Formula 1 | Toro Rosso, Gasly ready to dispel the Monaco taboo: "Stupendous track, but not very lucky"

In the classic preview published by Toro Rosso on its website, Pierre Gasly and Brendon Hartley spoke about the next Monaco Grand Prix, underlining how the objective in Monte Carlo is to return to the points zone. Furthermore, both drivers revealed various curiosities related to their experiences in the slowest street circuit in the world, with the Frenchman who, curiously, revealed how he is always unlucky when competing in the Principality. Different story, however, for Brendon Hartley, given that the New Zealander has lived there for a couple of years and considers the Monte Carlo GP as a home race.

Here are the words of Pierre Gasly: “The truth is that I have never been particularly lucky in the races I ran in Monaco in the minor formulas. I've always had crazy moments, as if I had a black cat with me. So I hope that this year things can change, because I really like this track. Qualifying makes Monaco the most exciting place of the year, because driving at 300 mph surrounded by walls that you pass within ten centimeters of, while you continue to push harder and harder in search of performance, is something truly fantastic. No mistakes are allowed, because if you brake a meter later, you go a meter longer or wider and you already find yourself against the wall."

“Although I have always loved qualifying, in Monaco my races have always been a bit bitter, because it is very difficult to overtake, so it all depends on the strategy and you have to maintain full concentration until the end”, he continued. “Even when you think the game is over, in the final stages someone could make a mistake and an opportunity could present itself that you have to be ready to seize. It's a very long race and it can get a bit frustrating, because even overtaking a slightly slower car isn't easy if the driver in front does a good job of defending the position. They say that the driver still makes the difference here, but taking into account the nature of the track and the bumps, it is still important to have a good car, even if it is true that a good driver can manage to find the last two tenths of a second that count most . It's a crazy track: in some areas where we go at 300 km/h, on Mondays you see people with their cars that don't even go over 50. Those roads are certainly not made for the type of speed we travel at, but I I like it, it makes the adrenaline rise”.

“There's a lot to do, but I can isolate myself from it all. I love the atmosphere with lots of people and yachts in the port, it's fun for everyone. For us drivers, it is even more so if we bring home a good result on Sunday. For many years this has been considered the home race for us French drivers, but this year - with Ricard on the calendar - Monaco will be a bit like the second home race"he concluded.

Here are the words of Brendon Hartley: “I have lived in Monaco for three and a half years and from my apartment I can see the race track. Monaco is one of the highlights of the calendar and living there, there were times when I wondered if I could race there again. New Zealand is certainly my homeland, but I have set up home with Sarah and a great group of friends, so it will be a bit like running a home race. It will be nice to be able to wake up in my own bed and follow some of the typical habits of being at home. Monaco is a track that I love."

“The Monaco track is one of a kind. I think it would be difficult to design a track like this nowadays", he added. “It has so much history, we all love it. It is the slowest track on the calendar, but I assure you that on board a Formula 1 car it seems anything but slow. It's a great adrenaline rush pinching those curbs, a few millimeters from the wall. It's a great race and it's very satisfying to get a good lap. At the start of the weekend the track is very dirty, but it evolves with every single lap. Getting to qualifying, when the grip is highest, will be a real thrill. It's definitely a track where you have a crescendo over the weekend."

“For the past two years I have been at the Energy Station as a spectator and having some fun. I think this year it will be even nicer to be behind the wheel and, as a driver, you don't have much time to get involved in parties and glamour, while knowing that all this will continue anyway in the meantime”he concluded.