Leclerc The Fastest in Final Practice for Monaco Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc solidified his status as the pole-position favorite for his home Grand Prix by setting the fastest lap in the final practice session for the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver, who has been dominant throughout the weekend, lapped the iconic street circuit with a best time of 1:11.369 seconds on Saturday morning.
Leclerc’s Pace
Leclerc’s impressive lap time was 0.197 seconds quicker than Red Bull’s championship leader Max Verstappen, who managed to find more pace after struggling with his car on Friday. The overnight improvements to Verstappen’s Red Bull seemed to make a difference, but the Dutch driver admitted he was pushing to the limit to keep up with Leclerc.
“It’s something I didn’t expect, but it’s definitely at the higher end of the worst possible outcome of the weekend so far and it’s very difficult.”
Hamilton Continues Strong Form
Lewis Hamilton, who topped the timesheets in the first practice and finished second in the free practice 2, continued his strong form by setting the third fastest time in final practice. The Mercedes driver is showing a consistent pace that could make him a contender for a top position in the crucial qualifying session later today.
Midfield Battles
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri delivered an impressive performance to secure the fourth fastest time, highlighting the team’s potential for a strong qualifying result. Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, was fifth fastest but expressed frustration with the car’s handling, stating it was “nowhere” near where he wanted it to be.
Mixed Fortunes for Mercedes and Ferrari
George Russell lapped sixth fastest for Mercedes, just ahead of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who was seventh. Sainz’s performance, coupled with Leclerc’s dominance, suggests Ferrari could have a competitive qualifying session. McLaren’s Lando Norris was eighth, maintaining a steady pace throughout the weekend.
Strong Showing for Tsunoda and Alonso
RB’s Yuki Tsunoda continued his recent run of strong performances by securing the ninth best lap time. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rounded out the top ten, showing improvement from last week out in Imola.
Early Incident for Bottas
The final practice session was briefly interrupted by red flags when Sauber’s Valtteri Bottas hit the tire wall at the swimming pool chicane. The impact caused significant damage and blocked the track at Rascasse, but the Finnish driver emerged unscathed.
Find the full results of FP3 here.
Looking Ahead to Qualifying
With Leclerc setting the pace and Verstappen pushing hard, the stage is set for a thrilling qualifying session. Hamilton’s consistency and the potential for surprises from drivers like Piastri and Perez add to the excitement. The narrow and unforgiving streets of Monaco make qualifying more critical than ever, as overtaking during the race is notoriously difficult.
As teams prepare for the battle for pole position, all eyes will be on Charles Leclerc to see if he can convert his practice dominance into a coveted pole at his home Grand Prix.
