. What do these cars weigh? And I know there are tight weight requirements by the administrating body FIA about 1759 pounds.
[00:02:50] Speaker A: And that includes the driver, but does not include fuel.
[00:02:54] Speaker B: Weight distribution is adjustable, I would say. What is the weight distribution of an f one car?
[00:02:59] Speaker A: The average is about 44.6% on the rear and correction, 46.1 on the front axle.
[00:03:08] Speaker B: Wet electronics are incorporated in the car design nowadays.
[00:03:12] Speaker A: Chassis control, power unit control, data acquisition, sensors, data analysis are all provided to the crew in the pits and also to the drivers in a limited basis.
[00:03:26] Speaker B: And what does the brake system consist of?
[00:03:28] Speaker A: Oh, my gosh. You want to have double the stop than you do of the go, meaning that your power might be one thing, but you want to be able to stop it. They have big six piston brake calipers with front rear master cylinders that are controlled electronically. They are actually break by wire. They are controlled electronically. The discs and the pads are carbon fiber, and they are ventilated.
[00:03:56] Speaker B: Very high tech. We often hear about tire compounds, what manufacturers most use these days for Formula one.
[00:04:04] Speaker A: Pirelli. Pirelli is the popular choice. Pirelli has six different compounds to choose from. And when we talk about compounds, it's typically, it's a degree of hardness of the rubber. And most Formula one teams select three compounds to take to each race to best try to get the most adhesion and grip for that track and conditions. And that does not include the intermediate rain tires as well as the heavy rain tires.
[00:04:36] Speaker B: Expensive.
What engines are being used most in f one?
[00:04:40] Speaker A: Honda, Mercedes, and now Red Bull has developed its own engine. These engines must weigh a minimum of 151 kg, or roughly 332 pounds, to adhere to the administrating body FIA's requirements. These engines are hybrid. Now, since 2014, they generate over 1030 revolutions per minute. The internal combustion part has fuel injection with a turbocharger and electronics to control parameters. There are six cylinders and 24 valves. Engines reach peak rpm of 15,000 revolutions per minute.
[00:05:25] Speaker B: Are spare cars allowed in f one racing?
[00:05:27] Speaker A: They've actually been banned since 2008. Nowadays, only two cars can be used in the paddock in any time. However, the stables are allowed. They call them stables in Europe, you know, are allowed to bring an extra frame to the race venue around which the car can be rebuilt in the event that the actual car is destroyed beyond repair.
[00:05:50] Speaker B: Oh, my. Can a team refuel during a race?
[00:05:53] Speaker A: Formula One's governing body, the FIA, ban refueling during a race in 2010, after safety concerns for the drivers, it had been previously impossible to implement the rule as the fuel tanks inside the car were too small.
[00:06:09] Speaker B: Interesting. Do f one cars have a manual shifter?
[00:06:13] Speaker A: No longer. Modern day Formula one cars have a clutch, manually changeable gears, and a clutch lever. But they don't have a clutch pedal or an h pattern gear selector. Instead, the gearbox is entirely controlled via the steering wheel, with up and down paddles for shifting and a clutch lever above the paddles.
You know, one thing that has never went away was the longing to be nearby race cars, to hear them, to see the fastest race cars navigate the world's amazing circuits. One such intriguing circuit always stood out, along with this intense longing of this youngster. To one day I would see the Monaco Grand Prix. Why Monaco? Why Formula One is easy. Because they are the most advanced race cars that ply the world's tracks. But why Monaco? Well, why Monaco? Indeed, reflecting back to the early 1990s, my route destination as an airline pilot was routinely to Nice, France. Many times I would hop on the train from Nice and visit Monaco, and they were either taking grandstands and putting them up, or they were taking them down on the next trip. As a former race car driver on a much smaller scale, I had been frustrated for not seeing the event for more than 30 years. It was only lately, like a month and a half before the grand Prix of 2024, that my buddy Gabe said, well, why in the world don't we just go? Indeed, let's go to Monaco.
[00:07:53] Speaker B: What a question. Just what is Monaco? Monaco is a principality and is the second smallest country in the world and is the playground for the rich and famous. Located in the French Riviera called the Cote d'az jour, it normally has just 38,000 residents. Unless it is race week, where the number of people bulges to over 200,000, you may bump arms with movie stars this year. Michael Douglas and his bride Katherine, were avid, invisible f one fans. There were many other rich and famous people as well. And I'll tell you, it was quite the fashion fest.
[00:08:30] Speaker A: It was really great to see Michael Douglas. He's quite the gentleman in a real race car aficionado, I should say. Formula one aficionado. You know, the country is a monarchy. It's surrounded on three sides by France, and 5 miles west is Italy. It is ruled by the royal prince Albert Grimaldi.
