Le qualifications of the Monaco Grand Prix, just concluded, never disappoints in terms of emotion and surprises. This year too, Saturday in the Principality is no different, proving to be important. With the walls so close that they seem pressing at every turn, the drivers' pinpoint precision and cool-headedness are essential to gaining a good position on the starting grid. In today's session, the undisputed protagonist is Charles Leclerc, the home driver, who took pole with some perfect laps. Oscar piastri e Carlos Sainz following them they showed off their best weapons to obtain the maximum result.
Qualifying begins, Tsunoda surprises
The first qualifying session of the Monaco GP brings attention to Yuki tsunoda, which already during the last session of Free tests had demonstrated its strength on the narrow streets of the Principality's street circuit. Accompanied by Haas who, for the first laps, conquer the top of the rankings, at least until the big teams begin their laps.
Charles Leclerc, after starting the weekend with a possible pole position in the previous sessions, Q1 begins with fairly high times, disturbed by the inevitable traffic that is created on the Monegasque circuit. Of the same opinion, too Max Verstappen, who does not demonstrate his usual potential, complaining about the poor "drivability" of the single-seater. Also in difficulty Carlos Sainz who risked exclusion several times, probably also due to theimpeding by Alex Albon which will be investigated after the session ends.
Both Stake F1 Team with Bottas and Zhou, they did not make it to Q2, finishing 19th and 20th respectively. The second Red Bull driver was also sensational, achieving only 18th place.
- excluded from Q2: Fernando Alonso, Logan Sergeant, Sergius Perez, Valtteri Bottas and Guanyu Zhou.
From 1st to 15th the gap is only 0.395, making it the closest Q1 in history.
In Q2 of qualifying for the Monaco GP it's a close fight for the Alpine team
Charles Leclerc starts Q2 with a set of new tyres, in fact both he and Max had not chosen the replacement during construction, attempting their best times with used soft tyres. Unlike other drivers, including Sainz and Tsunoda.
Its Sainz he leads everyone in the first laps of Q2 making his best lap since the beginning of the weekend, followed by Yuki like we've never seen it before.
Lewis Hamilton returns to be talked about with a first fuchsia helmet sector, together with Oscar piastri which takes first place just 69 thousandths less than Charles Leclerc. Teammate Lando, already in danger in Q1 due to traffic, manages to match number 81, but only for a short while.
The two Alpine they manage to get through to Q2, but a fight for survival within the team sends Esteban Ocon out, thus allowing them to get through to Q3 Pierre Gasley. Which never happened this year.
The first 4 drivers are only 93 thousandths apart, anticipating what will then happen in the last session, Q3.
- excluded from Q3: Esteban Or with, Nico HulkenbergDaniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll and Kevin Magnussen.
Q3 is flooded with red: Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz color the provisional podium
If the Monegasque on the grid is hungry for pole and victory, which would break the "curse of Monaco", he shows it right from the start. His laps are nothing short of perfect, so much so that no one can take away first place from him. Despite that, Charles Leclerc, on board his SF24 continues to improve, sector after sector. There pole it is signed by him in red, the Ferrari one. With his 24th career pole he equals Niki Lauda and Nelson Piquet.
Max Verstappen has problems in the central sector, thus placing only 3rd, finally dropping to 6 ° position. In the radio team he reports the problems in turns 5 and 10.
The last intense laps bring Oscar piastri to conquer second position, thus starting next to the Monegasque on the front row. Carlos Sainz third place follows in the second row. A provisional podium that sees two Ferrari drivers competing for a chance of victory. Lando Norris is 4th.
The top 10 of the starting grid of the Monaco GP
La top 10 of the Monaco GP he sees different front rows than usual. The historic city circuit of the Principality, in fact, leaves no escape from the strength of the car. What counts is the pilot and a good dose of luck in not finding traffic. Below, the top 10 drivers of Sunday's race.
- Charles Leclerc
- Oscar piastri
- Carlos Sainz
- Lando Norris
- George Russell
- Max Verstappen
- Lewis Hamilton
- Yuki tsunoda
- Alexander albon
- Pierre Gasly
