The sixth race of the 2017 Formula One season is set to take place this weekend in Monte-Carlo with the Monaco Grand Prix next on the calendar. After an impressive performance at the Spanish Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton will be hoping for another impressive qualifying session and race as he looks to close the gap on Sebastian Vettel in the drivers' championship.
Hamilton and Vettel are expected to be the only two drivers in fray for the drivers' championship this year unless their teammates Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen can win next few races to mount a challenge.
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The constructors' championship is also a two-horse race and it is expected to be that way for the rest of the season with Mercedes eight points ahead of Ferrari at the moment. However, teams might take some time to get used to the Monaco Grand Prix this year as a number of changes have been made to the track.
New kerbs have been installed near the tracks swimming pool complex so that the drivers can avoid cutting corners. Drivers who are usually chasing extra lap time have been tempted to use the old speed bumps and to prevent that from happening a new large yellow kerb has been placed on the apex.
New asphalt has also been put down from the final corner to the exit of Ste. Devote, between Casino Square and the entry of Portiers, from the exit of the Tunnel to the entry of the chicane, and from just before Tabac to after the Swimming Pool.
Improvements to the TecPro barriers have been made at Turns 1, 4, 11, 12 and 15, while extra guardrail posts have been added between Turns 1 and 3 and Turns 4 and 5. A debris fence has also been installed while the inside guardrail has been increased to three rows high at turn 13.
And finally, the speed bumps at Turns 15 and 16 have been removed and replaced by one speed bump parallel to the track after the kerb on the apex of Turn 16.
