Event: Monaco F1 Grand Prix
Track: Monaco Circuit
Weather: dry 21.3°C
Tarmac: dry 43.8°C
Humidity: 63%
Wind: 2.1 km/h South
Charles Leclerc qualified as quickest for the 24th time today. The Ferrari driver scored pole position for tomorrow's 2024 Monaco Grand Prix for the second time. It was his first pole of the season for the Monegasque driver and the 250th pole for Ferrari.
2024 Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix Qualifying Report
Q1: Shocks and Traffic Jams
The first qualifying session of the 2024 Monaco Romagna Grand Prix delivered immediate surprises. Notably, Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez, and the Alfa Romeos of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu were all eliminated. Traffic proved to be a significant issue, with a jam at the final corner disrupting many drivers' laps. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen managed to navigate this chaos, setting the pace early and conserving their tires for the following sessions. Alonso's unexpected exit was a particular shock, given his strong form in practice. Ultimately, Alonso, Perez, Logan Sargeant, Bottas, and Zhou were the first casualties of the day.
Q2: Midfield Battle Intensifies
Q2 saw a fierce battle in the midfield, with Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, and Yuki Tsunoda fighting hard to make it into the top ten. Oscar Piastri set the fastest time, showing McLaren’s potential with a lap of 1:10.756. The tight nature of the circuit and the ever-improving track conditions meant that every lap counted. Despite strong performances, Esteban Ocon, Nico Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, and Kevin Magnussen were eliminated. Albon’s impressive run into Q3 marked Williams' best qualifying performance of the season, while Gasly's late improvement pushed Ocon out of the top ten.
Q3: Leclerc's Home Glory
The final qualifying session was a thrilling showdown. Charles Leclerc seized pole position with a stunning lap of 1:10.270, delighting his home crowd. Oscar Piastri continued his excellent form, securing second place on the grid, just 0.150s behind Leclerc. Carlos Sainz and Lando Norris completed the second row, with Sainz expressing confidence in his race pace despite missing out on pole. Max Verstappen, who had dominated qualifying throughout the season, struggled with the car and could only manage sixth after brushing the wall during his final attempt. George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Yuki Tsunoda, Alex Albon, and Pierre Gasly rounded out the top ten. Leclerc's pole, his third in Monaco, sets him up as the favorite for tomorrow’s race, though history shows that nothing is guaranteed on these treacherous streets.
Post-Qualifying Reactions
Charles Leclerc, elated yet cautious, remarked on the special feeling of securing pole at his home Grand Prix but emphasized the importance of executing on race day. Oscar Piastri, excited about his front-row start, acknowledged the crucial role of a good start and strategy in the race. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen reflected on a challenging session, noting the difficulties with the RB20 around Monaco’s unique circuit.
The stage is set for an exhilarating Monaco Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc leading the pack in front of his home crowd. With the unpredictable nature of the Monaco circuit, tomorrow’s race promises to be a spectacle, where strategy and precision will be key. Join us again for the race to see if Leclerc can convert his pole into a much-anticipated home victory or if the likes of Piastri and Verstappen will spoil the Monegasque's party.
The quickest sector times during this second practice session were:
- Sector 1: 18.244 sec by George Russell with the Mercedes W15.
- Sector 2: 33.156 sec by Oscar Piastri with the McLaren MCL38.
- Sector 3: 18.710 sec by Charles Leclerc with the Ferrari SF-24.
Last years pole time was a 1:11,365 min driven by Max Verstappen with the Red Bull RB19.
Looking Ahead
As the teams prepare for the race, all eyes will be on whether Leclerc can finally secure a win at his home Grand Prix. With the tight confines of Monaco always promising drama, the stage is set for an exhilarating race.
Quali Times 2024 Monaco F1 GP
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
| 1 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:11,584 | 1:10,825 | 1:10,270 | 26 |
| 2 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:11,500 | 1:10,756 | 1:10,424 | 24 |
| 3 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari | 1:11,543 | 1:11,075 | 1:10,518 | 28 |
| 4 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:11,760 | 1:10,732 | 1:10,542 | 27 |
| 5 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:11,492 | 1:10,929 | 1:10,543 | 28 |
| 6 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:11,711 | 1:10,745 | 1:10,567 | 28 |
| 7 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:11,528 | 1:11,056 | 1:10,621 | 28 |
| 8 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 1:11,852 | 1:11,106 | 1:10,858 | 25 |
| 9 | 23 | Alex Albon | Williams | 1:11,623 | 1:11,216 | 1:10,948 | 29 |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:11,714 | 1:10,896 | 1:11,311 | 30 |
| 11 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine | 1:11,887 | 1:11,285 | 20 | |
| 12 | 27 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas | 1:11,876 | 1:11,440 | 20 | |
| 13 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | Racing Bulls | 1:11,785 | 1:11,482 | 21 | |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:11,728 | 1:11,563 | 17 | |
| 15 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas | 1:11,832 | 1:11,725 | 18 | |
| 16 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:12,019 | 11 | ||
| 17 | 2 | Logan Sargeant | Williams | 1:12,020 | 12 | ||
| 18 | 11 | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull | 1:12,060 | 12 | ||
| 19 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber | 1:12,512 | 11 | ||
| 20 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber | 1:13,028 | 11 |
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I'm happy with this top 6 starting order, but overall, an exciting qualifying session, & truly hope Leclerc can convert this pole position into a victory.
I thought pre-event that Alonso would certainly reach Q3, but yet another Q1 elimination, which isn't as surprising as the Imola one, & Perez's early elimination is even more surprising.
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