F1 Monaco GP 2024 LIVE: Qualifying results and times as Charles Leclerc claims pole position

Formula 1 returns to one of the most prestigious venues on the calendar as the famous Circuit de Monaco plays host to the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.

Max Verstappen got back to winning ways last time out in Imola, though the Red Bull driver did have to thwart a late challenge from Lando Norris, who finished less than a second behind.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the podium and this weekend will compete at his home race where, following years of near-misses, he is yet to secure a top-three finish.

Verstappen won last year’s race in Monaco, setting it up after a pulsating qualifying lap denied Fernando Alonso pole position, while Lewis Hamilton is a three-time winner around the tight twists and turns of the principality.

Follow live updates from the Monaco Grand Prix with The Independent

F1 MONACO GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES

• Charles Leclerc on pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix; Piastri 2nd; Sainz 3rd

• Click HERE for the top-10 in qualifying

• Daniel Ricciardo out in Q2, also out: Ocon, Hulkenberg, Stroll, Magnussen

• Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso knocked out in Q1, also out; Sargeant, Bottas, Zhou

• Charles Leclerc fastest in third practice; Verstappen 2nd; Hamilton 3rd

• CRASH! Valtteri Bottas hits the wall in third practice

• Leclerc was also quickest in second practice on Friday; Hamilton 2nd; Alonso 3rd

• PREVIEW: How Monaco GP presents a unique F1 challenge – and why Charles Leclerc is desperate to finally triumph at home

Goodbye!

18:29 , Kieran Jackson

Thanks for joining us today, as Charles Leclerc took pole position at his home race in Monaco!

Can he claim his first victory here tomorrow? We’ll find out at 2pm (BST)!

We’ll be back with live coverage then, so until lights out, have a very good evening!

Qualifying report: Charles Leclerc has Monaco victory in his sight – as Max Verstappen bemoans Red Bull ‘go-kart’

17:50 , Kieran Jackson

Half the job is done. Nowhere on the 24-race Formula 1 calendar does qualifying matter so much and, most pertinently, for Monaco’s homegrown star. Twice previously, Charles Leclerc has been unable to capitalise on a pole position on the streets of Monte-Carlo: once in 2021 due to a drive-shaft issue which meant he was unable to start the race and second in 2022, when Ferrari blundered in their pit-lane strategy.

But as they say, third time’s a charm.

This seems a different Ferrari outfit now, too. Led by the cheeky but firm personality of team principal Fred Vasseur, the Scuderia are showing clear signs of progress both in car development and, perhaps more crucially, in the pitlane. So much so that Lewis Hamilton is gambling the end of his glittering career on a move to Maranello next year.

But 2024 may have some life left in it yet. As for Leclerc, he’s made changes too. Long-term engineer Xavi Marcos was ditched prior to the last race and it was his new man in the ear, Bryan Bozz, who informed the Monegasque of his pole position on Saturday, two-tenths clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri – a surprise name in second.

Full report below:

Leclerc has Monaco victory in his sight – as Verstappen bemoans Red Bull ‘go-kart’

A disappointed Max Verstappen after qualifying P6:

17:08 , Kieran Jackson

George Russell’s reaction after qualifying P5:

16:56 , Kieran Jackson

Charles Leclerc’s celebrations in Monaco!

16:46 , Kieran Jackson

Carlos Sainz, after qualifying third:

16:35 , Kieran Jackson

“Overall it is an improvement from me. To step it up and be P3 was a step forward, not entirely happy because I could’ve been fighting for pole position. Charles has been doing an amazing job, I’m happy for him.

“Yesterday I looked quick on the long runs, they look much better. It’s just a matter of track position, we will give it a best shot. The priority will be to win with Charles tomorrow.”

Oscar Piastri, atfer qualifying second:

16:24 , Kieran Jackson

“Just a couple of mistakes at the end but credit to Charles who’s been incredibly quick all weekend. Nice we’re starting on the front row, we’re building good momentum.

“A good start always helps. If we can get into the lead, you control it very easily. If not, then the strategy - overtaking here is not easy, we’ll try our best. Good chance tomorrow.”

Charles Leclerc, after finishing on pole:

16:16 , Kieran Jackson

“It was nice, the feeling after a qualifying lap is always special.

I know more than anything in the past that qualifying is not everything, we need to put everything together on the Sunday. We are a stronger team, in a strong position, the win is the challenge.

