Jolyon Palmer : 'J'adore Monaco!'

©WRI2

It's been a rough baptism of fire for Jolyon Palmer since the Brit kicked-off his Formula 1 career in earnest this season.

The Renault rookie finished just outside of the points in Australia, but that was the high point ever since, with Palmer struggling with his RS16's balance - a problem ultimately traced to a faulty floor - and often running at the tail end of the field.

The former GP2 champ is keeping his hopes up however and will be looking to move up the ranks a bit in Monaco next weekend, at a venue he is particularly fond of.

"I love it! It’s tight and twisty and the barriers are so close meaning there’s no room for error. As a race track it’s the craziest one I’ve ever driven.

"Not just because it’s a street course, it’s a street course like no other; it’s a proper road that’s used by the public every day and it wasn’t designed to be a race track, it’s very bumpy and it’s very easy to make a mistake and end up in the wall.

"It presents a really exacting challenge to deliver a fast lap time as you need to be practically brushing the walls everywhere. To put everything together and to win in Monaco is the biggest challenge in Formula 1."

The fact that Palmer won twice in the glitzy Principality will hopefully provide him with a little bit of an edge in terms of confidence and determination.

"I won twice in the GP2 Series in Monaco. My first win in GP2 was in Monaco in 2012 in the Sprint race where I nailed it off the start, took the lead at Ste Devote after a messy first corner then controlled it to the chequered flag. Then in 2014 it was pole, fastest lap and race win."

Still, it will be anything but a lazy Sunday drive with any driver having to work overtime to stay on course and get the better of his rivals.

"Everywhere around Monaco takes a lot of commitment. Any overtake attempt you make could end up in contact with your competitor or the wall so you really have to balance the risk and reward.

"You have to get your move right and hope the other guy sees you; even if you do everything right, if your rival doesn’t see you it’s likely there’ll be contact.

"It’s a race that each and every fan needs to experience at some time in their life. It’s Formula 1 with a festival atmosphere."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.