Formula 1 championship leaders Mercedes once again set the pace with Lewis Hamilton fastest in both the first and second free practice (FP) sessions in Monaco on Thursday.
In FP1 reigning world champion Hamilton finished top of the morning timesheets with a time of 1:12.106 - just 0.059s ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who was second.
Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas was third fastest in FP1, 0.072 behind team-mate Hamilton.
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In the afternoon FP2 session Hamilton and Bottas were first and second fastest. It was another dominant display from the Silver Arrows who arrived in Monte Carlo having secured five successive 1-2s in the opening five races of the 2019 season.
Verstappen, who has been tipped by many pundits to win in Monaco, was only able to complete 16 laps in FP2. The Dutchman should not be counted out though says Sky Sports F1’s Karun Chandhok.
“We didn’t get to see the best of Max,” Chandhok said. “He had a water leak which obviously cost him a lot of running in that session.
“We saw in FP1 he was right up there with the Mercedes, so let’s see how that unfolds when we get to Saturday morning.”
On Saturday 25 May the third free practice session starts at 11am and qualifying is at 2pm.
Button: next races will mix it up
Sky Sports F1 pundit Jenson Button believes that the next two races in Monaco and Montreal could see a shake-up in the championship.
Although Mercedes go to Monaco as favourites Button feels that the street circuit could present a challenge to the title leaders.
The 2009 world champion said: “The next couple of races [will be] definitely mixing it up and that changes the mindset of those teams and also of Mercedes’ drivers. I think it will definitely mix the championship up.”
Formula 1 bosses have not confirmed their plans for a tribute but Reuters reports that a minute’s silence is likely before Sunday’s race.
2019 F1 Monaco GP race guide
Track name: Circuit de Monaco
First grand prix: 1950
Number of laps: 78
Circuit length: 3.337km
Race distance: 260.286km
Lap record: 1:14.260 by Max Verstappen in 2018
2018 podium: 1st Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull), 2nd Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), 3rd Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
When are the three practice sessions?
There are three full practice (FP) sessions in Monaco. On Thursday 23 May FP1 takes place at 10am and FP2 is at 2pm. FP3 will be at 11am on Saturday 25 May. All times UK.
When is qualifying?
Qualifying for the F1 Monaco GP starts at 2pm on Saturday 25 May.
What time does the race start?
The 2019 F1 Monaco Grand Prix starts at 2.10pm (UK time) on Sunday 26 May.
Predictions: who will win the Monaco GP?
The Daily Telegraph: Max Verstappen
“We are going to predict something a bit different and say that the gap between Mercedes and Max Verstappen will not be gigantic and that the young Dutchman will be able to challenge the Mercedes. I reckon he will find a way past them in qualifying or the race somehow to become the first non-Mercedes race winner of the year. Podium prediction: 1st Verstappen, 2nd Hamilton, 3rd Vettel.”
Joe Krishnan, London Evening Standard: Max Verstappen
“The narrowness of the track and tight turns suit the Red Bull chassis perfectly, with lots of downforce and grip available to Verstappen. Around Monaco, straight line speed doesn’t count for much in the race due to the difficulty in overtaking. And that could prove to Verstappen’s advantage. Only Hamilton and Bottas have picked up more points than he has so far this season and if he can produce another good performance, he could bring home a first win since Mexico last year.”
GPBlog: Max Verstappen
“Ferrari brought an upgrade to Barcelona, one that was supposed to see them challenge Mercedes again. Despite this, Red Bull and Verstappen look like the Silver Arrows’ biggest threat at the moment. We may see the closest race of the season so far - as we so often do in Monaco - this could be a really exciting race, and for the sake of Formula 1, let’s hope for a Red Bull/Ferrari top-spot.”
The Stats Zone: Max Verstappen
“If there is a race where Mercedes’ one-two run might end then it’s Monaco. Valtteri Bottas has never made the podium, and the longer-wheel base of their car is a massive disadvantage around the tight streets of Monte Carlo. Monaco is a unique track. The circuit should help other teams to close the gap. Last year Red Bull won with Daniel Ricciardo, but Max Verstappen impressed moving from starting 20th on the grid [crashed in qualifying] to finish ninth. The Dutchman heads to Monaco after grabbing a deserved podium in Spain. The prediction is for Max Verstappen to claim the win and bring about a much-welcomed change of winner.”
The Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix takes place on the street circuit in Monte Carlo
(Image credit: Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images)
Monaco GP TV guide
Sky Sports F1 will show live coverage of practice, qualifying and the GP from Monte Carlo. Channel 4 will show highlights of qualifying and the race.
Watch on Now TV
F1 fans can also watch the action live on Now TV. Viewers can subscribe to a Sky Sports F1 season ticket via Now TV for all race weekends in 2019. A one-off payment costs £195 - the equivalent of £5 per week.
Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the Monaco GP Saturday 25 May
10.45am: practice three (FP3) build-up
11am: practice three (FP3) live
12.10pm: Paddock Walkabout live
1pm: qualifying build-up
2pm: Monaco GP qualifying live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
3.30pm: The F1 Show live
Sunday 26 May
12.30pm: Pit Lane live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
1.30pm: On The Grid live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
2.10pm: 2019 F1 Monaco Grand Prix live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
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