“I need a get launch off the grid then once we do that, hopefully Carlos can follow me and if we’re one-two, we can manage it as a team. Whatever happens, we need to bring that win home.”

TOP-10 ON GRID FOR MONACO GRAND PRIX:

16:09 , Kieran Jackson

1. Charles Leclerc - 1:10:270

2. Oscar Piastri - +0.154

3. Carlos Sainz - +0.248

4. Lando Norris - +0.272

5. George Russell - +0.273

6. Max Verstappen - +0.297

7. Lewis Hamilton - +0.351

8. Yuki Tsunoda - +0.588

9. Alex Albon - +0.678

10. Pierre Gasly - +1.041

Charles Leclerc on pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix!

16:02 , Kieran Jackson

Leclerc goes even quicker and he starts on pole position in his hometown!

1:10:270 was the time, two-tenths quicker than Oscar Piastri who kept second place!

Carlos Sainz is third, with Lando Norris fourth and George Russell fifth.

Max Verstappen? Only P6! He made a mistake at turn 1 and hit the wall!

6-10: Verstappen, Hamilton, Tsunoda, Albon, Gasly

Alex Albon up to P7!

15:58 , Kieran Jackson

Williams send Albon out for his second run before the rest - and he’s delighted over team radio when he goes seventh, ahead of Lewis Hamilton!

Now though, the remaining nine drivers head out for their second and final laps!

Can anyone go quicker than Leclerc?!

Charles Leclerc quickest after first runs!

15:54 , Kieran Jackson

Oh it’s tight!

Charles Leclerc is P1 after the first set of flying laps, just 0.260 seconds ahead of Oscar Piastri in second!

Max Verstappen is only third - a tenth further back - with Carlos Sainz and George Russell fourth and fifth.

6-10: Norris, Hamilton, Gasly, Tsunoda, Albon

6:00 to go...

Q3 underway!

15:49 , Kieran Jackson

Here we go then!

12 minutes, 10 drivers, 1 pole position - who will take it?!

10 drivers involved: Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Leclerc, Gasly, Russell, Hamilton, Sainz, Albon, Tsunoda

Daniel Ricciardo out in Q2!

15:42 , Kieran Jackson

Not quick enough from Ricciardo - he’s P15, with Lance Stroll also out!

Shout-out to Pierre Gasly in fifth and Alex Albon in 10th!

Bottom-five and out in Q2 (11-15): Ocon, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Stroll, Magnussen

Top-3: Norris, Verstappen, Piastri

Now time for the highly-anticipated top-10 shootout!

Oscar Piastri fastest now!

15:37 , Kieran Jackson

Track is ramping up - and so are the times!

Oscar Piastri now top with a 1:10:756, a tenth quicker than Charles Leclerc in second.

Current bottom-five (11-15): Stroll, Albon, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo

Now or never time for those bottom-five! 2:00 to go...

Max Verstappen quickest early in Q2

15:33 , Kieran Jackson

The Dutchman sets a 1:11:019, a tenth quicker than Carlos Sainz in second - Yuki Tsunoda a surprise name in third!

Hamilton and Russell are eighth and ninth after their first flying laps.

Current bottom-five (11-15): Albon, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Gasly

7:00 to go...

Q2 underway!

15:27 , Kieran Jackson

Well, after that first round shock, what will the second session of qualifying throw up?

15 minutes this time where we will again lose the slowest five drivers!

Incidentally, just four-tenths of a second separated P1 and P15 in Q1 - it’s so so tight!

Two former winners crash out!

15:25 , Kieran Jackson

Lando Norris is safe - but Sergio Perez isn’t!

15:21 , Kieran Jackson

Norris pulls a lap out to sneak into top-10 - but Sergio Perez AND Fernando Alonso are both out!

Perez 0.173 secs short in 18th and Alonso over a tenth off in 16th!

Bottom-five and out in Q1 (16-20): Alonso, Sargeant, Perez, Bottas, Zhou

What a shocker - two leading contenders out!

Top-3: Russell, Piastri, Hamilton

George Russell now fastest!

15:16 , Kieran Jackson

Russell goes quicker than Leclerc - by a tenth!

Max Verstappen is third, with Lance Stroll in fourth.

Current bottom-five (16-20): Gasly, Ricciardo, Norris, Bottas, Zhou

Lando in trouble with two minutes to go!

Oscar Piastri now on top!

15:11 , Kieran Jackson

Piastri the quickest out the blocks then, with a 1:11:881 - two-tenths quicker than Verstappen, Gasly, Alonso.

