“I always enjoy driving at Monaco because it is a very challenging circuit. Some people think because it is not as fast it must be easier, but it is not very forgiving and you have to focus every single moment and be at the maximum on each lap; you can't relax anywhere.
“It also has unique characteristics, such as the sound is very different. It is even louder in the car because of the buildings surrounding the track. All the drivers like it because it is a challenge, and we like our challenges! It is a very special race and it is very difficult to win – that is why everybody is very motivated to do just that.”
As to those unique ‘challenges' that Monaco represents, the most daunting is undoubtedly the difficulty to pass, with qualifying taking on a greater significance in Monte Carlo than anywhere else on the grand prix calendar. Not since 2003 has the race been won from any other starting position than pole, and you need to go all the way back to 1996 to find the last time a driver came from further back than third spot to prevail, with Olivier Panis triumphing masterfully from a lowly 14th place on the grid in his Ligier.
“Overtaking on the street circuit at Monaco is virtually impossible,” Kovalainen acknowledged, “even if the other car is much slower. That means qualifying is even more important than [at] any of the other tracks – you have to be near the front of the grid, as otherwise you can't run your own pace. You end up stuck behind the slower cars and that costs you huge amounts of time.
“During the qualifying session, the priority is track position – to allow you to do your own lap and avoid other cars – but it is very difficult. Everybody tries to slow down at the last hairpin to get a gap to the next car, so when you are on your flying lap, one lap later you arrive wanting to complete your fastest time and everyone is waiting there again to pull their gap out. Timing is what we are focused on, and luck! Set-up, balance and getting the most out of the car are of course very important, but timing is crucial.
