Sainz: Qualifying on hypersofts will be "madness"

Carlos Sainz is excited by the prospect of Monaco qualifying on the new hypersoft compound. They are yet to be used at a Formula 1 race weekend and make their debut at next week’s Monaco Grand Prix.

Sainz’s Renault team have allocated him 11 sets of hypersoft tyres, leaving only one of each supersoft and ultrasoft.

Renault are fourth in the constructors’ standings after five rounds, one point ahead of nearest rivals McLaren.

Sainz is on a run of three consecutive points finishes, and his impressive qualifying pace has been a major factor in his form.

He believes that qualifying in Monaco will be crazy on the hypersoft tyre: “This tyre around Monaco could be something special, we will see very quick lap times if that is the case.

“I would be prepared to see lap records in Monaco again.”

Teams qualified on the supersoft tyre last year in Monaco, and Sainz was full of praise for the new pink striped tyre.

“Last year with the new cars it was something incredible,” he said. “This year, two steps softer compound and the tyre that for me is the best tyre Pirelli has done in a lot of years, it’s going to be crazy.”