[00:08:52] Speaker B: Tourism is a major earner for the economy. The country is also a major banking center and closely guards the privacy of its clients. Monaco does not levy income tax on its residents. This is such a great place to live that nine out of 20 Formula one drivers make Monaco their personal residence.
[00:09:13] Speaker A: You know, in my view, any driver who reaches the level of Formula one has to be extraordinary beyond any race driver. Norm. And before we talk about the actual race circuit, I point out the legendary Ayrton Sina, as he's held the record for the most Monaco Grand Prix wins. He has had six from 1989 through 19, 89, 93. He won five races Ed Monaco in a row.
[00:09:43] Speaker B: Impressive.
[00:09:44] Speaker A: As a former driver, I would say he'd figured out that circuit and its quirks, and one should watch Sina navigating this circuit. The throttle control flying on the edge of control. Utterly amazing is the term to describe this man's performance in Monaco, as well as other f one courses. Some of us recall Senna's words if you no longer go for the gap that exists between cars, you are no longer a racing car driver. Senna was a master, as this statement reveals split second discernment showing how very, very fast a driver's decision making must be, how possible it is to pass, and, pointedly, the courage of the driver to go for it. And some of the most fascinating, fascinating words I have heard regarding driving a race car came from Sina. Regarding Monaco in 1988. I was no longer driving the car consciously. I was driving it by instinct only. I was in a different dimension. I was way over my limit, but still able to find even more. It frightened me because I realized I was well beyond my conscious understanding. I have never been able to attain that level of performance again.
[00:11:00] Speaker B: My what an exhilarating experience to watch the race. The team with the most wins at Monaco is McLaren, one of our personal favorites with 15 wins on this narrow, winding street course. Let's talk about the Monaco circuit.
[00:11:15] Speaker A: The Monaco Grand Prix is known as the most iconic in all Formula one. On the Formula one calendar, a youngster would say why?
Racing through the streets of the principality began way back in 1929 and 1 may note, cars of that day were a world of difference as compared to those of today. The narrow circuit of 18 turns with few places to pass remains pretty much the same since 1929, and we have just witnessed the 81st running of this amazing event. The speeds through the circuit were nothing.
[00:11:54] Speaker B: Short of spectacular 18 turns. Their names each has its story to tell. Turn one Saint devote there's a chapel.
[00:12:04] Speaker A: Built in the name of the patron saint of Monaco. Saint devote the right turn, which is term one, was made famous in 2011 when Louis Lewis Hamilton passed to the inside of Michael Schumacher. In this very narrow corner.
[00:12:19] Speaker B: Speeds of 169 down to 70 mph turn two beau rivage means a beautiful.
[00:12:26] Speaker A: Coastline turn two beau rivage a brief right hand turn gives view of the Mediterranean as the highest point of the circuit. It's made famous in 1984 when Nigel Mansell surprised everyone by passing a lawn prosthetic for the lead, then crashed just after the pass.
[00:12:45] Speaker B: Speeds of 80 up to 161 mph turn three Massanet a long left handed.
[00:12:53] Speaker A: Turn that takes drivers down towards the middle sector of the lap. Massonnet takes its name from french opera composer Jules Massonet, of whom there is a statue on the outside of the turn.
[00:13:06] Speaker B: Speeds of 1162 down to 100 mph.
[00:13:10] Speaker A: Massinet wrote more than 30 operas during the romantic era of music during the 19th century. Famous f one moment during slippery conditions in the 2008 race, both David Coulthard and Sebastian Bourdet crashed into the barriers in quick succession, bringing out the safety car.
[00:13:30] Speaker B: Turn four, casino square.
[00:13:33] Speaker A: That's a right hander, a very exciting right hander with the Monte Carlo casino on the left of the drivers as they prepare to head further down the hill to the port and sea level. The 158 year old Monte Carlo casino is one of Monaco's most popular tourist attractions. Ames Bond has been known to be filmed here.
[00:13:55] Speaker B: Speeds of 97 down to 81 mph turn five Mirabeau superior the start of.
[00:14:02] Speaker A: The slowest section of corners on the entire f one calendar all races. Mirabeau Superior is the first of two turns named after the former Le Mirabeau hotel that overlooks the track to the driver's right. At turn seven. There's a sharp braking zone at the bottom of the hill with several drivers sliding straight on when heavy rains prevail. Famous f one moment in 1986, Patrick Tambay's ambitious attempt to overtake Martin Brundell, amazing driver by the way, that Martin Brindle resulted in the former being tipped over and barrel rolling into the barriers.
Now you are listening to the real estate and more show world stage 2024 Grand Prix of Monaco. I'm your host and I have my partner along Nancy, helping me today. Please be so kind as to go to our YouTube channel at my real talk show. That's my real talk
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[00:15:11] Speaker B: Turn six grand hotel or Fairmont hairpin.
