The paddock of the Monaco Grand Prix in 2024 has been buzzing with famous personalities since the start of the event. Among them is a well-known tennis star who brightened up the paddock as a special guest of the Mercedes Petronas AMG F1 team. Maria Sharapova, the former world number one in Russian tennis, was spotted in the paddock during the FP2 session on Friday. She seemed to thoroughly enjoy her time in the Mercedes garage, even sharing a story on Instagram about a pit stop where Lewis Hamilton changed the tires.
Mercedes had a successful practice session on Friday, with Lewis Hamilton leading the timesheets in FP1 and coming in second in FP2. This is a significant achievement for the team, considering their struggles to find speed and score points this season.
Maria Sharapova’s presence at an F1 race is not new, as she also attended the Monaco Grand Prix last year. On that occasion, she presented a trophy to a driver who secured pole position in Monte Carlo. Sharapova is known for her love of motorsport and is a close friend of Hamilton, having been present at the 2023 Miami Grand Prix.
British driver George Russell shared his thoughts on the upcoming qualifying session in Monaco. He had a strong practice session, showcasing his speed around the circuit in his W15 car. Although Mercedes has struggled to qualify on the front row this season, Russell remains hopeful for a turnaround in Monaco. He believes his team is capable of achieving a lap time among the top five, but acknowledges the unpredictable nature of the sport.
Both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell are eager to continue their impressive performance in qualifying, as they desperately need a win this season to keep their championship hopes alive. The next qualifying session will be crucial in determining the fate of Mercedes in Sunday’s race.
