He'll be racing an F1 car in Monaco for the very first time, but Brendon Hartley will still be in familiar territory next weekend.
The Toro Rosso driver is well acquainted with Monte Carlo, having raced on its demanding street circuit during his formative years in the sport but also as a resident of the exclusive Principality.
"I’ve lived in Monaco for coming up for three and a half years. I actually live on the race circuit and can see the track from my apartment," says the kiwi.
"Monaco is one of the highlights of the calendar and living here, there were times when I asked myself if I’d ever see the day that I’d actually get to race it again.
"New Zealand is definitely my home but I’ve made a home for myself together with Sarah and a great group of friends in Monaco, so this week is going to feel a little bit like a home race.
"It will be nice to wake up in my own bed and have all those routines of being at home."
The 28-year-old sampled Monaco for the first time while racing in the junior formulae and admits he has a crush on the venue.
"It’s a track I love. I’ve raced there a couple of times before in World Series by Renault. I had a third and fourth there. I think when I was third, Daniel (Ricciardo) won the race," he remembers.
"I had a pretty strong race one year coming from P8 to P4, making a few good overtakes on the way.
"I love racing on street tracks so it’s something I’m looking forward to, I’d like to say I know the track pretty well, having been there a couple of times before and it being in my back yard, so to speak.
©ToroRosso
"The track in Monaco is completely unique. I think it would be hard for them to design a track like that today. It’s got so much history and we all love it," he adds.
"It’s the slowest track on the calendar but I can assure you that in a Formula 1 car it feels anything but slow.
"It is a huge adrenaline rush. Clipping those kerbs, millimetres from the wall. It’s a huge rush and it’s massively satisfying to get a good lap around there."
Challenges naturally abound around the glitzy but treacherous course. But getting on top of things at an early stage is paramount says Hartley.
"The track is evolving the whole weekend, starting with a completely dirty track. It’s one of those races that evolves every single lap.
"Come qualifying, when the grip’s going up, that’s a real thrill. It’s definitely a track you need to build up to.
"To navigate around there, millimetres from the wall on the limit, requires a great deal of confidence behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car and it’s what a lot of us drivers look forward to and thrive off.
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