F1 Equestria: Duels of the Century

Duel Highlights
Round 6: Monaco Grand Prix

Duel 1: AKU (Mercedes-AMG Petronas) VS BMI (McLaren) VS OCE (Red Bull Toro Rosso) VS GLA (HAAS)

The first Duel was between Akula of Mercedes, Big Mac of McLaren, Ocellus of Toro Rosso and Gladmane of HAAS. It was expected that Akula would make it into the final. The truth was anything but.

In fact, it would be a surprise if Akula would even set a competitive time. For Akula despised the Monaco circuit as much as he despised Starlight Glimmer and Thorax combined! There were a lot of nicknames for the Monaco circuit and Akula had his own; 'D'yavol, Odetyy Kak Angel', which is Russian for 'Devil that dressed as an angel'. And his nicknames didn't stop there. He had one for every single corner of the track!

Even the corner names weren't the most special thing going on at the course. Because Akula, Viral and Twilight's Mercedes' all had their halos painted bright red, with the message 'Niki, we miss you' on the inner ring, in tribute to Niki Lauda (who died in his sleep a few days before the beginning of the event).

However, the special commemoration livery didn't do Akula any good in helping his troubles with the circuit, as he turned in too early at Mirabeau Haute and clipped his front wing. But things would get worse further down. On approach to the Nouvelle Chicane at full speed, one of the wheels on Akula's Mercedes hit a bump in the road and sent the car into a skid... at 330 km/hr. The Demon Lord lost control and, in a crash eerily similar to Sergio Perez's crash in 2011, Akula slammed into the barriers with enough force to rip the Mercedes in half. Immediately, the red flag was called and paramedics rushed to assist Akula, who emerged from the front-half of his wrecked car, bleeding badly from his wings.

But aside from the bleeding wing roots, he was okay.

Next up, was Ocellus. Unlike the previous event in Baku, she didn't let Akula's shocking crash get the better of her. Her mentor, Alexander Albon, gave her a few lessons to help deal with the pressure at the track. And they did the trick. The shy changeling kept her cool and set a time of 1.11.201.

Following the Toro Rosso, was Big Macintosh. Nothing had changed for the bulky stallion and despite his mentor's (Carlos Sainz Jr.) best attempts to calm him down, he crashed out at Tabac, suffering from understeer.

Finally, Gladmane took to the circuit. Through his lap, the conpony showed really great pace... until the final three corners. First, he clipped his back wheel going through La Rascasse and going through Anthony Noghes, Gladmane did an Austin Powers and clipped the wall at Turn 19 with his other back wheel and spun it.

His HAAS came to a stop, completely blocking the track. But Gladmane was able to get himself out of his predicament easily and post his time, a 1:16.754. His botched lap ensured that he would not get a high grid spot in the final.

Duel 2: RBD (Scuderia Ferrari) VS CEL (Alfa-Romeo) VS SIL (BWT Racing Point) VS DNG (Scuderia Ferrari)

Duel 2 was nothing short of a complete and utter disaster for all four drivers. Celestia was first onto the track, but just like in Baku, her natural talent was compromised by the technicality of the Monaco Circuit. Coming through the Casino Square, she emerged at the exit only inches from the barrier.

However, she did NOT move off the line in time. As such, she hit the hump at the exit of the turn, sending the Alfa into the air. Upon landing, the suspension was shot to pieces and the bottom of the car was torn up, leaving the Sun Princess stuck and given a DNQ.

Next up, was DangerDean. He (like many others) wasn't a massive fan of the track and it showed. However, he didn't last for long. Going through the Tunnel Straight, Dean suffered from understeer and hit the wall, ripping off the front-left wheel and suspension. However, this impact wasn't violent and Dean was just fine.

Following Dean, was his teammate, Rainbow Dash. She was cocky with Monaco as she would push her car to the limit on the course. However, it was this factor that proved to be her undoing. Going through the Grand Hotel Hairpin, she gave her Ferrari too much throttle and spun out on the exit to the hairpin. Although her car was okay, her lap was ruined as she posted a 1:14.400.