Charles Leclerc is down in 12th too!

However, what’s important is the bottom-five in this session.

Current bottom-five (16-20): Tsunoda, Ricciardo, Sargeant, Bottas Zhou

Perez down in P15, with seven minutes to go..

Nico Hulkenberg quickest early on!

15:07 , Kieran Jackson

The Haas driver has been speedy on a Saturday and is top after the first runs!

And Kevin Magnussen is second for Haas!

Lewis Hamilton a tenth off in third, as most of the drivers begin their first flying laps..

Q1 underway!

15:00 , Kieran Jackson

We’re underway with Q1 in the blazing sunshine on the streets of Monte-Carlo!

And who’s out first? Lewis Hamilton.

The seven-time world champion is a three-time winner around Monaco and has had a strong weekend so far - what can Mercedes do in this all-important qualifying session?

F1 Monaco Grand Prix - qualifying!

14:55 , Kieran Jackson

We’re just five minutes away from the most important qualifying of the season so far!

Given how difficult it is to overtake in Monaco, the starting grid is extremely important for tomorrow’s race - can Charles Leclerc keep up his good form in practice to secure what would be a third pole position in his hometown? Can McLaren get involved on the front row? Or will it be Max again?

Qualifying from the Monaco Grand Prix coming right up!

Driver Standings ahead of Monaco:

14:52 , Kieran Jackson

1. Max Verstappen - 161 points

2. Charles Leclerc - 113 points

3. Sergio Perez - 107 points

4. Lando Norris - 101 points

5. Carlos Sainz - 93 points

6. Oscar Piastri - 53 points

7. George Russell - 44 points

8. Lewis Hamilton - 35 points

9. Fernando Alonso - 33 points

10. Yuki Tsunoda - 15 points

11. Lance Stroll - 11 points

12. Oliver Bearman - 6 points

13. Nico Hulkenberg - 6 points

14. Daniel Ricciardo - 5 points

15. Esteban Ocon - 1 point

16. Kevin Magnussen - 1 point

17. Alex Albon - 0 points

18. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points

19. Pierre Gasly - 0 points

20. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points

21. Logan Sargeant - 0 points

PREVIEW: How Monaco GP presents a unique F1 challenge – and why Charles Leclerc is desperate to finally triumph at home

14:44 , Kieran Jackson

The treacherous twists and turns of the Circuit de Monaco have not been kind to this small principality’s prodigal son. It took until 2022 – after two retirements and one devastating failure to make the start line after qualifying on pole, with a Covid cancellation thrown in the middle – for Charles Leclerc to finish his home grand prix. And even that was ruined by a strategy failure, confining him to fourth after also qualifying on pole.

Two years on, the Ferrari driver is heading into his sixth Monaco Grand Prix having never stood in the royal box overlooking the main straight, with Monaco the only race not to have an official podium for the top-three drivers. There is nowhere Leclerc, currently second in the world championship and trailing Max Verstappen by 48 points after seven races, would rather ignite a title challenge than here. The taste of winning champagne would hit different. You can bet it’d be expensive, too.

“Second or third is not really something that excites me,” Leclerc said on Thursday. “The win is what we need to target. We’ve seen in the last few races that Red Bull, McLaren and ourselves are pretty close in qualifying and we know how important qualifying is here so we’ll have to put everything together.

“If we are on pole, then that will give us a good chance to get what we want, which is a win.”

Full piece below:

The one driver who wants to win Monaco Grand Prix more than anyone

F1 Monaco Grand Prix - qualifying odds!

14:28 , Kieran Jackson

Monaco Grand Prix - pole position:

Charles Leclerc - 67/100

Max Verstappen - 9/4

Lando Norris - 10/1

Carlos Sainz - 14/1

Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri - 16/1

George Russell - 28/1

Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez - 40/1

Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, Yuki Tsuonda - 250/1

Odds provided by Betway

Among the stars on show in Monaco, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk!

14:14 , Kieran Jackson

Here’s Max Verstappen with his compatriot earlier, overlooking the harbour!