[00:15:15] Speaker A: The slowest corner on the f one calendar is perhaps the most iconic in Monaco, practically unchanged from the very first race around the streets in the 19th, 1920s. Drivers make the left hand turn at speeds down to 55. Tv camera from up above showing cars snaking through the entire Mirabeau section is one of the most recognizable of the season. And the famous f one moment the tightest of turns has produced some rather awkward moments over the years, including in 2000 when Jensen button tipped Pedro de la Rosa into a spin, blocking the entire track and causing traffic jam of over half the f one field.
[00:16:00] Speaker B: Turn seven Mirabeau Inferior ah, the right.
[00:16:04] Speaker A: Hander runs past the entrance to the former La Mirabeau hotel and brings the seafront into view for the drivers for the first time in the lap.
[00:16:13] Speaker B: Speeds of 210 down to 50 mph.
[00:16:17] Speaker A: Famous f one moment a corner that has claimed the races of some of the sports best. Kimi Raikkonen, still still flying around the course, retired from the 2006 Grand Prix with engine failure. While ten years earlier Michael Schumacher had crashed out on lap one in tricky conditions. Later in the same race, Eddie Ervin caused a three car pileup by spoiler, spinning into the path of Mika Salo and Mika Heiken.
[00:16:48] Speaker B: Turn eight, Portier.
[00:16:49] Speaker A: Portier is a neighborhood. Interestingly, the word in English means the lowest order of Roman catholic seminarians. Don't know why this applies to this turn, other than the right hander is the furthest point out from the start finish line on the track and sends drivers towards the famous Monaco tunnel.
[00:17:09] Speaker B: Speeds down to 53 mph.
[00:17:12] Speaker A: Now this one's cool. Listen to this famous f. One moment. Formula One great Ayrton Senna crashed in the barriers here at Portier at the 1988 Monaco Grand Prix, while over a minute clear of teammate Alain Prost in second place. Senna did not return to the garage, but instead went home. He went home to his nearby apartment, not surfacing until hours after the race was over.
[00:17:39] Speaker B: Turn nine tunnel.
[00:17:41] Speaker A: This one is self explanatory. It is fast, far more of a slight kink than an actual corner. The right handed bin and the road through the tunnel is always a spectacular sight for those watching on tv to view. It presents a unique challenge for the drivers, who must quickly adjust their sight back to being in bright daylight on the way down to the heavy braking zone.
[00:18:05] Speaker B: Speeds of 180 mph.
[00:18:08] Speaker A: Wow. Famous f. One moment. A mix up behind the safety car in 2004 led to Michael Schumacher and Juan Montoya colliding in the tunnel, leaving the former's Ferrari with just three wheels and a lot of damage.
[00:18:23] Speaker B: Turns ten and eleven. Nouvelle chicane.
[00:18:26] Speaker A: Probably the best overtaking opportunity on the narrow circuit, the chicane was originally called Chicane du Port before being remodified in 1986 and called Nouvelle French for new.
[00:18:39] Speaker B: Speeds of 177 down to 49 mph.
[00:18:43] Speaker A: Famous f. One moment. Nigel Mansell's sensational late lunge up the inside of Elan Prost during the 1991 race was bold, brave and brilliant, and showed that you can indeed pass at Monaco.
[00:18:58] Speaker B: Turn twelve to back.
[00:18:59] Speaker A: Okay. Named after a small tobacco shop that sits next to the corner, tobacco is one of the tightest, most challenging on the circuit. Given its proximity to the seafront, tobacco is another iconic Monaco corner that has barely changed in nearly a century of racing.
[00:19:16] Speaker B: That's where we sat with speeds of 140 mph.
[00:19:21] Speaker A: Famous f. One moment. Lewis Hamilton found himself in the barriers on lap one of the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix, but famously charged back through the field in slippery conditions to claim a famous victory.
[00:19:34] Speaker B: Turns 13, 1415 and 16 make up the two swimming pool chicanes. Louis Chiron and Piscine.
[00:19:43] Speaker A: The section was added after the construction of the Rainier three nautical stadium, which has, you guessed it, a swimming pool. The first of two chicanes make up this particular area, and it's named after Louis Vuirage Chiron, a Monogas racing driver who finished third at the very first Formula one grand Prix at the circuit in 1950. Now remember, 1950 was the first year of the Formula one.
[00:20:10] Speaker B: Speeds of 130 down to 84 mph. Turn 17 rascals the penultimate corner of.
[00:20:19] Speaker A: The lap is named after the bar nightclub located just the other side of the barriers on the right. It's actually a double apex turn. The building was originally designed as a bar for fishermen. Araskasi is a scorpion fish found in the adjacent Mediterranean.
[00:20:36] Speaker B: Speeds of 122 down to 41 mph/hour turn 18 Anthony Noggs Anthony Noggs was.