Finally, was Silverstream. With the help of her mentor, Sergio Perez, she was able to get over her fear of the tight circuits and took to the track with her excitable attitude. However, going through the Swimming Pool section, the hippogriff hit the sausage kerbs and her Racing Point flipped over.

With all of the field sustaining accidents, only Rainbow and Silverstream would move on.

Duel 3: TWI (Mercedes-AMG Petronas) VS OSC (Aston-Martin Red Bull) VS GAL (BWT Racing Point) VS LUN (Alfa-Romeo)

Duel 3 wasn't much better than the previous, as first onto the track was Oscura. She knew that Dean had failed to qualify and wanted to set the fastest time possible to rub it in his face. But this wouldn't come to light for her, as she would spin out and wreck her rear wing.

Gallus was up next and once again, he didn't disappoint. He took to the track at full throttle and didn't make a mistake. His lap time was 1:10.210, giving the griffon and guaranteed pole position. Again.

Next up, was Twilight. Now, Twilight was fascinated by the history of the Monaco Circuit. But no amount of resarch could keep her from going to an early Amber Lounge party with the barrier. As she set her lap, she was doing quite well for the Mercedes team, but Monaco wouldn't let her go without a present. So, Twilight spun out on the approach to Tabac and DNQ'd.

Finally, came Luna. Shocked by her sister's crash. She was unsure that she would do any better. But she would outshine her sister at Monte Carlo, clocking a time of 1.11.534.

Duel 4: APP (McLaren) VS YON (ROKiT Williams) VS FLT (Toro Rosso) VS LTD (Scuderia Ferrari)

Duel 4 was slightly better for the drivers, with less crashes. And first up, was Yona in the Williams. This time, her FW42 was lightened even more to compensate for the yak's weight, to make up for the disasterous result in Spain. This time, the upgrades seemed to work as her Williams was much better and faster. However, Yona got too happy with the throttle going through La Rascasse and spun out, wrecking the front wing.

Following her, was Lightning Dust. Despite the tight and narrow track, Dust thought it was a good idea to try and explore the limits of her car in the Duels at Monaco. It didn't end up well for her, as she would spin out and crash at Nouvelle and make contact with the barriers.

Next up, was Applejack. Just like in Baku, she was intimidated by the tight nature of the Monaco circuit and couldn't focus as much as she should have. Because of that, she suffered understeer and hit the barriers at the Grand Hotel Hairpin.

Finally, was Fluttershy. Despite only getting either mediocre results or failing to qualify, that would change in Monaco as the shy pegasus finally felt ready to start pushing herself for better positions. It showed as she clocked a lap time of 1:11.611

Duel 6: PIN (Aston-Martin Red Bull) VS SUR (Renault) VS CHR (HAAS) VS SPI (Scuderia Ferrari)

The final Duel would end the horror of racing alone on this outdated street course from hell and those who would qualify would then experience the terror of racing on this circuit. And the first driver out onto the track in Duel 6, was Pinkie Pie. This time, for the first time ever, she would race on Softs. But not even the Soft tyre would save her. Pinkie Pie's RB15 understeered at Mirabeu Haute and she was forced to take the escape road, rendering her lap time null and void.

Following her, was Chrysalis in the HAAS. Out of all the drivers, Chrysalis was arguably the most shocked and concerned about Akula's crash in Duel 1. And she wanted to make it to the final and avenge her lover's crash. Unlike Gladmane, she didn't fail. With her newfound determination, she powered through the track to set a time of 1.11.703.

Up next, was Spitfire. The Captain of the Wonderbolts tried to take it safe but it would result in a lap time of 1:12.624. A very poor result for the Ferrari team.

And lastly, was Suri. She knew that Monaco was the home of her favourite fashion styles and she had to race with her teammate in he final in the most prestigious race on the calendar. And just like Rarity, she raced as best as she could and kept under control, posting a lap time of 1.11.223.