Ricciardo smashes Monaco lap record
MONACO: Daniel Ricciardo lapped Monaco’s metalfenced streets in record time yesterday as Red Bull dominated practice for Formula One’s most glamorous grand prix.
The 28yearold Australian set track records in both sessions, first with a 1min 12.126sec lap before lunch and then by obliterating that mark in the afternoon with a scorching 1min 11.841sec.
That compared with Kimi Raikkonen’s 2017 pole position of 1min 12.178sec for Ferrari, the previous fastest around the Mediterranean principality’s unforgiving streets and harbourside.
Dutch teammate Max Verstappen was second quickest in both sessions as Red Bull lived up to expectations it would be the team to beat on a tight and twisty circuit where aerodynamics matter more than engine power.
‘‘Having the [new] hypersoft tyre gives us that little bit more grip and it’s pretty cool to be breaking lap records,’’ Ricciardo said.
‘‘I’m glad that was the fastest lap that anyone has ever done as it felt so quick.’’
Verstappen (20) was summoned to see the stewards after reversing on to the track when he ran off at the first Sainte Devote corner, but they decided to take no further action.
Championship leader Lewis Hamilton and closest title rival Sebastian Vettel were third and fourth respectively in the morning, reversing those positions in the afternoon.
Vettel’s best time
of 1min 12.413sec after lunch compared with Hamilton’s 1min 12.480sec in the earlier practice, but he was still more than half a second slower than Ricciardo.
Hamilton leads Vettel, last year’s winner in Monaco, by 17 points after five races.
‘‘The car felt good in some places; in others it felt bad,’’ Hamilton said.
‘‘So we have got some things to work on, but we’re not completely in the dark; we’re in a much better place than we were last year.
‘‘We’re closer to Red Bull and Ferrari than I expected, but we’re still a few tenths off’’.
Hamilton finished only seventh last year, when Ferrari was dominant.
Drivers had predicted before the session started lap records would tumble, thanks to the hypersoft tyres, which are making their competitive debut this weekend, and track resurfacing.
Ricciardo was third in Monaco last year, and is aiming to win this time.
‘‘The intention this weekend is to try and win and be dominant.’’
Raikkonen was fifth fastest in both sessions, while Valtteri Bottas was seventh and then sixth for Mercedes. Mexican Sergio Perez, who holds the race lap record of 1min 14.820sec, was eighth for Force India in the morning.
Russian rookie Sergey Sirotkin hit the wall in his Williams in the morning, limping back with a puncture, but went out again and was 10th fastest. He dropped back to 15th in second practice. — Reuters