[00:20:44] Speaker A: The founder of the Monaco Grand Prix and considered the motorsport pioneer for the principality. He had previously bought the Monte Carlo rally to life in 1911 and proposed ending all motor races with the waving of a checkered flag.
[00:21:03] Speaker B: This corner speeds of 71. That takes us back to the start finish line from city streets to world class racing circuit. Did you know that it takes just six weeks to convert the small country streets into the iconic circuit, including multiple grandstands? And people fled to the small city to hang from balconies and restaurant patios to see this event. Drivers say it is the most challenging of races. Others say that the small size of the course is like driving through their living room. Nevertheless, each turn has its own name. Grandstands are erected in choice spots, 200 plus miles per hour. Race cars have to slow all the way down to 50 mph for the Fairmont hairpin. The tunnel well, wow. Just wow. The sweeping right hand turn tunnel sees these cars reach speeds of 190 mph with little warning of a stop car ahead. If that were the case, the track itself is 3.37 km, or 2.7 miles in length and experiences many elevation changes as the most talented drivers in the world navigate their way to the finish line. Drivers today get around the circuit in just 1 minute and tension seconds. Average speed of a lap about 130 mph.
[00:22:27] Speaker A: Formula One driver great Jackie Stewart, a three time world champion and three time Monaco winner, chimed into the media and made it quite clear how he feels about Monaco's place on the Formula One calendar. If you haven't won in Monaco, there's something wrong with your career after this years performance by Charles Leclerc, resident of Monaco. At least Charles can rest easy knowing that nothing is wrong with his career. And on a side note, I've met one of Jackie Stewart's race driver colleagues from the 1970s a few years back, having coffee with a client and discussing my old racing days. An older gentleman comes up to the table and sits down with us and my friend says, tell this man about your race driving days. So I did. At the end of the recounting my glorious racing days, he introduces himself as Howden Ganley, 1970s Mercedes Benz Formula One driver and close friend colleague of Jackie Stewart. Think about this for a second. Here I was professing my racing career to one of the professions all time, formerly one greats feesh. I was further impressed upon discovery that Mister Ganley also authored the well known book the road to Monaco.
[00:23:45] Speaker B: Let's talk about the race. 2024 this year Michael's dream come true this year, Charles Leclair of Scutaria, Ferrari and Monaco resident essentially dominated the three practice sessions with the fastest lap times. And during Saturday's qualifying, Mister Leclair qualified in pole position. Now think about this. The top ten of a total of 20 qualifying drivers and teams qualified within 1 second of the pole qualifier. Charles wow. Within 1 second.
[00:24:18] Speaker A: The race began with all drivers jockeying for best position during the start. They went through the turn one and headed up to Beau Rivage, turn two. And as they did, Red Bull Sergio Perez crashed hard on the opening lack between turn one and the Beau revage corner when Haas driver Kevin Magnussen ran out of room at Beau Rivage and turned the Red Bull into the wall. The incident took out both drivers from the race and the other Haas car of Nico Hulkenberg as well. Then another accident on the start just after turn eight called Poitier, and just before the tunnel, Alpine team driver Esteban Ocon crashed with his Alpine teammate, resulting in taking out one of the Alpine. There was a full course red stopping the race. The race was restarted almost an hour later. On the restart, Laque kept the lead, with McLaren's Oscar Piastre staying in second position. Ferrari's Carlos Sainz held down third place, and McLaren's Lando Norris finished fourth. The top four finishers displayed almost faultless driving for 78 laps without mistakes that would allow another car to pass. These top four were in a field of racing all by themselves.
2024 Monaco Grand Prix results Leclerc as number one, Piastri number two, three, Sane's number three position and Landonora's fourth position.
[00:25:52] Speaker B: And number six, popular Red bowl driver Max Verstappen finished six.
[00:25:58] Speaker A: Yep, with Lewis Hamilton finishing just after him. So concluding so with all the mixed feelings. Another line from my bucket list has been checked off. As sweet as it was to finally witness this race in person, it is a little sad to check it off the list. Man, what a race. It was everything that I had dreamed of it would be since I was youngster and more. The wait was worth it.
[00:26:25] Speaker B: Awesome.
[00:26:26] Speaker A: A huge thanks to my dear friend Gabe who said, well, you have been complaining about not going for so long. Heck, let's just go a bigger thanks his bride, my forever sister Bernadette, who loves Gabe enough to go along. And especially to my bride Nancy who's a wonderful person I am blessed to have had in my life. You've been listening to the real estate and more show the world stage Monaco Formula one grand prix episode.
[00:26:53] Speaker B: Please help us by going to our YouTube channel at my real talk show. That's my realtalkshowoutoutoutube.com and touch the subscribe and like button that will make our day.
[00:27:06] Speaker A: We'll be right back with our next special guest. Stay tuned.
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