The 1999 Monaco Grand Prix
13th-16th May

TV Screenshots

Sunday - Race

Stewart-Ford notes and quotes

• Rubens Barrichello was running fifth when, with only five laps to go, he had a suspension problem and crashed rounding the Swimming Pool turn.
• Johnny Herbert retired after 32 laps when his suspension broke causing an accident on the exit to Casino Square. He was running in 11th place.

Johnny Herbert, Car No.17 (SF3-05):

"It would have been nice to finish my first race of the season but unfortunately it wasn't to be. I made a pretty good start, got by Mika Salo and with a bit more drag could have gained two places. As for the accident, there was no warning at all. I was coming out of Casino Square and something gave up on the right rear suspension. I just need to got some more mileage under my belt in the test next week and hope for a better race in Barcelona."

Rubens Barrichello, Car No.16 (SF3-04):

"It's a pity my race ended like it did because Monaco is notoriously difficult for overtaking and I'm sure I would have been able. to hold my fifth position until the finish. The car ran reasonably well though I wasn't able to find consistency after my pit stop. I got so close, just five laps from the end, which was a shame."

Paul Stewart, SGP Deputy Chairman:

"It's disappointing to be denied another two championship points. The car and engine ran reliably all weekend until the suspension problems in the race. In the past, Monaco has been good to us but it wasn't to be this time. Both drivers drove solid races and the pit stops went well, so to leave empty handed is a bit tough on the whole Stewart-Ford team."

Neil Ressler, Vice President, Research & Vehicle Technology, Ford:

"It was a shame that we didn't finish today but heartening that the Ford-Cosworth CR-1 engine performed faultlessly throughout the weekend."

Johnny's race

Johnny had a good start, climbing one place from 13th on the grid. For several laps, he had an exciting race with former team-mate Alex Zanardi and Alex Wurz, for 9th, 10th and 11th. Then Zanardi spun (after his seat worked loose!) and Johnny was 11th. But that was it. On his 33rd lap, Johnny's rear suspension failed as he was on the way down the hill towards Mirabeau. It was a heart-stopping moment but Johnny managed to control his three wheeled slide and kept it out of the barriers. This is what he said to ITV's Louise Goodman shortly afterwards:

LG: What happened, Johnny - did you hit the barriers?

JH: No, no, I didn't have anything like that. It just failed, which we've obviously got to look at. It's just a bit of a shame happening that early in the race. It would have been nice to finish this time...

LG: It must have given you a bit of a wake up call though?

JH: In some ways it's very fortunate that it happened exactly where it did. I was lucky enough to get it under control but if it had happened at the exit of the tunnel it would have been a different matter.

LG: I'll see you at the end of the race one day, Johnny...

JH: Yeah - one day!

Disconcertingly, a few laps from the end, it appeared that Rubens Barrichello's rear suspension also broke, tipping him out of an almost certain 5th place.

Race results (from TV coverage)

Morning warm-up

The Stewart-Ford drivers were both in the top 10, separated by less than 1/10th of a second. Rubens was 8th (1m 25.408s), Johnny 9th (1m 25.485s). Quickest was Michael Schumacher (1m 23.792), followed by his team-mate, Eddie Irvine, and the two McLarens of Hakkinen and Coulthard.

Saturday - Qualifying

Stewart-Ford notes and quotes

• Rubens Barrichello will start his 100th Grand Prix from fifth on the grid - continuing his unbroken streak of top five qualifying performances so far this season.
• Johnny Herbert will line upon the seventh row after setting the 13th fastest time after his last flying lap was ruined by yellow flags.
• Rubens finished second In Monaco In 1997 - Stewart-Ford's first podium finish.

Johnny Herbert, Car No.17 (SF3-05):

"I'm disappointed to end up 13th. My times showed that on my last flying lap I could have clinched eighth spot but I had to back off in the last sector when the yellow flag came out after Damon Hill had his problem. The car felt very good this morning on full tanks so I have to be confident about my chances in the race."

Rubens Barrichello, Car No.16 (SF3-04):

"I was pretty content with fourth place for most of the session so to finish fifth is slightly worse than I was hoping for. Still, at the end of the day, to be beaten only be the McLarens and Ferraris again is a good performance by the team. I'm happy with my tyre choice, so if I have a trouble free race I'm looking for a podium finish for the second consecutive race."

Paul Stewart, SGP Deputy Chairman:

"Another great job by the whole team. It's nice to be battling away with the McLarens and Ferraris again. Rubens drove well again to secure a spot in the top five for the third straight race, which shows that we are consistently on the pace of the front runners. Johnny was three tenths up on his previous best lap when he encountered the yellow flags so he wasn't rewarded with the higher place on the grid he certainly deserved. Still, having a lap spoiled like that is part of the lottery of qualifying at Monaco."

Neil Ressler, Vice President, Research & Vehicle Technology, Ford:

"It's good to see that we are continuing our early season momentum by once again proving ourselves front runners. We experienced no mechanical problems today and will be us the higher rev limit for the race as we did during qualifying today."

