Monaco Grand Prix Preview – The 65th Running around the streets of Monte Carlo
5 min read
Formula one returns to its spiritual home for the 65th time for this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix. Mercedes clearly have momentum on their side, after back-to-back victories in Azerbaijan and Spain. Can they make it three on the spin at this weekend’s race around the streets of Monte Carlo?
Lewis Hamilton has led the Mercedes revival with a pair of victories in the previous two races, but it has been the Prancing Horse of Vettel that has appeared to be the strongest overall package of the season. This, however, was not the case in Spain last time out where Hamilton dominated throughout.
Red Bull are not to be discounted either, Daniel Ricciardo has found himself on the Monaco Grand Prix podium three previous times, and Max Verstappen secured his first podium place of the season last time out.
Who will win the Monaco Grand Prix?
Practice
The first two practice sessions take place on Thursday in Monaco and, due to it being a street circuit, it would be expected that topping the timesheets in practice wouldn’t be top of the agenda. The last five years does point us in a different direction though. Mercedes have topped the timing in each of the last five Free Practice One sessions, with Lewis Hamilton being fastest in the last four. Lewis to top the timing in FP1 it is then!
Tip:
Back Lewis Hamilton fastest in practice session 1 at
Qualifying
Lewis Hamilton made a shock exit in Q2 last year and Ferrari took full advantage locking out the front row of the grid. In 2016 Daniel Ricciardo started from pole and in 2015 it was Lewis Hamilton that had the clearest view of the first corner as the Monaco Grand Prix started. A fairly mixed bag as you see, so it’s difficult to be confided who will take the pole. That said, I’m not one to sit on the fence and since I’ve already decided this weekend will be the Lewis Hamilton show, I’m going backing Lewis to grab his 75th career pole on Saturday.
Tip:
Back Lewis Hamilton to be the fastest qualifier at
The Race
Four of the last five Monaco Grand Prix have been won by Mercedes and the Ferrari was severely outclassed in Spain. Could the changes in oil usage regulations imposed by the FIA be the reason for this? Perhaps Ferrari’s secret to the early season pace has been discovered and their trickery stopped. For me, seeing Vettel as clear 7/4 favourite for the race was a shock. Getting 11/4 about Lewis Hamilton an absolute gift.
There could be a case for backing either Mercedes to win at 2/1. But Valtteri Bottas has never finished on the podium in Monte Carlo. For this reason adding the safety net may just be removing the value. As previously noted, I’m not one to sit on the fence, and this is the Lewis Hamilton appreciation blog, so I’m not going to change my copy and paste styling for the tip…
Tip:
Back Lewis Hamilton to win the Monaco Grand Prix at
