Dan of steel: Ricciardo in record-breaking Monaco drive

MONTE CARLO, Principality of Monaco: Record-breaking Daniel Ricciardo made it a ‘double top’ for Red Bull on Thursday when he and team-mate Max Verstappen dominated second practice for the Monaco Grand Prix.

But he warned that he expected a backlash from both Ferrari and Mercedes in a much-tighter contest in qualifying on Saturday.

The Australian lapped the unforgiving steel-lined streets of the Mediterranean principality in one minute and 11.841 seconds to outpace the Dutchman by nearly two-tenths with the first sub 1:12 lap at the track.

The pair had earlier dominated morning practice to establish themselves as the team to beat this weekend with Ferrari and Mercedes in pursuit.

“The intention this weekend was to try and win and to be dominant,” said Ricciardo.

“So, this is a good start. Today is good. We topped the sessions so, for now, we have done all we can.”

Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari was third ahead of current series leader and defending four-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes, with the two Finns Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari and Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes fifth and sixth.

Vettel was less impressed by the Red Bull romp than most.

“They always look a bit stronger on a Friday, so let’s see if it’s the usual again — I think it will be very close and I don’t have a favourite yet.

“We need to look at ourselves, which is what we do, and try to do our homework. I was pretty comfortable in the car.” - AFP