Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton struggled during practice for the Monaco Grand Prix. AFP
Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton struggled during practice for the Monaco Grand Prix. AFP
Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton struggled during practice for the Monaco Grand Prix. AFP
Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton struggled during practice for the Monaco Grand Prix. AFP

Lewis Hamilton struggles on 'bumpiest track ever' at Monaco Grand Prix


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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton had a difficult outing during Friday's practice session at the Monaco Grand Prix, comparing it to the "bumpiest roller-coaster ride ever".

The seven-time world champion was 12th quickest after the second session of the day, more than 1.6 seconds off Charles Leclerc and his Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz.

Hamilton criticised the track and said the bumpy ride was difficult to endure, even as home favourite Leclerc completed an impressive practice double with the Ferrari man now favourite to take the all-important pole position on Saturday at Formula One's showpiece event.

Hamilton's revival at Barcelona a week ago could be short-lived following a troubling day in which he was jolted in his bouncing Mercedes.

Mercedes felt they had resolved the majority of the porpoising issues which have so far plagued their season, so Hamilton's frustrations will be a major cause for concern as they bid to get their campaign back on track.

"It is the bumpiest the track has ever been and possibly the bumpiest track I have ever driven," said Hamilton.

"Our car bounces a lot. It is different bouncing to what we have experienced in the past, it is at low speed and the bumps on the track make it worse.

Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc during the second practice session in Monaco. AFP
Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc during the second practice session in Monaco. AFP

"I am fighting the car. I don't remember experiencing anything like that before. When you do try to put a lap together, the grip doesn't feel terrible, it is just my eyeballs are coming out of their sockets.

"We have work to do overnight to fix that and - as anticipated - we are not as quick as the Ferraris and Red Bulls. Our challenge is to stay ahead of McLaren.

"I really hope for a better day tomorrow. It feels like the car has the potential to be up there but there are all these things that are hindering us at the moment - but we will not stop fighting."

There was nothing new at the top of the speed chart on Friday with Ferrari and Red Bull once again dominating, but the Red Bull camp is settled following team orders that cost Sergio Perez a win in Barcelona.

Red Bull ordered Perez to surrender the lead to teammate Max Verstappen, who won his third consecutive race and fourth overall to take the F1 points lead from Leclerc. Perez found the call “unfair” but said on Friday in Monaco the team had discussed the order.

“We spoke after the race. It’s all clear, and we all agree that we could have done a better job,” Perez said. “We are on the same page and we move on. It’s a great atmosphere at Red Bull and we have great momentum.”

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US PGA Championship in numbers

Joost Luiten produced a memorable hole in one at the par-three fourth in the first round.

To date, the only two players to win the PGA Championship after winning the week before are Rory McIlroy (2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational) and Tiger Woods (2007, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational). Hideki Matsuyama or Chris Stroud could have made it three.

Number of seasons without a major for McIlroy, who finished in a tie for 22nd.

4 Louis Oosthuizen has now finished second in all four of the game's major championships.

In the fifth hole of the final round, McIlroy holed his longest putt of the week - from 16ft 8in - for birdie.

For the sixth successive year, play was disrupted by bad weather with a delay of one hour and 43 minutes on Friday.

Seven under par (64) was the best round of the week, shot by Matsuyama and Francesco Molinari on Day 2.

Number of shots taken by Jason Day on the 18th hole in round three after a risky recovery shot backfired.

Jon Rahm's age in months the last time Phil Mickelson missed the cut in the US PGA, in 1995.

10 Jimmy Walker's opening round as defending champion was a 10-over-par 81.

11 The par-four 11th coincidentally ranked as the 11th hardest hole overall with a scoring average of 4.192.

12 Paul Casey was a combined 12 under par for his first round in this year's majors.

13 The average world ranking of the last 13 PGA winners before this week was 25. Kevin Kisner began the week ranked 25th.

14 The world ranking of Justin Thomas before his victory.

15 Of the top 15 players after 54 holes, only Oosthuizen had previously won a major.

16 The par-four 16th marks the start of Quail Hollow's so-called "Green Mile" of finishing holes, some of the toughest in golf.

17 The first round scoring average of the last 17 major champions was 67.2. Kisner and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 67 on day one at Quail Hollow.

18 For the first time in 18 majors, the eventual winner was over par after round one (Thomas shot 73).

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Updated: May 28, 2022, 8:34 AM