Charles Leclerc delivered under pressure to put his Ferrari on pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Leclerc was the favourite heading into Saturday’s crucial qualifying session in Monte Carlo and the homegrown star held his nerve to take top spot. The Monegasque saw off McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by 0.154 seconds, with Carlos Sainz third in the other scarlet car and Lando Norris fourth.
Max Verstappen, who was bidding to take a record ninth consecutive pole, could manage only sixth after he hit the wall on the exit of Sainte Devote. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will start either side of the Red Bull driver after they qualified fifth and seventh respectively for Mercedes.
Leclerc has failed to convert his previous two poles in Monte Carlo into a victory. But, with overtaking notoriously difficult on the unique 2.1-mile course, he will still start as strong favourite to take the win.
Follow live updates from the Monaco Grand Prix with The Independent
Driver Standings ahead of Monaco:
1. Max Verstappen – 161 points
2. Charles Leclerc – 113 points
3. Sergio Perez – 107 points
4. Lando Norris – 101 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 93 points
6. Oscar Piastri – 53 points
7. George Russell – 44 points
8. Lewis Hamilton – 35 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 33 points
10. Yuki Tsunoda – 15 points
11. Lance Stroll – 11 points
12. Oliver Bearman – 6 points
13. Nico Hulkenberg – 6 points
14. Daniel Ricciardo – 5 points
15. Esteban Ocon – 1 point
16. Kevin Magnussen – 1 point
17. Alex Albon – 0 points
18. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
19. Pierre Gasly – 0 points
20. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
21. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
Kieran Jackson26 May 2024 10:14
Qualifying report: Charles Leclerc has Monaco victory in his sight – as Max Verstappen bemoans Red Bull ‘go-kart’
Half the job is done. Nowhere on the 24-race Formula 1 calendar does qualifying matter so much and, most pertinently, for Monaco’s homegrown star. Twice previously, Charles Leclerc has been unable to capitalise on a pole position on the streets of Monte-Carlo: once in 2021 due to a drive-shaft issue which meant he was unable to start the race and second in 2022, when Ferrari blundered in their pit-lane strategy.
But as they say, third time’s a charm.
This seems a different Ferrari outfit now, too. Led by the cheeky but firm personality of team principal Fred Vasseur, the Scuderia are showing clear signs of progress both in car development and, perhaps more crucially, in the pitlane. So much so that Lewis Hamilton is gambling the end of his glittering career on a move to Maranello next year.
But 2024 may have some life left in it yet. As for Leclerc, he’s made changes too. Long-term engineer Xavi Marcos was ditched prior to the last race and it was his new man in the ear, Bryan Bozz, who informed the Monegasque of his pole position on Saturday, two-tenths clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri – a surprise name in second.
Kieran Jackson26 May 2024 10:02
Starting grid for the Monaco Grand Prix:
Pit lane. Nico Hulkenberg*
Pit lane. Kevin Magnussen
*Both Haas cars start in the pit-lane as a result of being disqualified from qualifying due to their rear-wing exceeding the limit set in the regulations
Kieran Jackson26 May 2024 09:54
Good morning!
It’s raceday in Monaco!
Charles Leclerc starts on pole for the third time in the principality but can he this time secure the win? McLaren’s Oscar Piastri is alongside him, with Leclerc’s Ferrari team-mate Carlos Sainz in third.
Max Verstappen? Way down, in sixth! So on a track where overtaking is near-impossible, it represents a huge chance for the chasing pack to make up some ground on the championship leader!
Stay right here for all the build-up – lights out is at 2pm (BST)!
Kieran Jackson26 May 2024 09:51
Goodbye!
Thanks for joining us today, as Charles Leclerc took pole position at his home race in Monaco!
Can he claim his first victory here tomorrow? We’ll find out at 2pm (BST)!
We’ll be back with live coverage then, so until lights out, have a very good evening!
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 18:29
Qualifying report: Charles Leclerc has Monaco victory in his sight – as Max Verstappen bemoans Red Bull ‘go-kart’
Half the job is done. Nowhere on the 24-race Formula 1 calendar does qualifying matter so much and, most pertinently, for Monaco’s homegrown star. Twice previously, Charles Leclerc has been unable to capitalise on a pole position on the streets of Monte-Carlo: once in 2021 due to a drive-shaft issue which meant he was unable to start the race and second in 2022, when Ferrari blundered in their pit-lane strategy.
But as they say, third time’s a charm.
This seems a different Ferrari outfit now, too. Led by the cheeky but firm personality of team principal Fred Vasseur, the Scuderia are showing clear signs of progress both in car development and, perhaps more crucially, in the pitlane. So much so that Lewis Hamilton is gambling the end of his glittering career on a move to Maranello next year.
But 2024 may have some life left in it yet. As for Leclerc, he’s made changes too. Long-term engineer Xavi Marcos was ditched prior to the last race and it was his new man in the ear, Bryan Bozz, who informed the Monegasque of his pole position on Saturday, two-tenths clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri – a surprise name in second.
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 17:50
Carlos Sainz, after qualifying third:
“Overall it is an improvement from me. To step it up and be P3 was a step forward, not entirely happy because I could’ve been fighting for pole position. Charles has been doing an amazing job, I’m happy for him.
“Yesterday I looked quick on the long runs, they look much better. It’s just a matter of track position, we will give it a best shot. The priority will be to win with Charles tomorrow.”
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 16:35
Oscar Piastri, atfer qualifying second:
“Just a couple of mistakes at the end but credit to Charles who’s been incredibly quick all weekend. Nice we’re starting on the front row, we’re building good momentum.
“A good start always helps. If we can get into the lead, you control it very easily. If not, then the strategy – overtaking here is not easy, we’ll try our best. Good chance tomorrow.”
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 16:24