"The car felt really good, especially in P2 when we made some changes to the car and I got a lot more confidence from the first push [lap] basically. Monaco. From pole there is not enough time for KERS to be activated, but cars starting further behind may choose to use it. FANGIO Juan Manuel. "It would be great to see them go under 1:10 - the cars look amazingly fast," Sky F1's Anthony Davidson said. DANIEL RICCIARDO has smashed the Monaco lap record, with times set to tumble ever further. Circuit de Monaco: 1:14.260: Max Verstappen: 2018 Monaco Grand Prix: That's why it's the best track","BBC Sport – Michael Schumacher says risk of racing at Monaco is "justifiable,"McLaren Formula 1 - 2016 Monaco Grand Prix preview","Formula E set to race on shorter version of Monaco circuit","Season three calendar officially confirmed","Full Monaco Grand Prix Circuit to Be Used in 2019",Circuit de Monaco at Official Monaco Formula 1 website,Circuit de Monaco on Google Maps (Current Formula 1 Tracks),Circuit de Monaco in PC games (Every car showcased around Circuit de Monaco),FIA European Formula 3 Championship (1975–1984),https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Circuit_de_Monaco&oldid=976161291,Pre-World Championship Grand Prix circuits,Articles with unsourced statements from May 2010,Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020,Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License,This page was last edited on 1 September 2020, at 14:17. "So it's been a good day and we know everyone is going to catch up come Saturday, so we need to keep working. 314.500 km. Videos for new fans. The produce the perfect lap, the driver must be daring. It was the first year for the new garages in an independent lane, with an entrance just after "La Rascasse", where an asphalt slide was installed to overcome the difference in level from the roadway.In 1976 the "Sainte Dévote" and "Anthony Noghes" corners were modified: in order to slow down the transit of the cars, curbs and protections were repositioned.In 1986, thanks to the expansion of the roadway implemented in the chicane area of the port, the chicane itself was modified and made slower: instead of the previously existing fast change of direction, deemed too dangerous, new curbs were installed to design a double turn at 90 degrees. The cars reach 290km/h just before the braking point for the chicane so in theory KERS could be used, but principally only for defending rather than for overtaking as going off line is very dirty. It's going to be crazy. After this chicane, the track continued on the usual straight (parallel to the starting lane) using the "Gasometer" curve for the last time. The only heavy braking points are at the chicane after the tunnel, and to a lesser extent into the.Conversely, cooling the cars' engines is a major concern. In 2002, a substantial amount of land was reclaimed from the harbour to slightly change the shape of one section of the circuit; this left more space for new pit garages, which debuted in the 2004 event.The circuit is generally recognised to be less safe than other circuits used for Formula One. It is the first time it … Mercedes are set to lead the charge for record lap times at the Monaco GP - but the world champions are not without their concerns despite dominating the opening day.Thursday pacesetter Lewis Hamilton's quickest time of 1:11.118 was already within three tenths of a second of Monaco's fastest-ever lap of 1:10.810, set by Daniel Ricciardo in winning pole position last year.The lap time improvement from P2 to the end of qualifying last year was one second.No lap has ever broken the 70-second barrier in Monaco's F1 history. FANGIO Juan Manuel. "I'm glad that was the fastest lap that anyone has ever done as it felt so quick. "Surprised to see the delta we had in P2, maybe Max didn't get his time or something like that," Hamilton said.A small water leak on his Red Bull sidelined Verstappen for P2 qualifying runs and so his sixth-placed finish was certainly not representative of his potential. The drop and almost 180° turn make it the tightest corner of the season. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click.This season's F1 cars are wider and have higher levels of downforce -- allowing them to have better cornering speeds around the twisty narrow road circuit. It should be noted, as can be seen from the period films, that in the second half of the 1950s the only existing lane after the Tabac was the one mentioned; in fact, in those years, the lane that we now call "promenade" with the two "Piscine" chicanes was not yet defined, and only in the 1960s images we can notice the progress of the landfilling about that portion of the bay, including the Piscine area which will be completed shortly thereafter.In 1963 the starting line was again moved to Boulevard Albert 1er (opposite the promenade), without changes to