Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Thursday 24 May 2018
Ferrari looking to get back on track in F1 at Monaco GP

By JEROME PUGMIRE the right direction. But it is
MONACO (AP) — For Fer- up and down. The first five
rari to win in Formula One, it races (of the season) are
needs to stop gifting points always very difficult. It's a
to Mercedes. learning curve."
Things could start to After a poor race last year
change at this weekend's — Valtteri Bottas finished
Monaco Grand Prix. Ferrari fourth and Hamilton was
dominated the race last seventh — Mercedes is un-
year, securing a 1-2 finish as derstandably cautious.
Sebastian Vettel beat Kimi "It's very intense, you have
Raikkonen. to be more intelligent here
Defending champion Lewis than anywhere else," Ham-
Hamilton has won the last ilton said. "It's the most
two races with Mercedes technically and mentally
this season to move 17 challenging circuit of the
points ahead of Vettel in season." Red Bull has a
their title battle despite trail- good chance because
ing by the same amount af- the curvy track has less
ter Vettel won the first two. Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel of Germany, left, is flanked by Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of long straights, thus negat-
With both drivers chasing Britain during a news conference, at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Wednesday, May 23, ing the superior speed of
a fifth F1 title to move level 2018. Mercedes and Ferrari. Both
with Argentine great Juan Associated Press Red Bull drivers have shown
Manuel Fangio. good speed, although con-
Hamilton and Vettel sat made a rash error of judg- ever. At the Spanish GP seen whether it was a one- sistency remains elusive.
next to each other at a ment late on and dropped two weeks ago, he lost off and Ferrari still has more Daniel Ricciardo won in
pre-race new conference down to fourth, rather than track position after Ferrari pace. China , but teammate Max
on Wednesday. consolidating a position of called him in for an extra Barcelona's track layout Verstappen is looking for his
Because of the glare of the strength against Hamilton. stop for tires and finished and surface suited Mer- first win after an incident-
cameras, they slipped on Vettel struggles to contain fourth again. The decision cedes, whereas Monaco's packed season.
sunglasses. Hamilton put his his composure at times. seemed overly risky and is more awkward. Because The Dutch driver has failed
on first, and Vettel quickly Late last season, the Ger- revealed a tendency to of the tight and twisty na- to finish twice and has been
followed suit. man driver threw away make panicky calls within ture of the 3.4-kilometer embroiled in typically con-
Rivals, it seems, in every- the chance to regain the the Ferrari team. (2.1-mile) street circuit, troversial moments. Ricciar-
thing they do. championship lead from "It's fair to summarize Bar- whoever takes pole posi- do crashed into the back
But it's Ferrari that needs to Hamilton with a similarly celona wasn't a good race tion on Saturday is favored of him in Azerbaijan as they
stops conceding points like brash move during the Sin- for us. We fell a bit behind," for victory in the glittering fought for position with a
an unplugged oil leak. gapore GP. It set the tone Vettel said. "Time will tell if jewel in the F1 calendar. podium in sight, and both
Vettel took pole position in for the remaining races, as we've found a good direc- "I anticipate it's going to be went out. It earned both
Azerbaijan two races ago. his title bid spiraled out of tion." a difficult weekend and we drivers a stern rebuke from
But in that race he found control. Although Mercedes may not have the pace team principal Christian
himself second after a The lost points are not grabbed a 1-2 finish in Bar- of the others," Hamilton Horner, but tensions have
botched pit stop. Then, he all down to Vettel, how- celona, it remains to be said. "I think we're working apparently appeased.q

Viviani wins 17th stage for 4th win, Yates keeps Giro lead

on the leader's pink jersey the rain-soaked approach knew who was caught be-
after the 17th stage. to the finish, but Zdenek hind. "I hope everyone is
The Italian won a bunch Stybar and Fabio Sabatini tired because I'm tired."
sprint through rain at the gave a great leadout for Domenico Pozzovivo re-
end of the hilly, 155-kilome- Viviani, their Quick-Step mained 3:11 behind Yates
ter ride from Riva del Garda Floors teammate. and 39 seconds ahead of
to Iseo, holding up four fin- "I had a few slips, and I just four-time Tour de France
gers as he crossed the line. lost the nerve," said a teary champion Chris Froome as
Sam Bennett, who was Bennett, his voice cracking the races prepares to head
looking for his third victory, with emotion. "I just couldn't into the Alps.
was second and Niccolo get out. I had the legs again Thursday's 18th stage is a
Bonifazio was third. and I just couldn't get out." mainly flat 196-kilometer
"Bennett could have There was no change in the route from Abbiategrasso
moved level today. It was a general classification with to Prato Nevoso, but ends
stage that was more suited Yates leading defending with a steep Category 1
to him. He tried to put us champion Tom Dumoulin climb — the first of three
in difficulty," said Viviani. "It by 56 seconds. summit finishes.
Italy's Elia Viviani, 2nd left, crosses the finish line to win the 17th
stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Riva del Garda to was a hard stage because "There's no easy day at the There are four mountain
Iseo, Italy, Wednesday, May 23, 2018. no one wanted to let the Giro," Yates said. "This was passes on the route up
Associated Press breakaway go. The team another hard one and it to Bardonecchia Friday,
did a super job. I think they could have some impact before Saturday's "queen
Associated Press of this year's Giro d'Italia on were perfect." on the coming mountain stage" up to Cervinia.
ISEO, Italy (AP) — Elia Viviani Wednesday, and Simon Danny van Poppel was the stages. I heard about splits The Giro finishes in Rome on
sprinted to his fourth victory Yates maintained his hold first to launch his sprint on in the bunch but I never Sunday.q