2010 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix: News you can use

Monaco GP - and the girls go marching in...

I am a huge F1 fan, and I’m sure there are many of you blokes out there who read ICB feeling let down because we didn’t give the review and the take on the just concluded Spanish GP.

So, to make up for my errors on Sunday evening, we will bring you good stuff from this week long party at the principality of Monaco. The before race parties, the yachts’, the glitz and of course all you need to know about the race itself! So, here’s the latest bit of buzz ahead of the GP.

Mr. Sparkles - Hamilton's helmet of yore autographed with diamonds

The team to have 2 world champions, both British, both bullish drivers, both winning the Monaco GP in the past two years and then going on to lift the World Championship. And to top it, both of them have stated that winning in Monaco was probably the best, as it clearly should be. McLaren Mercedes sure do have a great formula with Hamilton and Button and clearly, ahead of the race weekend there’s one-upmanship going on and it’s the young gun Hamilton who has gotten the better of his compatriot who is a resident of Monaco!

Lewis Hamilton will be donning new colors on his helmet for the historic event. Of course he hopes that this will have a change in his fortunes, much like how Schumacher felt when he changed his helmet colors years ago at this event. Honestly, this is something I certainly look forward to for the yellow goo color on his helmet is just that… goo-ish. While exact details aren’t yet known on what he’s going to do with it, I hope Nicole Scherzinger has some space on it for her! Watch out for that one guys!

By the way, this isn’t the first time McLaren have done this. In the past, they actually had diamonds on the steering wheel and helmets and all. Many a year, in fact (2004, 2007 and 2009). So a paint job isn’t something great… but definitely a welcome move! So, Mr. Button, it’s your turn now.

The fire fighting experts (to be) on the paddock

Now, our boys at the back of the grid definitely can’t afford the diamonds but they’ve decided to do some social service and learn a thing or two that maybe useful on the track as well. It’s Hispania Racing we’re talking about and the Murcia based team have decided to keep away from the boat parties and have sent their boys to work with the Monaco Fire Brigade!

On Wednesday, drivers Bruno Senna, Karun Chandok, Christian Klien and Sakon Yamamoto will go through a physically rigorous session with the 131 members of the Monaco Fire Brigade performing various activities including long ladder climbing, dealing with fire and smoke fighting and understanding the mechanics of fire trucks. They will also learn about the history of the elite fire fighting unit. This will give the drivers a good lesson on how to keep their cool when their engines catch fire during a race and not jump out and shout at the fire marshals! Commandant Varo, the err… Commandant of the fire brigade and his men will be present trackside all through the race weekend.

So, you see the circus around the off track activities has already begun and expect this to go on as the weekend approaches. Now, when these guys living in the fast lane are allowed to have fun, who says our lazy cricketers can’t have a few ‘IPL nights’??? So you see, we at ICB give you all round gyaan… not just bhp brained my friends.

Image Courtesy: Johanlundahl