the track from the "Tabac" to the "Gasometer" (incidentally, the swimming pool and the waterfront lane that 10 years later will become part of the circuit, were already been created).In 1972 the boxes were moved near the chicane area of the port, therefore was created a "new" chicane that was closer to the "Tabac" curve. Hamilton's time of 1:13:425 beat the record … The circuit is annually used on two weekends in May for,The idea for a Grand Prix race around the streets of.To date, only three local drivers have won a race at the Circuit.The track has remained substantially unchanged since its creation in 1929: as a city circuit, its conformation is closely linked to that of the Principality's road system. It is the first time it … All rights reserved.https://www.monte-carlo.mc/en/grand-prix-monaco/circuit-monaco/,Neurologist afraid Schumacher's brain will never recover,Claire Williams: Title sponsor exit ended the story,Brown: Selling McLaren factory a 'good decision',Vettel staying is 'great' for F1 and Wolff,Ferrari now spending millions on brand new simulator. The extra space also allowed for the installation of new grandstands and the expansion of the pit lane, which was also equipped with semi-permanent two-storey buildings (instead of the previous tiny prefabricated structures) to better accommodate the teams, the technicians and the material.Before the 2007 season, the internal curb of the "Grand Hotel" hairpin was significantly lowered and widened, in order to allow the single-seaters to climb on it and eventually face the curve with a narrower trajectory.Since the 2003 edition, the traffic divider at the "Sainte Dévote" curve has been removed in order to widen the track: the track design is now left to the curb only. The Monaco Grand Prix is quite simply the most famous street race in the world.The thriving heart of the city, regarded as the “millionaire’s playground”, is transformed every year for what is known as the jewel in Formula 1's crown.A tight armco-barriered circuit around the streets of Monte Carlo provides a magnificent spectacle. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's,Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. 1972 was also the last year for the passage under the old tunnel.In 1973, as anticipated, the track was modified at various points also due to the construction of new civil buildings. "Our number one concern is getting the soft tyre to work on the first lap; our headline times were good today but it took us a lot of laps to get there and qualifying is so important at this track," Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes' trackside engineering director, said. FORMULA 1 GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2019 - FASTEST LAPS 23 26 May 2019 Circuit de Monaco, … Lewis Hamilton's 164.3mph lap to take pole position at last weekend's Italian Grand Prix was the latest example of Formula 1's internal battle: the … ".Mercedes are already faster than they went in qualifying last year, when they were outpaced by both Red Bull and Ferrari. 1'51''000. He proposed a major auto race for Monaco, to attract tourism to the tiny country. "It would be great to see them go under 1:10 - the cars look amazingly fast," Sky F1's Anthony Davidson said. ".As the P2 timesheet underlines, Toro Rosso's rivals do not have much time to find. Before 2014, teams also used closer ratio gears, as there are hardly any long straights in Monaco and acceleration is at a premium. Situé dans les rues de la principauté, ce circuit peut être qualifié de mythique. "You have to build up to the pace so that, by the time you work up to that second run in Q3, you're at 100 percent. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's,Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. (Starting from 2014 season, same gear ratios must be used throughout the season.The circuit has been used as a special stage during the WRC,On 18 September 2014 it was announced the,Monaco was not scheduled to be on the calendar for the second season of Formula E because it took the slot on the calendar filled by the,The Monaco Grand Prix is run on the final Sunday of May, in a transition between spring and summer. Circuit de Monaco: 1:14.260: Max Verstappen: 2018 Monaco Grand Prix: In particular, a new hotel was under construction in the "Old Station" hairpin area (Hotel Loews, later renamed Fairmont), resulting in an extension of the tunnel towards the "Portier" curve. At the exit of the tunnel there was the traditional port chicane and, after the "Tabac" curve, the new path adjacent to the swimming pools (two "S" left-right and right-left connected by a short straight) and "La Rascasse" hairpin. "For me the best tyre that Pirelli have done in a lot of years. ",Man Utd fans call for Woodward's head after Rio reveals story of his brutal exit,Man Utd asked about striker Calvert-Lewin but Everton's £80m