Qualifying times (from TV coverage)

Thursday - Practice

Stewart-Ford notes and quotes

• Rubens Barrichello ended today's free practice seventh fastest. He spent most of the time working on the correct race set-up for his 100th Grand Prix. He did a total of 32 laps.
• Johnny Herbert was 10th fastest - only just over three-tenths of a second slower then Barrichello. He completed 31 laps.
• The Stewart-Ford team concentrated on finding the correct tyre end suspension set up for the unusual Monaco street circuit.

Johnny Herbert, Car No.17 (SF3-05):

"I had no particular problem apart from a lot of understeer this morning. We changed the car far the second session to try and reduce the understeer but actually went too far. The thing with Monaco is that it's all about balance and to be honest we haven't found the perfect set up but we know what we have to do to improve matters before Saturday's qualifying."

Rubens Barrichello, Car No.16 (SF3-04):

"I'm pleased with today. I struggled with traffic at the end of the second session and spent 95 percent of the time locking for a good race set up. I think we still have a problem with oversteer in medium speed corners but I'm confident we will sort this out before Saturday's qualifying."

Paul Stewart, SGP Deputy Chairman:

"We had two productive sessions today. Both Rubens and Johnny went through an extensive programme of evaluating tyres and suspension settings. Today's two practice sessions bode well for good qualifying performances."

Neil Ressler, Vice President, Research & Vehicle Technology, Ford:

"Today's practice performances look promising. We experienced no major mechanical problems and after the recent testing session at Nogaro we're confident about reliability for the race. In both qualifying and the race we plan to use the higher rev limit on the Ford Cosworth V10 CR-1 engine, which we used successfully at Nogaro."

Practice times (from F1Today):

Race Preview from Stewart-Ford

STEWART-FORD NOTES AND QUOTES

• The Stewart-Ford team completed two days of testing at the Nogaro circuit in southern France. Both Rubens and Johnny gained valuable mileage on the tight twisty track layout in preparation for the streets of Monte Carlo. Both drivers produced competitive lap times and saw the test as a major step forward in terms of engine reliability. They also had the chance for tyre evaluation and to test aerodynamic modifications.
• Rubens' best finish at Monaco was second in 1997 - the Stewart-Ford team's first year of competition. Johnny's highest finish was third in 1996 at the wheel of a Sauber-Ford.

JOHNNY HERBERT, Car 17 (SF3-05)

"Race day in Monaco, if the weather is good is the most exciting day on the Formula One calendar with the international stars, the boat parties, all the glitz and glamour - the whole of the principality comes out to play. As a driver, the circuit is the biggest challenge in F1 because you are racing in between barriers on a street layout with little room for error. There is always an extra buzz in qualifying because you are striving to get the very best out of the car in a short space of time on a tricky circuit. The race is very demanding physically for a driver. It usually lasts for two hours and you are very busy in the cockpit all the time.

"I am looking forward to the weekend, particularly after we've just had such a positive test. We got through some valuable work in Nogaro and we should be able to keep the momentum going from the first three races of the season."

RUBENS BARRICHELLO, Car 16 (SF3-04)

"I am very enthusiastic about my 100th Grand Prix. The fact that it is happening in Monaco makes it extra special. Obviously Brazil would be first choice for my 100th Grand Prix but Monaco is not a bad second choice at all. It will be an emotional time, my family will be there, but the professional side of me will ensure I treat it like any other race.

"We proved a lot in Imola but we are still keeping our feet on the ground. I'm delighted that I have a car which I really believe will give me the best chance of winning I have had in the six years I have been in Formula One. There is no doubt that this will be the best season I have had in Fl. Its nice to know that we are going into races knowing that we will be very competitive.

"As a circuit, Monaco has a few strange characteristics and is very demanding for both car and driver. I'm confident the car will go well because it has all the ingredients needed for Monaco - good traction, good torque from the engine and a good balance. The Nogaro test was beneficial because the circuit is very tight like Monaco and the car performed well in Monaco-style trim. I'm sure the gap between us and the front-runners will be reduced in Monaco,"

PAUL STEWART, SGP Deputy Chairman

We are approaching Monaco in very confident fashion given our performances so far this season. We have made some improvements in the area of aerodynamics specifically for Monaco and we believe that bath Rubens and Johnny have chances of qualifying in the top six. The pre-Monaco test at Nogaro, a slow speed, high downforce circuit was very successful from a performance and reliability point of view. Both drivers were on the pace over the two days and Johnny completed some valuable development work on the engine. We are delighted that Rubens will compete in his 100th Grand Prix with the Stewart-Ford team. It will be nice to mark the occasion with a great result on Sunday."

MARTIN WHITAKER, Director Ford Racing Europe:

"Since Imola we have been testing at Nogaro where we successfully completed the equivalent of a full race distance with a modified engine specification running to the same high rev limit we have been using in qualifying. In addition, we moved forward with a number of  driveability improvements on the engine which will be crucial at Monaco."

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Last updated 16th May 1999