In Monaco, Ferrari doubles are not common

A double that did not win unanimous approval

The qualifications of the 2017 edition offered a nice surprise, to the delight of Formula 1 fans: Kimi Räikkönen achieves a splendid pole position in front of his teammate Sebastian Vettel! It was the Finnish driver’s first pole since 2008, at the French Grand Prix. There was even hope that the equally charismatic as impassive Iceman would go on to claim his second victory on the Rock after 2005!

Things had started well: Räikkönen got off to a great start and kept the lead at the first turn ahead of Vettel. With almost no chance of overtaking on the track, it was hard to see how a 21st Grand Prix victory could elude the Scandinavian. He leads the entire first relay.

It was without counting on the strategic department of the Scuderia. It must be said that this year represented an incredible opportunity to halt Mercedes’ dominance in the championship, and Sebastian Vettel was leading the drivers’ standings. Räikkönen was a bit further back.

Number 7 is ordered to be the first to stop for tire change… and he gets back into traffic. Sebastian Vettel was able to extend his stint without being disturbed: the German takes the lead during his pit stop, and will not lose it until the checkered flag.

Vettel wins ahead of Räikkönen and increases his lead over Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ standings. Many observers saw nothing but a strategy deliberately used to favor the four-time world champion and deprive Räikkönen of victory. The perfectly visible disappointment on Iceman’s face said a lot about the situation…

Twenty years ago: Ferrari deprived of competition.

Aureoled with his third title, obtained with Ferrari, Michael Schumacher dominated the beginning of the 2001 season. But a certain David Coulthard was contesting the throne of the Red Baron on board his McLaren Mercedes.

The Scottish driver had only 4 points behind arriving at the Monaco Grand Prix, two weeks after his great victory in Austria. Even better, he managed to put his MP4-16 in pole position ahead of Schumacher!

But that year, electronic aids at the start caused many withdrawals, and Coulthard was going to be one of the victims at the start of the formation lap. The Scotsman was furious. It must be said that it was the third mishap of its kind at McLaren, after Hakkinen’s in Brazil and Austria.

Schumacher thus inherits the first place ahead of Hakkinen and Barrichello. The German pulls away from the Flying Finn.

Next comes the carnage among the big guns of the championship: at Williams, Juan Pablo Montoya crashes at the Swimming Pool chicane; Ralf Schumacher retires due to an electrical issue in the latter part of the race. At McLaren, Hakkinen lost his steering after 15 laps while Coulthard, who restarted from last position, had to battle with Enrique Bernoldi’s Arrows, determined to make his life miserable, for over 30 laps!

Result: Schumacher and Barrichello no longer had any opponents to match them and were able to enjoy a leisurely stroll ahead.. Eddie Irvine’s Jaguar!

From the 2001 season to the 2017 edition, Ferrari has not achieved any double, not even the slightest victory! It was not for lack of trying…

A confirmation this year in Monaco?

The Ferraris performed devilishly well during the first two free practice sessions, dominating the second session. It is difficult to speculate too much until the big players, Red Bull and Mercedes, unleash their all-powerful performance on the streets of Monaco.

If every event were to repeat itself every 20 years, we could see on the podium of Monaco 2021 two red cars in front of a green single-seater… Two Ferraris in front of an Aston Martin. Okay, it’s a very long shot… but after all, why not a crazy race?