fee put them off,Luis Suarez 'terminates Barcelona contract' as he nears Atletico Madrid move,Real Madrid fire bitter parting shot at Bale despite four European titles,Jordon Ibe set for Derby after flop £15m move from Liverpool to Bournemouth,©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. When the Monaco Grand Prix is on, everyone watches.The streets of Monte-Carlo have hosted a grand prix since 1929, when William Grover-Williams won in a Bugatti. It was then renamed "Nouvelle Chicane".In 1997 the first "Piscine" corner was modified: the shifting of the track edge protections improved the visibility for the pilots and allowed a higher speed. However, the most important novelty was the widening of the port lane: in this way the segment between "Piscine" and "La Rascasse" could be rectified, becoming faster and less demanding. When the cars round the hairpin the engine is running at the lowest speed and revs it reaches on track at any point in the year; just 44km/h and around 7,000rpm.The driver’s pedal and torque maps must be completely on point and the driver may even declutch to avoid too much push from the engine, which could result in a surge and cause a collision with a car in front or the wall. 1'41''100. 22 may 1955. The layout took on its current appearance with the double chicane "Piscine", abandoning (by the 1973 GP) the old "Gasometer" curve (where the entrance to the new boxes was created). ".Renault's Carlos Sainz believes the new rubber will spice up tomorrow's qualifying for the Monaco GP.He added: "Expect madness! LEWIS Hamilton broke the record for the fastest lap ever recorded at the iconic track at Monaco today, only for Sebastian Vettel to beat it. "It's incredibly intense out there and you have to be so focused. All have their place in history, all have their unique standing in the sport.However, it’s the race at the end of May which really captures the essence of Formula 1. Hamilton also set the record for the fastest lap ever recorded in F1 history at a whopping average of 164.267 miles per hour (or 264.362 kilometers per hour) with a lap … With its sun, sea, rich, beautiful people, glitz and glamour, Monaco is the spiritual home of F1.Like Le Mans and Indianapolis, it transcends the sport it belongs to. ".He added: "You look at Tabac and the speed you're coming into that corner, there's just a wall in front of you, Going up the hill to Casino [Square], the same thing.Although Mercedes have finished first and second in every race so far this season, Hamilton admitted he was still "surprised" to see a margin of seven tenths of a second over Ferrari and Red Bull in second practice. Available 2020 tickets & early booking discounts are:2001-2020 © F1-Fansite.com. Here is a list of the fastest lap set at each circuit on the current F1 calendar. ".Whether or not it amounts to wishful thinking for those outside the Silver Arrows camp, there certainly was a feeling on Thursday evening that hopes of a multi-team fight at the front into the weekend rest squarely on Max Verstappen's shoulders.Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel finished closest to Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas, but the Scuderia were struggling with tyre performance. Stirling Moss wins the 1960 Monaco Grand Prix, Lotus Mk16.Modern Formula 1 travels around the globe, reaches new venues, new crowds and new cultures. The circuit is interesting, tight and demanding, with little room for error, or overtaking, sadly.The current layout, with Tabac slightly altered, has been used since 2015.Remember first practice is on Thursday not Friday.Lap Record – 1:14.260 – M Verstappen (2018). But first he needed a circuit. Large chunks of time can be won or lost by correct mapping here.Michael Schumacher drives into Monaco tunnel.The tunnel section is the only chance the cars get to hit top speed apart from the short pit straight. The changes were almost connected to redefinitions of the ordinary roads of the town.In the first editions of the Grand Prix, the start and finish were placed on Boulevard Albert 1er (the innermost straight, which leads to the Sainte Dévote curve). No lap has ever broken the 70-second barrier in Monaco's F1 history. The … Sainte Devote remains one of the most difficult first corners around, the hairpin is the slowest on the calendar and the swimming pool section is still littered with expensive yachts.1984 Monaco F1 GP Senna finishing 2nd in the Toleman TG184 Hart.But it takes balls, more than anything, to master Monaco. ".Practice in Monaco is always on a Thursday due to Friday, the usual day for first running on track at other races, being a rest day.Comments are subject to our community guidelines, which can be viewed,Lewis Hamilton sets fastest lap ever at Monaco today,Sunbathing fan watches the first day of practice in Monaco today,A woman catches some rays as Carlos Sainz of Toro