Monaco is a challenging circuit for a first timer, thus Kiwi Formula 2 rookie Liam Lawson says he will be looking to Brendon Hartley for some pre-race advice.
Hartley has driven the Monte Carlo street circuit, which he now calls home, on several occasions.
In 2011, Hartley claimed a podium in a Formula Renault 3.5 race at Monaco.
Seven years later, he would make his Monaco Grand Prix debut with Toro Rosso. He would retire after being collected from behind by Charles Leclerc.
Lawson, who made a sublime start to his maiden F2 campaign last weekend at Bahrain, is slated to get his first taste of the Monaco street circuit next month.
While he says he has turned hundreds of laps of the circuit on the simulator, little compares to the awe of driving a real car around the principality for the first time.
To get a small head start, the 19-year-old says he will be seeking advice from his fellow New Zealander.
“That would definitely be the plan,” Lawson said in a Newshub interview. “I caught up with Brendon, it would have been over a year ago now.
“We did some go-karting stuff together in New Zealand – that was the last time I saw him properly.
“It would definitely be something I want to do. I’m sure he’d be at the Grand Prix, so that would be really, really cool to do.”
Lawson says he looked up to Hartley when he first started his motor racing journey.
Like Hartley was between 2008 and 2010, Lawson is part of the Red Bull junior programme, providing him with a direct link to a coveted drive in Formula 1.
However, Lawson admits his focus remains firmly on achieving his goals in F2.
“[Hartley] sort of is an idol since I was younger,” says Lawson.
“I only met him properly in person a couple of years ago, when I was in Formula Four and he was Formula One.
“I was looking up to him massively. I went and introduced myself, and spoke to him a little bit there.
“Since then, I’ve spoken to him quite a bit. When he made F1, he gave everyone a bit of hope again that it is possible from New Zealand.
“Technically, Formula Two is one step away from Formula One, but it’s very common to get guys spending 4-5 years in F2 – just because it’s so hard to get the break.
“You’ve got to be careful about how far you think ahead and not get too ahead of yourself.”
The Monaco Grand Prix will be held on May 22-24.