Constructors’ Championship ahead of Monaco

14:01 , Kieran Jackson

1. Red Bull - 268 points

2. Ferrari - 212 points

3. McLaren - 154 points

4. Mercedes - 79 points

5. Aston Martin - 44 points

6. RB - 20 points

7. Haas - 7 points

8. Alpine - 1 point

9. Williams - 0 points

10. Sauber - 0 points

Driver Standings ahead of Monaco:

13:42 , Kieran Jackson

1. Max Verstappen - 161 points

2. Charles Leclerc - 113 points

3. Sergio Perez - 107 points

4. Lando Norris - 101 points

5. Carlos Sainz - 93 points

6. Oscar Piastri - 53 points

7. George Russell - 44 points

8. Lewis Hamilton - 35 points

9. Fernando Alonso - 33 points

10. Yuki Tsunoda - 15 points

11. Lance Stroll - 11 points

12. Oliver Bearman - 6 points

13. Nico Hulkenberg - 6 points

14. Daniel Ricciardo - 5 points

15. Esteban Ocon - 1 point

16. Kevin Magnussen - 1 point

17. Alex Albon - 0 points

18. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points

19. Pierre Gasly - 0 points

20. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points

21. Logan Sargeant - 0 points

How good does McLaren’s Ayrton Senna tribute car look under the Monaco sun!

13:29 , Kieran Jackson

PREVIEW: How Monaco GP presents a unique F1 challenge – and why Charles Leclerc is desperate to finally triumph at home

13:15 , Kieran Jackson

The treacherous twists and turns of the Circuit de Monaco have not been kind to this small principality’s prodigal son. It took until 2022 – after two retirements and one devastating failure to make the start line after qualifying on pole, with a Covid cancellation thrown in the middle – for Charles Leclerc to finish his home grand prix. And even that was ruined by a strategy failure, confining him to fourth after also qualifying on pole.

Two years on, the Ferrari driver is heading into his sixth Monaco Grand Prix having never stood in the royal box overlooking the main straight, with Monaco the only race not to have an official podium for the top-three drivers. There is nowhere Leclerc, currently second in the world championship and trailing Max Verstappen by 48 points after seven races, would rather ignite a title challenge than here. The taste of winning champagne would hit different. You can bet it’d be expensive, too.

“Second or third is not really something that excites me,” Leclerc said on Thursday. “The win is what we need to target. We’ve seen in the last few races that Red Bull, McLaren and ourselves are pretty close in qualifying and we know how important qualifying is here so we’ll have to put everything together.

“If we are on pole, then that will give us a good chance to get what we want, which is a win.”

Full piece below:

The one driver who wants to win Monaco Grand Prix more than anyone

FP3 LEADERBOARD

12:55 , Kieran Jackson

Sergio Perez:

12:39 , Kieran Jackson

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, the car is nowhere!”

Perez, who won in 2022 in Monaco, finished P5 in that session.

Charles Leclerc fastest in FP3!

12:32 , Kieran Jackson

He’s the man to beat in his hometown!

Charles Leclerc fastest after the final hour of practice, posting a time of 1:11:369 - 0.197 secs clear fo Max Verstappen in second.

Lewis Hamilton stayed in P3 - three-tenths off Leclerc - with Oscar Piastri in fourth and Sergio Perez in fifth.

6-10: Russell, Sainz, Norris, Tsunoda, Alonso

Less than seven-tenths separating Alonso in 10th and Leclerc in first!

Lewis Hamilton goes P3!

12:22 , Kieran Jackson

Ten minutes to go and Lewis Hamilton looks to be continuing his impressive weekend, going third-fastest - but six-tenths off Charles Leclerc’s new best time of 1:11:369!

Sainz is second, also six-tenths back, with Fernando Alonso now fourth.

It looks to be Leclerc’s to lose this afternoon at this rate! 10 minutes to go.

Top-10: Leclerc, Sainz, Hamilton, Alonso, Norris, Verstappen, Gasly, Piastri, Albon, Russell

Ferrari one-two with 20 to go!

12:11 , Kieran Jackson

Most cars now back in the pits with 20 minutes to go as they make their final preparations before the end of the session!

The status of play? It’s looking good, Ferrari fans!

Charles Leclerc remains top with a 1:11:977, three-tenths clear of his team-mate Carlos Sainz in second! Max Verstappen is a tenth further back in fourth, with Yuki Tsunoda and Oscar Piastri completing the top-five!

6-10: Norris, Albon, Magnussen, Hamilton, Gasly

How will that change, in the final dress rehearsal before qualifying?!

Monaco snaps!

12:05 , Kieran Jackson

Charles Leclerc fastest again!

12:03 , Kieran Jackson

You feel as though it’s a big day in the Monegasque’s season and, so far, it’s looking good for Charles Leclerc!