Rosso drives below,Women out sunbathing in Monte Carlo as the F1 drivers race by just yards away,Two sunbathers peer over a balcony as German driver Pascal Wehrlein races by,Glamorous spectators keep up with the action at Monaco,Lewis Hamilton was the fastest around the historic streets of Monte Carlo in first practice,Lewis Hamilton speeds past the superyachts in the harbour,Sebastian Vettel's car takes a corner in a Monaco tunnel,Lewis Hamilton speeds through the winding streets of Monaco,Boats in the harbour at Monte Carlo during the first day of practice,Max Verstappen in the Red Bull car was third fastest in Monaco's first practice,Lewis Hamilton greets a friend after the day's second practice session on Monaco,Fisheye view of Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes AMG GP in action on the streets of Monte Carlo,Lewis Hamilton on his motorbike in the paddock at Monaco,Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton in action during the first free practice session,Kimi Raikkonen set the second fastest lap in practice for the Monaco GP,Jenson Button signs autographs after the second practice,Lewis Hamilton complained at being unable to get enough heat into the tires,Keep up to date with all the latest F1 news, results, and gossip,Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO),British driver sets time of one minute 13.425 seconds to beat the record  of 1:13.622 set by Daniel Ricciardo in 2016,Ferrari ace then goes out in second practice and breaks Hamilton's mark with a new best of 1:12.720,The first Monaco Grand Prix was run in 1929,Ayrton Senna won the Monaco GP a record six times,Four drivers have died on the Monaco track, most recently Lorenzo Bandini in 1967,Daniel Ricciardo – Red Bull Racing – 37 points,Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing – 35 points. Instead the low speeds mean the issue is keeping the brakes up to working temperature. FASTEST LAPS. "I got enough laps in to feel confident with the car, we tried lots of set-up changes in both sessions and I'm happy with what we have," the Dutchman said. If you're new to Formula 1 and would like to learn more, the following links will help you become more familiar with the sport: Formula 1 Guide. F1.fandom.com The Lap Record for a particular circuit is the fastest time ever recorded in a Formula One Grand Prix around that circuit. This chance for the engine to ‘breathe’ is important as there are very few opportunities for the engine to intake fresh air. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click,Comments are subject to our community guidelines, which can be viewed,Daniel Ricciardo has every reason to be smiling in Monaco,Red Bull are the early pace setters on the historic course,Daniel Ricciardo will hope to continue his form and secure victory,Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO),The first Monaco Grand Prix was run in 1929,Ayrton Senna won the Monaco GP a record six times,Four drivers have died on the Monaco track, most recently Lorenzo Bandini in 1967. It will be great! 1984 Monaco F1 GP Senna finishing 2nd in the Toleman TG184 Hart But it takes balls, more than anything, to master Monaco. "I don't know where all the time is coming from but we're constantly improving this car and understanding it and understanding the tyres," the world championship leader said. I wish we had softer compounds. ... — Formula 1 (@F1) May 25, 2018. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. DANIEL RICCIARDO has smashed the Monaco lap record, with times set to tumble ever further. The air is also full of dust and rubber chunks that cannot be blown away due to the roof and walls of the tunnel building.Get tickets cheaper at F1-Fansite.com. Lap Record The Formula 1 Wiki Fandom. However, these requests were not followed up.In 2015 the "Tabac" curve was re-profiled, slightly anticipating the entrance and thus shortening the track by three meters (from 3,340 to 3,337 today).Due to the tight and twisty nature of the circuit, it favours the skill of the drivers over the power of the cars. "Monaco Grand Prix 2014: It's scary but cool. Includes a corner-by-corner analysis together with dates and start times for all the sessions, together with details of previous winners of the race and current lap record. "Coming into Turn 12, you carry so much speed into that corner, and then there's just the wall in front of you; going up the hill to Casino it's the same thing.When and how to watch F1's most famous races on Sky Sports F1 this weekend - plus the Indianapolis 500 too! This list is not the race lap record, which officially counts as the ‘lap record’, but is the fastest ever lap set at the current layout at each circuit in an F1 car. In the past many teams used to adjust the radiator intakes to allow for extra airflow, creating the once-common "Monaco nose". At the time, neither the Piscine complex nor