Hamilton ready for Monaco street fight
Defending world champion Lewis Hamilton has a 17point lead on nearest rival and fellowfourtime titleist Sebastian Vettel
Monaco, May 23: Lewis Hamilton is aiming to reel off his third successive win and to consolidate his grip on this year’s title race at this weekend’s 65th running of the classic Monaco Grand Prix.
The defending four- time world champion, fresh from a lucky victory in Azerbaijan and a convincing triumph in Spain, arrives in the Mediterranean principality with a 17- points lead on nearest rival and fellow- four- time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.
But in an unpredictable yo- yo season punctuated by unexpected dramas, the 33year- old Englishman knows he faces a challenge to stay on top on the unforgiving barrier- lined streets.
“We have worked very hard as a team to get into this position, but we know this is a major task. It is going to be a close fight and I am excited by the prospect of this race.”
Vettel won last year’s race for Ferrari, ending a fouryear run of Mercedes domination at a track where qualifying is of paramount importance due to the difficulty in overtaking during the race.
The German is looking for his third Monaco win and the 50th of his career on Sunday when, many drivers have suggested, the use of a new ‘ hyper- soft’ tyre with pink sidewalls will deliver record laps.
That prospect and the ● likely return of grid girls as the Monaco organisers defy F1’ s new American owners Liberty Media who ended the tradition this year has added to the keen sense of anticipation.
Pirelli boss Mario Isola said the ‘ hyper’ is a step up in performance and is likely to be used both in qualifying and the race.
Spaniard Carlos Sainz of Renault, who tested the new tyre at Barcelona following the Spanish Grand Prix, said he expected it to make a major impact.
“It is quite impressive, that tyre, I must say. It gives easily a second per lap and that was at Barcelona. Around Monaco, this tyre could be something special,” said Sainz.
As Vettel bids to bounce back, after leading the championship earlier in the season, he and Hamilton both fear as major challenge also from Red Bull who will be celebrating their 250th race start on Sunday.
They won both their 100th and 150th races and Dutchman Max Verstappen believes they should be making a major impact this weekend.