He’s fastest after half-an-hour in this final practice session, with his time of 1:12:242 two-tenths quicker than Max Verstappen in second.

Game on.

Top-10: Leclerc, Verstappen, Tsunoda, Piastri, Sainz, Albon, Norris, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Perez

Think there’s a problem with Lewis Hamilton’s car - he’s down in P18 and is still in the pits. He did pause for a while behind Bottas at Rascasse when he crashed... not sure why...

Lewis Hamilton spins!

11:54 , Kieran Jackson

It’s all happening in third practice!

Lewis Hamilton screws up at turn one - “tyres are dead mate” - and has a spin in the run-off area, while Kevin Magnussen is also forced to spin in the run-off area by the casino!

And it’s a very busy track now, every driver is out aside from Bottas.

Current top-3: Piastri, Leclerc, Sainz

Valtteri Bottas crash!

11:45 , Kieran Jackson

The Sauber driver hit the wall coming out of the swimming pool section, with his right tyre deviating off course and he was unable to get back to the pits!

That’s his session over, as he gets pushed off track.

And we’re now back underway with 45 minutes to go...

RED FLAG!

11:43 , Kieran Jackson

Valtteri Bottas is in the wall at Rascasse!

RED FLAG! Session stopped after 12 minutes!

F1 Monaco GP 2024 LIVE - FP3 time!

11:30 , Karl Matchett

We are ready for the third practice session of the weekend - the final one before qualifiying later on today.

Lewis Hamilton has impressed so far in the opening two sessions and will be hoping to continue that this afternoon.

Let’s see how he, Leclerc and all the rest fare in FP3.

How Monaco GP presents a unique F1 challenge – and why Charles Leclerc is desperate to finally triumph at home

11:28 , Karl Matchett

The treacherous twists and turns of the Circuit de Monaco have not been kind to this small principality’s prodigal son. It took until 2022 – after two retirements and one devastating failure to make the start line after qualifying on pole, with a Covid cancellation thrown in the middle – for Charles Leclerc to finish his home grand prix. And even that was ruined by a strategy failure, confining him to fourth after also qualifying on pole.

Two years on, the Ferrari driver is heading into his sixth Monaco Grand Prix having never stood in the royal box overlooking the main straight, with Monaco the only race not to have an official podium for the top-three drivers. There is nowhere Leclerc, currently second in the world championship and trailing Max Verstappen by 48 points after seven races, would rather ignite a title challenge than here. The taste of winning champagne would hit different. You can bet it’d be expensive, too.

Kieran Jackson on Leclerc and Monaco this weekend:

The one driver who wants to win Monaco Grand Prix more than anyone

F1 Monaco GP 2024 LIVE

11:23 , Karl Matchett

Lewis Hamilton raised the prospect of challenging at the sharp end of the grid for the Monaco Grand Prix after he finished second in practice.

Hamilton earlier put his Silver Arrows at the top of the order in the first session and later in the day ended up just 0.188 seconds behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Fernando Alonso was third for Aston Martin – nearly half-a-second back and one place ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – with Lando Norris fifth in his McLaren.

Hamilton has not won a race since the penultimate round of the campaign in 2021 in Saudi Arabia, but the seven-time world champion enjoyed a rare strong day in his Mercedes.

Lewis Hamilton second in Monaco practice to raise hopes of Mercedes challenge

Constructors’ Championship ahead of Monaco

11:02 , Kieran Jackson

1. Red Bull - 268 points

2. Ferrari - 212 points

3. McLaren - 154 points

4. Mercedes - 79 points

5. Aston Martin - 44 points

6. RB - 20 points

7. Haas - 7 points

8. Alpine - 1 point

9. Williams - 0 points

10. Sauber - 0 points

Toto Wolff confident he can lead struggling Mercedes back to top of Formula One

10:45 , Kieran Jackson

A bullish Toto Wolff insists he remains the right man to lead Mercedes and has backed Lewis Hamilton to land his record eighth world championship at Ferrari.

Hamilton’s Mercedes team arrive for this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix following a string of underwhelming results which leaves them a distant fourth in the constructors’ championship.

Hamilton, who is departing the Silver Arrows at the end of the year to join the Scuderia, will gear up for Sunday’s 78-lap race here in the principality only eighth in the standings, with just 35 points on the board, compared to championship leader Max Verstappen’s 161.

