For the second straight race, Sebastian Vettel will line up on the grid with the lightest fuel load of all 20 runners and it is no wonder that the Chinese Grand Prix winner was especially vocal about ‘traffic’ following his run to a second row start.

Last time out in Barcelona, the Red Bull driver's gamble failed to pay dividends as he made a poor start and then spent the entire race showing the rear of Felipe Massa's Ferrari. This weekend in Monaco he lines up fourth but will clearly be pitting well before pole sitter Jenson Button, Kimi Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello. His hope is to make a break on lap one, an unlikely prospect at a circuit where passing is all but impossible.

Interestingly, Lewis Hamilton (16th) is the only driver to qualify outside of the top ten who is running a relatively standard two stop fuel strategy. All those who have qualified in the lower half of the field have opted for a heavy fuel load. Those towards the back of the field, such as the BMW Sauber and Toyota drivers, have brimmed the cars with fuel and will be looking to run a one stop strategy - safety car depending.

As ever, strategy is one thing, but the run to Sainte Devote will send the teams into overdrive as they look to recalculate the ultimate strategy depending on track position...

Monaco - Qualifying Weight (kg)
1 . S. Vettel - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 631.5
2 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW31 - 642.0
3 . F. Massa - Ferrari F60 - 643.5
4 . K. Raikkonen - Ferrari F60 - 644.0
5 . H. Kovalainen - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 644.0
6 . L. Hamilton - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 645.5 *
7 . M. Webber - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 646.5
8 . J. Button - Brawn Mercedes BGP 001 - 647.5
9 . R. Barrichello - Brawn Mercedes BGP 001 - 648.0
10 . F. Alonso - Renault R29 - 654.0
11 . K. Nakajima - Williams Toyota FW31 - 668.0
12 . S. Buemi - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR4 - 670.0 *
13 . A. Sutil - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 670.0 *
14 . N. Piquet - Renault R29 - 673.1 *
15 . N. Heidfeld - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 680.0 *
16 . J. Trulli - Toyota TF109 - 688.3 *
17 . G. Fisichella - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 693.0 *
18 . R. Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 696.0 *
19 . S. Bourdais - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR4 - 699.5 *
20 . T. Glock - Toyota TF109 - 700.8 *

* Declared weight (outside of top ten)

Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International

 

button was quite heavy and got poll position... i was hoping Raikkonen was heavier than him

 

I have a hunch that Button will pull a hat trick this weekend.

 

Going out on a limb there, huh?

 

Hahaha it's scary that that is becoming a safe bet at this point!

 

Don't worry sis, I'm heavier than both of them.

 

Self-deprecation ftw!