MAKE BREAK OR
Lewis: Get car right on rest day.. or forget catching Vettel
LEWIS HAMILTON admits Monte Carlo’s unique rest day will help his bid to keep pace with Sebastian Vettel. Championship leader Vettel clocked the fastestever lap of the Monte Carlo street circuit – 1m 12.720s – to set the pace in yesterday’s afternoon practice session. There will be no cars on the street circuit today, before the drivers complete their preparations tomorrow ahead of Sunday’s race. Hamilton’s Mercedes was fastest in first practice, but struggled in the afternoon session. The Brit (right) admitted: “That’s something we have to study and figure out for Saturday. “It gives the guys here more time to work on the car, spread over two days, rather than everything tonight.” Mercedes technical director James Allison said: “We clearly took a step in the wrong direction with the car set-up over the break. We will have a good think about it in order to put things right.” Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas ended up eighth and 10th respectively, and Vettell said: “I don’t know what happened to them, it was a bit weird,” Ex-world champ Jenson Button was back behind the wheel of an F1 car for the first time this season after being drafted in for a one-off appearance while Fernando Alonso attempts to win the Indianapolis 500. “I haven’t missed driving a Formula One car, but today I really enjoyed it, more than I have for a couple of years to be fair,” said Button.