the "La Rascasse" hairpin existed: after the "Tabac" curve, the route proceeded in the lane that is parallel to today's starting straight: the two sections (separated only by a row of trees) were joined by a single narrow hairpin called the "Gasometer". Race lap record 52.385 sec ( Pascal Wehrlein , Mahindra , 2019 ) The circuit is annually used on two weekends in May for Formula One Monaco Grand Prix and Formula E Monaco ePrix (odd years) or Historic Grand Prix of Monaco (even years). "Mercedes is still very strong and I don't think we can fight them for pole, but there is a big gap between second and third which we should be able to fill in qualifying tomorrow. He must place his car as close to the walls as possible, and even bounce off them from time to time.Qualifying is, arguably, the most important part of the weekend. "It's really incredible. Formula 1 FAQ. The cars charge past such landmarks as the Hotel de Paris, the Casino, and then through the tunnel and out around the harbour front.The track is created overnight by a team of engineers who take over when the traffic stops. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services.Aussie beat the clock in both practice sessions in a great day for Red Bull on the historic circuit.DANIEL RICCIARDO has smashed the Monaco lap record, with times set to tumble ever further.This season's Formula One cars are over a second quicker over a lap compared to the previous year as teams continue to eke out performance gains.Red Bull's speedy Aussie actually broke the track record in both of yesterday's practice sessions.The 28-year-old set a time of 1:12.126 before lunch before then setting a scorching time of 1:11.841.Ricciardo's effort obliterated the previous track record, which was set by Kimi Raikkonen last year, who took pole with a time of 1:12.178.Ricciardo's lap was set using the newest Pirelli hyper-soft tyres, which have been specially developed by the Italian firm for low-grip street circuits.It is the first time it has been used and the new tyre is set to see records tumble even further.Ricciardo said: "Having the hyper-soft tyre gives us that little bit more grip and it's pretty cool to be breaking lap record. "Already last year with these new cars it was something incredible and this year we have two stops softer compound. Formula One cars do not incorporate any form of forced cooling, relying solely on air moving over the car to remove heat from the radiator elements. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services.LEWIS Hamilton broke the record for the fastest lap ever recorded at the iconic track at Monaco today, only for Sebastian Vettel to beat it.Hamilton's time of 1:13:425  beat the record  of 1:13.622 set by Daniel Ricciardo in 2016.The triple world champion, who can equal the 65 career pole positions of boyhood idol Ayrton Senna in Saturday's qualifying, was fastest in morning practice ahead of Sunday's,But then in the afternoon Vettel, a four times world champion with Red Bull who leads.The Ferrari driver is hoping to end his team's long drought in the most glamorous -- and slowest - race on the calendar with a first Ferrari win in the Mediterranean principality since Michael Schumacher in 2001.Mercedes struggled to keep up with the pace and Hamilton finished eighth and Valtteri Bottas in tenth.Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany waves to the crowd after the second free practice.Hamitlon complained over the radio of being unable to get heat into the tires.Pirelli had initially nominated the minimum tyre pressures as 19 psi and 18 psi on the front and rear tyres respectively, but lowered that yesterday to 17 and 16.5.The Ferrari car is understood to be better at heating up the tyres at lower pressures while Hamilton complained about struggling to get them up to temperature, a problem confirmed by team-mate Valtteri Bottas.“Getting lap one out of the tyres for us is impossible,” Bottas said.“We need a few more warm-up laps. ",Sky Sports F1 the Home of Live and Exclusive F1 is available for just £10 a month.But, in a potential concern for Saturday qualifying - always one of the most intense and frenzied of the whole season - the team's stellar pace wasn't necessarily arriving immediately on F1's fastest tyre. However, there is very little.Several attempts have been made to improve cramped conditions in the pit garages. This solution lasted only a year and, in the following months, the main works were completed in time for the 1973 Grand Prix with the construction of a new section that still connects the "Tabac" curve to "Piscine" (Stade Nautique). "Every year we come back here, it gets faster and you really notice it when you're going past the barriers," Hamilton said. ".The unexpected star of Thursday's running was undoubtedly Alex Albon, who took his Toro Rosso into the top five - and within striking distance of Ferrari