2018 Monaco Grand Prix

Championship standings

Lewis Hamilton leads Sebastian Vettel by seventeen points in the Drivers’ Championship after winning in Spain. Mercedes lead Ferrari in the Constructors’.

Previous race

Hamilton won comfortably in Spain, but the race was defined by a multi-car retirement on the opening lap. Grosjean spun back onto the circuit at turn 3, his spinning rear tyres creating a smoke plume that caught Gasly and Hülkenberg — both retired on the spot. Bottas finished second, Verstappen third.

Tyres

The race marks the competitive debut of Pirelli’s new hypersoft compound (pink sidewall), the softest tyre in the 2018 range.

Between-race developments

Following controversy over Ferrari’s halo-mounted mirrors in Spain — where the design incorporated aerodynamic fins — the FIA has banned winglets on halo-mounted mirrors ahead of this race weekend.

Penalties

Grosjean carries a three-place grid penalty for his role in the opening lap collision in Spain. Verstappen is set back ten places for an unscheduled gearbox change and a further ten places for exceeding his allocation of MGU-K units; the combined penalty places him at the back of the grid.

Practice

Ricciardo was fastest across all three practice sessions, improving his time with each run. In FP3, Verstappen crashed heavily at turn 16, leaving his car damaged beyond repair before qualifying.