The local driver took first place for Ferrari and will start ahead in the Grand Prix on the streets of the Principality
The definition of qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix was captivating until the end, which included an accident in the curve before the tunnel straight, involving Checo Pérez and Carlos Sainz Jr. which caused the session to red flag with 30 seconds to go. At home, Charles Leclerc had the fastest time and will start from pole position this Sunday.
The Monegasque driver had been the fastest in the practice on Friday, but the Mexican aboard his Red Bull had shown his power in Practice 3 on Saturday. That’s how when I got to Qualy 3, the Ferrari man achieved a spectacular lap that registered a time of 1:11.376, the best of the weekend so far at the Monte Carlo circuit.
Carlos Sainz was second, very close to his teammate (1:11.601) and left his direct rivals behind in the fight for the drivers’ and constructors’ championship, with Pérez in 3rd place and Max Verstappen in the fourth position.
So it was that, when the Mexican was in the final lap looking to be the fastest, he had an accident. Checo lost the rear of his RB18 at the Portier curve, on the threshold of the famous tunnel, and hit the fenders directly. Immediately afterwards, the Spaniard from Ferrari, who had also been looking to add one last fast lap, ran into the crossed Red Bull and could not avoid the crash, which ended up blocking the track. Therefore, the FIA race direction ended the qualifying test.
The accident of Checo Pérez and Sainz that ended with a red flag (@F1)
In this way, Leclerc kept his second consecutive pole position in Monaco and the number 14 in his career in Formula 1 Ferrari stayed 1-2 and will start in the front row, followed by the Red Bulls.
“It is very special. I am incredibly happy. It’s been a very quiet weekend so far; I knew the pace was in the car, I just had to get the job done and it came out perfect. That last lap before the red flag was very, very good. But anyway, it didn’t change anything for us”, confessed the Monegasque driver after taking pole at home.
In fifth place finished Lando Norriswith the McLaren and was followed by George Russell, who was once again the best in his Mercedes. Fernando Alonso (7th), Lewis Hamilton (8th), Sebastian Vettel (9th) and Esteban Ocon completed the top ten places. Yuki Tsunodaand his Alpha Tauri were left out of Q3, as was Valtteri Bottas.
This Sunday, in what will be round 7 of the fight for the title 2022, Ferrari has the advantage of starting ahead on a street circuit and with little overtaking ability. After Verstappen’s triumph at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona, it will now be Leclerc’s turn to celebrate in Monaco to return to the top of the positions in the drivers’ competition that until now has been dominated by the last world champion with Red Bull.
Leclerc stayed with him to pole at his home, Monaco (REUTERS/Benoit Tessier)