Our predictions for the 2013 Monaco Grand Prix

We head back to the principality of Monaco and what is the crown jewel on the Formula 1 calender after a two week break. The air is dominated with chatter about the proposed changes to Pirelli's tyres and with the FIA's latest stand we might just have safer tyres with a revised construction but unchanged 2013 spec tyre compounds.

Pirelli come to Monaco with the softest of their compounds on offer to deal with the least abrasive aspahlt of the year. This highlights the importance of bringing the tyres upto temperature on the tight and twisty roads of Monte Carlo. With drivers making it through 2012 with just one pit stop, Pirelli is predicting upto two pit stops for most drivers. The high probability of a safety car in Monaco will also play a role in the strategy adopted by teams, and it will be the car that pits first (not for damages) that will gain the most in terms of positions at this race.

2013 Monaco Grand Prix tyre preview - Pirelli

As has been the case for the last two years, the P Zero Yellow soft and P Zero Red supersoft have been nominated for the Monaco Grand Prix: the two softest tyres in Pirelli's range. Monaco is the slowest and most twisty circuit on the calendar, where it is hard to overtake, so this makes rapid warm-up and high levels of mechanical grip from the tyres essential. Nonetheless, wear and degradation is also the lowest of the year: meaning that a maximum of two pit stops per car should be the norm. Unlike every other grand prix, free practice takes place on Thursday rather than Friday, which has a consequent effect on track evolution – as the track is still open to normal traffic at certain points during the grand prix weekend. In the past it has also rained at Monaco, meaning that the Cinturato Green intermediate and Cinturato Blue wet tyres could also come into play.

McLaren expect Honda deal to keep them among F1 elite

(Reuters) - McLaren's Formula One engine deal with Honda from 2015 is a vital step to ensure they can keep punching at the same weight as works team rivals Ferrari and Mercedes, managing director Jonathan Neale said on Thursday.

The Woking team have used engines provided by former shareholders Mercedes since 1995 but the German carmaker bought the title-winning Brawn GP outfit in 2009 and has made that its focus.

Need permanent stewards to manage penalties : Sir Jackie Stewart

(Reuters) Formula 1 must have a permanent race steward attending all races if a licence penalty points system for drivers is to be introduced next season, according to triple world champion Jackie Stewart.

Formula 1 teams approved the licence plan at last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix and it now has to be rubber-stamped by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) world motor sport council at a meeting next month.

Renault to supply car for the FIA Formula E Championship

Renault SAS, leader of Electric Vehicle and expert in motorsport, has signed on as official Technical Partner of Spark Racing Technology to supply the Formula E cars to be entered in the FIA Formula E Championship.

The agreement was signed by Patrice Ratti, Renault Sport Technologies Managing Director and as a Renault SAS representative, Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E Holdings and Frédéric Vasseur, President of Spark Racing Technologies.