Formula 1 returns to perhaps its most iconic track as the teams face off at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen got back to winning ways last time out with victory at the Emila Romagna Grand Prix but his season has suddenly taken on a more competitive edge with the emergence of Lando Norris as a potential title challenger.
McLaren’s Norris claimed a stunning win two weeks ago in Miami, beating Verstappen after a perfectly timed safety car and took the reigning world champion to the end of the race at Imola, going as far as saying he needed only a couple more laps to overtake the Red Bull.
Nonetheless, Verstappen still has a healthy 48-point lead in the drivers’ championship to Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc with Norris, though gaining ground, 60 points behind in fourth and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez between them in third.
Elsewhere, Lewis Hamilton‘s worst-ever start to an F1 season continues though he managed to claw back a place in the drivers’ standings with a sixth-placed finish at Imola and will look to turn around his fortunes this weekend.
Follow latest updates from the Monaco Grand Prix with The Independent
Toto Wolff confident he can lead struggling Mercedes back to top of Formula One
A bullish Toto Wolff insists he remains the right man to lead Mercedes and has backed Lewis Hamilton to land his record eighth world championship at Ferrari.
Hamilton’s Mercedes team arrive for this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix following a string of underwhelming results which leaves them a distant fourth in the constructors’ championship.
Hamilton, who is departing the Silver Arrows at the end of the year to join the Scuderia, will gear up for Sunday’s 78-lap race here in the principality only eighth in the standings, with just 35 points on the board, compared to championship leader Max Verstappen’s 161.
Mike Jones24 May 2024 17:25
Mike Jones24 May 2024 17:14
Monaco Grand Prix LIVE
What was interesting from both sessions today was just how many cars clipped the walls and struggled with the bouncing off the low curbs on this street circuit.
Both Red Bulls and George Russell of Mercedes were vocal in their displeasure going around the track.
Mike Jones24 May 2024 17:10
Monaco GP – FP2 LIVE
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:11.278
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.188
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.475
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.535
- Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.675
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.684
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +0.784
- Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +0.821
- Alex Albon (Williams) +0.979
- George Russell (Mercedes) +0.982
- Yuki Tsunoda (RB)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Kevin Magnussen (Haas)
- Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
- Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)
- Daniel Ricciardo (RB)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Logan Sargeant (Williams)
- Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)
- Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)
Mike Jones24 May 2024 17:08
Monaco GP – FP2 LIVE
As the chequered flag goes no-one manages to catch up to Charles Leclerc’s 1:11 run. Lewis Hamilton, after topping the leaderboard in FP1, finishes second in FP2 as well.
Is that a sign he’s in for a good weekend? You can never tell with Mercedes recently.
Mike Jones24 May 2024 17:03
Monaco GP – FP2 LIVE
The majority of teams are now running the soft tyres and trying to eke out as much data as possible. George Russell says that something ‘feels weird’ on the straights for his Mercedes.
Mike Jones24 May 2024 16:56
Monaco GP – FP2 LIVE
Wow. Charles Leclerc needs to escape on the straight at Sainte Devote which brings out the yellow flags briefly. The Ferrari isn’t in any trouble though as is back on its way soon enough.
Mike Jones24 May 2024 16:53
Monaco GP – FP2 LIVE
Race control have noted an incident between Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda after the RB driver was in the way of the Red Bull twice between the Swimming Pool section and Racasse.
Nothing comes from it though. 10 minutes left in the session.
Mike Jones24 May 2024 16:51
Monaco GP – FP2 LIVE
1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:11.278
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.188
3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.475
4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.535
5. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.675
Mike Jones24 May 2024 16:45