In a tense encounter for the pole position in Monaco Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc of Ferrari overcame the pressure to emerge as the victor. He was under scrutiny as the favourite prior to Monte Carlo’s all-important Saturday qualifying session and lived up to the expectations.
Leclerc, belonging to Monaco, secured the prime spot, outpacing Oscar Piastri from McLaren by a close margin of 0.154 seconds. Carlos Sainz for Ferrari landed third placement with Lando Norris of McLaren finishing fourth. Despite his efforts to claim the record breaking ninth consecutive pole position, Max Verstappen could only secure the sixth place as his journey got interrupted by a collision with the wall at Sainte Devote’s exit.
Mercedes’ George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will kick off with their positions at fifth and seventh respectively, framing the Red Bull driver in between. Even though Leclerc has struggled to convert his top positions in previous Monte Carlo races into a triumphant victory, he remains a favourite this time due to the infamous overtaking challenge presented by the 2.1-mile course.
Despite his dominating performance over a single lap this season, Verstappen sensed the unsuitability of his equipment for the street venue, a fear that eventuated when he collided with the wall during his final run. The other Red Bull driver, Sergio Perez, will be starting from the 18th position after failing to advance from the preliminary phase. Perez, fondly called the “King of the Streets”, has a narrow shot at a favourable outcome on Sunday given his previous record of victories at temporary venues.
Mercedes might feel a touch disappointed as Hamilton’s top rankings in all three practises could not yield a position within the top six due to him finishing 0.351 seconds behind Leclerc. Russell maintains his leading position in qualifying records against his considerably experienced teammate with a score of 7-1.
Fernando Alonso, a two-time world champion, ended up second during last year’s race. His performance, however, in the principality this year has been strenuous, as he dropped in the first round and ended up qualifying at 16th position. In an unexpected turn of events, Alonso’s Aston Martin colleague, Lance Stroll, outperformed him in the qualifications, securing the 14th spot from where he’ll begin the race.