Formula 1 is back on track this weekend for the Monaco Grand Prix and it could be no one other than Charles Leclerc, who grew up in these streets, to open track action ahead of everyone.
The Monegasque topped the time-sheet both on Friday and in this morning’s final free practice session, ahead of Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton.
In such a narrow street circuit, that makes it rather challenging to overtake, this is indeed the most important pole position of the season, so let’s have a look at how things played out under the Monaco sun.
Q1
All cars lined up in the pit exit looking for an early chance at a good lap, in a track where red flags and safeties are quite common.
First to go out are the two Mercedeses with Hamilton leading Russell, but first attempts are more of preparation laps for everyone except the Red Bulls and Lando Norris who set times straight away.
A brief appearance in P1 for Yuki Tsunoda, quickly beaten by Hamilton. As times begin to go down it’s Verstappen taking the lead, then Magnussen and Hulkenberg.
While Leclerc is about to close his first timed lap, his Ferrari teammate is involved in a potential impeding, for which the Spaniard and Albon will be investigated by the stewards at the end of the session.
Things are starting off quite well for McLaren with Oscar Piastri particularly flying in the first two sectors, the same can’t be said about Sergio Perez struggling in the elimination zone.
Meanwhile Leclerc picks up some debris as he falls behind in P12 and Daniel Ricciardo complains on the radio about traffic around Massenet.
An interaction between the Australian, Sargeant and Zhou, that is soon noted by the FIA.
Five minutes to go and it’s Leclerc leading the way ahead of both Haas and Oscar Piastri, with Alex Albon on the edge of P15 ahead of Sergio Perez.
Albon goes 5th on the next lap and Russell takes P1, while it’s only P14 for Perez. Quite a risky position for the Mexican, as his time is quickly beaten by Logan Sargeant and Fernando Alonso.
Only one lap for Lando Norris as well to push his yellow McLaren ahead into Q2 and it’s enough as he goes P10 just as the session comes to an end.
Nothing to do for Perez, he is out in Q1 struggling to find pace and battling understeer over the final corner, as his Red Bull is pushed back by Ricciardo who comes 8th and Gasly saves a place in the top 15 as well.
Out in Q1: Alonso, Sargeant, Perez, Bottas, Zhou
Q2
Before track action begins again Marshals clear off the asphalt from some branding stickers that came off during Q1.
First timed lap is set by Lando Norris, while it’s an early almost brush with the barrier for Nico Hulkenberg.
Early leader is no one other than Max Verstappen in his shiny Red Bull, but his time is beaten by Carlos Sainz, not too far behind is Tsunoda.
A good attempt for Esteban Ocon who goes 4th, but is impeded by Hulkenberg who will be investigated after qualifying is over.
Halfway through the session the Alpines seem to have pace, as cars come into the pits for a change of tyres. Everyone, but Max Verstappen, who has decided to stay in the garage as he feels safe to go through with his current time.
A McLaren one-two split by Verstappen in the closing minutes of this Q2, while it’s Gasly and Ocon hanging over the edge of elimination now.
A late safe for Pierre Gasly who ends the session in P5 and it’s the first appearance in Q3 of the season for Williams, as Alex Albon makes it to P10.
Out in Q2: Ocon, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Stroll, Magnussen
Q3
Closing Q2 ahead of everyone, Lando Norris begins this last session having already used his extra set of Softs to make it through a struggling Q1.
A good first attempt for Hamilton that is quickly beaten by Charles Leclerc, who puts his Ferrari in P1 with quite a good lap: 1m10.418s is now the time to beat.
And it’s Oscar Piastri coming the closest – only 0.026s slower – as Verstappen’s lap is ruined by his RB struggling greatly in the final sector. Behind are Carlos Sainz and George Russell, meanwhile Verstappen goes for another attempt but reports trouble in Turns 5 and 10 on the radio.
Preparation lap for Sainz while Russell is flying in the first sector.
One last try for Verstappen for what would be his 9th consecutive pole position this season, but the car is slippery and he brushes with the wall ruining the lap, only P6 for him.
Less than thirty seconds to go and Charles Leclerc taking pole position on home soil with a stunning lap: 1m10.270.
Piastri is securing P2, while his teammate Lando Norris is 4th.
