Third Free Practice Results 2024 Monaco F1 GP

Event: Monaco F1 Grand Prix
Track: Monaco Circuit

Max Verstappen brushing the barrier with the Bull Racing RB20 during practice ahead of the 2024 F1 Grand Prix of Monaco

Weather: dry  21.5°C
Tarmac: dry  45.8°C
Humidity: 58%
Wind: 3.2 km/h South

Leclerc Dominates Final Practice in Monaco Ahead of Qualifying

The streets of Monte Carlo were buzzing with excitement as Charles Leclerc delivered a masterclass in the third and final practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix. Leclerc, who topped both practice sessions on Friday, continued his dominant form into Saturday, setting the fastest time of the session with a blistering 1m 11.369s.

Leclerc's performance was a clear statement of intent as he seeks his first pole position of the 2024 season. The Monegasque driver, known for his prowess on this circuit, executed a flawless session despite the challenging conditions and traffic issues that plagued many of his competitors.

Bottas Brings Out the Red Flags

The session was briefly halted when Valtteri Bottas lost control at the Piscine chicane, resulting in a broken front suspension and bringing out the red flags. Bottas's incident highlighted the unforgiving nature of the Monaco circuit, where even the slightest mistake can have significant consequences.

Red Bull's Struggles Continue

Red Bull had a mixed session with Max Verstappen finishing second, 0.197s behind Leclerc. Verstappen showed potential with a purple first sector on his final attempt but was forced to abort the lap due to traffic. His teammate, Sergio Perez, ended the session in fifth and expressed frustration over the car's performance, indicating that overnight simulator work had not provided the needed solutions.

Midfield Battle Heats Up

The midfield battle is shaping up to be exceptionally tight. Lewis Hamilton managed to slot into third place, 0.341s off the pace, while his teammate George Russell showed resilience, overcoming early session struggles to place well. Oscar Piastri also impressed, temporarily holding second before being relegated to fourth as the session progressed.

Lando Norris and Yuki Tsunoda demonstrated competitive pace, with Norris finishing sixth and Tsunoda showing flashes of speed that could make him a dark horse for qualifying. Alexander Albon in the Williams and Pierre Gasly in the Alpine also made notable improvements, hinting at a potentially exciting qualifying session.

The top 10 at the halfway mark was:

1. Leclerc (1:12.521) - S
2. Piastri (+0.163s) - S
3. Verstappen (+0.242s) - S
4. Norris (+0.314s) - S
5. Sainz (+0.463s) - S
6. Magnussen (+0.526s) - S
7. Albon (+0.527s) - S
8. Russell (+0.783s) - S
9. Hulkenberg (+0.823s) - S
10. Gasly (+0.863s) - S

The quickest sector times during this second practice session were:

• Sector 1: 18.508 sec by Max Verstappen with the Red Bull RB20.
• Sector 2: 33.628 sec by Charles Leclerc with the Ferrari SF-24.
• Sector 3: 19.076 sec by Carlos Sainz with the Ferrari SF-24.

Last year the quickest lap time of FP3 was a 1:12,776 min, driven by Max Verstappen with the Red Bull RB19.

Qualifying Preview

As the session concluded, the focus shifted to the upcoming qualifying session. The narrow streets of Monaco always promise a thrilling and unpredictable qualifying, where precision and bravery are rewarded. Leclerc's commanding performance has set the stage for what could be a memorable pole position battle.

With qualifying scheduled to begin at 16:00 local time (14:00 UTC), fans are eagerly anticipating whether Leclerc can convert his practice pace into pole position, or if Verstappen and the Red Bull team can mount a challenge. The midfield tussle adds an extra layer of intrigue, with several teams in close contention.

Stay tuned as the drivers prepare to push their limits in one of the most iconic and challenging qualifying sessions on the Formula 1 calendar.

FP3 Times Table 2024 Monaco GP

✅ Check out our 2024 Monaco F1 Grand Prix Preview.

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