It’s Monaco GP Week … By Kevin Garside - i Newspaper

Monaco needs no introduction but if there were ever an incentive to pack a bag and dash to Formula One’s jewel by the Med it is surely the volatile dynamic at the top of the grid in 2018.

Talk about a knife-edge! Though Lewis Hamilton made it back-to-back wins in Barcelona, his victory in the Spanish Grand Prix was his first on merit. Three teams have tasted victory already in the opening five races, heightening the excitement surrounding the return to the sport’s most celebrated event.

Here’s a brief summary of the season so far: Though it appeared Hamilton had Australia in his pocket, the season’s opening race was claimed by Sebastian Vettel after some sharp thinking on the Ferrari pit wall stole the lead through the pit stops.

When Vettel cleaned up at the second race in Bahrain, an ominous red glow spread across the pit lane. The team that was quickest in winter testing in Barcelona was in complete control already 17 points better off than the defending champion.

And then came China, where Ferrari fell asleep on the pit wall to allow Valtteri Bottas to nick the lead for Mercedes. If that were not bad enough Red Bull’s Max Verstappen misjudged a corner on fresh rubber and clattered into the back of Vettel, sending down to eighth.

Verstappen was hit with a ten-second penalty which effectively left his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo to make best use of Red Bull’s insane pace on the new, softer tyres, easily reeling in Bottas for the win.

More chaos followed in Azerbaijan, where the Red Bulls came together on the 40th lap to bring out the safety car. Bottas, who was leading courtesy of staying out when Vettel came in for fresh rubber, dived into the pits before the safety car appeared to retain position. A hasty lunge into turn one when the safety car retreated cost Vettel a lock up, inviting Hamilton through into second and his Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen into third.

Hamilton was content with that having not threatened all weekend then saw his team-mate’s tyre explode to gift him the lead on the penultimate lap. Happy days. His pole to flag victory in Barcelona stretched his lead to 17 points but this is Monaco, where pole is so vital to prospects and where the one-lap battle looks particularly tight.

Red Bull’s caress of soft tyres gives them their best chance of pole to date. Ferrari have been flying in qualifying until Barcelona, but this is no Circuit de Catalunya and Vettel will fancy his chances of re-imposing his one-lap grip. For Mercedes, Bottas has been growing in confidence and Hamilton is imperious around these streets.

I wish I could tell you were to put your money. Maybe it is better spent on an air ticket and some cracking hospitality. There is no place like the harbour across a Monaco weekend. Go on, treat yourself, you will not be disappointed.