Tuesday 11 December 2018 12:14, UK
This weekend's Monaco Grand Prix is set to be the fastest in history with the lap record for F1's iconic race expected to be shattered.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo set a new track record of 1:11.841 in Thursday practice, but the times are expected to tumble further still when the intensity of the action ratchets up for qualifying.
A year after Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen claimed pole position with a lap of 1:12.178 around the legendary 3.37km circuit, it is anticipated the 2018 cars will lap motorsport's most famous venue in less than 70 seconds for the first time in its history.
"It's pretty cool to be breaking lap records," said Ricciardo. "I'm glad that was the fastest lap that anyone has ever done as it felt so quick, but I think on Saturday we will go even quicker again."
On Sunday, Michael Schumacher's 14-year race-lap record of 1:14.439, registered in the 2004 Monaco GP, is also expected to be blitzed.
But the increased speed also means increased hazard for the drivers, reducing their reaction time to correct a mistake to barely a blink around a track where even the slightest error can mean a session-ending prang into the omnipresent barriers.
Why will Monaco 2018 be so fast?
Barring any bad weather, the anticipated new fastest laps are a result of changes to the track surface and the introduction of a new tyre by Pirelli.
The new-for-2018 hypersoft compound, debuting this weekend, is thought to be around a second-a-lap quicker than Pirelli's next-softest tyre, the ultrasoft, and is two 'steps' below the softest tyre available 12 months ago.
While the hypersoft is considered to be the principal factor behind the lap-time gains, the intense competition between Red Bull, Ferrari and Mercedes at the front, along with changes to the track surface, should also see lap times tumble.
"With new tarmac, hypersoft tyres and car evolution we're going to see scary pace at Monaco this weekend," said Sky F1 pundit Martin Brundle. "Could we a sub 1:10 lap? That's already averaging over 103mph and when you consider how the track feeds through and is so tight, that's an incredible average.
"Qualifying will be quite something."
But who will be fastest in qualifying?
Vindicating their pre-weekend billing of favourites to win this weekend, Red Bull topped both of Thursday's practice sessions in 1-2 formation.
"I would still rate Red Bull as the favourites, then Ferrari and then us," said Mercedes chief Toto Wolff afterwards. "You can't have a car that is quick everywhere."
World championship leader Lewis Hamilton was over half a second slower than Ricciardo and admitted: "We have a lot of ground we need to pick up if we want to be in the fight for the win."
While Mercedes and Ferrari will be able to turn up their engines for qualifying, an advantage Red Bull don't possess, the characteristics of the tight and twisty Monaco layout should continue to play to the strengths of the Red Bull car.
"The intention this weekend is to try and win and be dominant," warned Ricciardo.