and Red Bull. Since then, only the greats have truly mastered those streets.The circuit is largely unchanged since Grover-Williams won. "It was a good day for us," the F1 rookie said. Monaco >> Occasional track The statistics • Google Map • Web site. "We've got Esteban [Ocon] in the simulator so hopefully he can help with some of that learning. A year later (at the request of Pasquale Lattuneddu, chief operating officer of Formula One Management), the whole area of the paddock was surrounded with shatterproof fences, in order to reduce and better manage the people authorized to access them.In 2003 the second "Piscine" curve underwent a treatment similar to that of the first curve, with the shifting of the barriers to improve visibility, while the arrangement of new temporary curbs went to slow down the passage of the cars. An F1 track guide to the Circuit de Monaco, the home of the F1 Monaco Grand Prix. It is however somewhat of a poisoned chalice – the enclosed nature of the tunnel means the air going into the engine through the airbox is extremely hot. ... — Formula 1 (@F1) May 25, 2018. The engine needs to have good acceleration here so the driver can reach top speed (‘vMax’) quickly as the straight is only 670m from the exit of Portiers to the chicane, or around eight or nine seconds. The 1973 images show the unusual passage under the new long tunnel, above which the pillars of the Loews hotel are being built. True, the racing is rarely mesmerising these days, but Monaco is about so much more than the action on track.It has become home to many of the current drivers, such as,The distance from pole position to Sainte Devote is just 140m – the shortest run to the first corner we see all season and the pole sitter will reach it in a touch over four seconds. It goes to Britain, Germany, Belgium and Italy through the summer. "Those things are coming together and I guess that's why you're seeing the performance advantage we have. Ferrari ace then goes out in second practice and breaks Hamilton's mark with a new best of 1:12.720. From Malaysia to Russia, and Korea to Austin, it explores new territories every year.But for a few months of the season it comes home, back to Europe. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Circuit de Monaco' is a temporary street circuit in the Principality of Monaco, known for hosting the Monaco Grand Prix. This was demonstrated by the.The tunnel can be sprinkled under wet conditions to provide for consistent track conditions, although during a full-wet race the tunnel gets drier throughout. After braking down to 105km/h for Sainte Devote, drivers get quickly back on the power for the climb up through Beau Rivage to Casino Square. Monaco in general has a hot-summer,Although the Mediterranean precipitation pattern leads to Monaco being quite dry by late May, due to the urban and narrow nature of the circuit, rainfall combined with the painted areas and the long tunnel makes wet racing extremely challenging. This change will result in the addition of 133 meters to the circuit - whose total length increased to 3,278 meters - adding the new portion along the harbor, which followed the layout of the swimming pool and ended in a new chicane around the "La Rascasse" restaurant and then joined (with a slight climb to the Anthony Noghes curve) to the starting straight. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. TRINTIGNANT Maurice. "The most important thing is that you have to learn to walk before you run," Hamilton said before his run in practice. 3.145. The cars are set up with high,Brake wear is not a problem during a race in Monaco. Driver and former winner,In January 2009, the circuit was voted top of the "Seven Sporting Wonders of the World" in a poll of 3,500,The lap starts with a short sprint up Boulevard Albert Ier, to the tight,Out of Massenet, the cars drive past the famous,After the hairpin, the cars head downhill again to a double right-hander called,Out of the tunnel, the cars have to brake hard for the tight left-right-left,Monaco is one of the two circuits which have only one,Monaco's street circuit places very different demands on the cars in comparison to the majority of the other circuits used during a Championship season. Both the circuit and the race were the brain children of Anthony Noghes, cigarette magnate and founder-president of the Automobile Club de Monaco. "And don't forget, these cars are around 250kg heavier than Ayrton Senna's car would have been back in the day and Senna had more engine power. In qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix Saturday, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton took the pole position with an incredible record-setting lap time of 1 minute 10.166 seconds. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The.From the Mirabeau the circuit suddenly descends in altitude down to the Grand Hotel Hairpin.