Full piece below:

Toto Wolff confident he can lead struggling Mercedes back to top of Formula One

Driver Standings ahead of Monaco:

10:32 , Kieran Jackson

1. Max Verstappen - 161 points

2. Charles Leclerc - 113 points

3. Sergio Perez - 107 points

4. Lando Norris - 101 points

5. Carlos Sainz - 93 points

6. Oscar Piastri - 53 points

7. George Russell - 44 points

8. Lewis Hamilton - 35 points

9. Fernando Alonso - 33 points

10. Yuki Tsunoda - 15 points

11. Lance Stroll - 11 points

12. Oliver Bearman - 6 points

13. Nico Hulkenberg - 6 points

14. Daniel Ricciardo - 5 points

15. Esteban Ocon - 1 point

16. Kevin Magnussen - 1 point

17. Alex Albon - 0 points

18. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points

19. Pierre Gasly - 0 points

20. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points

21. Logan Sargeant - 0 points

Lewis Hamilton second in Monaco practice to raise hopes of Mercedes challenge

10:17 , Kieran Jackson

Lewis Hamilton raised the prospect of challenging at the sharp end of the grid for the Monaco Grand Prix after he finished second in practice.

Hamilton earlier put his Silver Arrows at the top of the order in the first session and later in the day ended up just 0.188 seconds behind Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Fernando Alonso was third for Aston Martin – nearly half-a-second back and one place ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen – with Lando Norris fifth in his McLaren.

Lewis Hamilton second in Monaco practice to raise hopes of Mercedes challenge

Monaco GP - Full leaderboard for FP2:

10:02 , Kieran Jackson

1. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - 1:11.278

2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.188

3. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.475

4. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +0.535

5. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.675

6. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.684

7. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +0.784

8. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +0.821

9. Alex Albon (Williams) +0.979

10. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.982

11. Yuki Tsunoda (RB)

12. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)

13. Kevin Magnussen (Haas)

14. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)

15. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas)

16. Daniel Ricciardo (RB)

17. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)

18. Logan Sargeant (Williams)

19. Valtteri Bottas (Sauber)

20. Zhou Guanyu (Sauber)

PREVIEW: How Monaco GP presents a unique F1 challenge – and why Charles Leclerc is desperate to finally triumph at home

09:45 , Kieran Jackson

The treacherous twists and turns of the Circuit de Monaco have not been kind to this small principality’s prodigal son. It took until 2022 – after two retirements and one devastating failure to make the start line after qualifying on pole, with a Covid cancellation thrown in the middle – for Charles Leclerc to finish his home grand prix. And even that was ruined by a strategy failure, confining him to fourth after also qualifying on pole.

Two years on, the Ferrari driver is heading into his sixth Monaco Grand Prix having never stood in the royal box overlooking the main straight, with Monaco the only race not to have an official podium for the top-three drivers. There is nowhere Leclerc, currently second in the world championship and trailing Max Verstappen by 48 points after seven races, would rather ignite a title challenge than here. The taste of winning champagne would hit different. You can bet it’d be expensive, too.

“Second or third is not really something that excites me,” Leclerc said on Thursday. “The win is what we need to target. We’ve seen in the last few races that Red Bull, McLaren and ourselves are pretty close in qualifying and we know how important qualifying is here so we’ll have to put everything together.

“If we are on pole, then that will give us a good chance to get what we want, which is a win.”

Full piece below:

The one driver who wants to win Monaco Grand Prix more than anyone

When is the Monaco Grand Prix?

09:25 , Kieran Jackson

(All times BST)

Saturday 25 May

• Free practice 3: 11:30am

• Qualifying: 3pm

Sunday 19 May

• Race: 2pm

How can I watch it online and on TV?

The Monaco Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom - and ESPN in the United States. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 12:30pm (BST).

Highlights of qualifying in the UK will be aired on free-to-air Channel 4 at 7:30pm (BST) on Saturday evening; the race highlights are at 6:30pm (BST) on Sunday.

Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action at Monaco on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.

F1 Monaco Grand Prix: Qualifying!

09:21 , Kieran Jackson

Formula 1 returns to one of the most prestigious venues on the calendar as the famous Circuit de Monaco plays host to the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.

Max Verstappen got back to winning ways last time out in Imola, though the Red Bull driver did have to thwart a late challenge from Lando Norris, who finished less than a second behind.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the podium and this weekend will compete at his home race where, following years of near-misses, he is yet to secure a top-three finish.

Verstappen won last year’s race in Monaco, setting it up after a pulsating qualifying lap denied Fernando Alonso pole position, while Lewis Hamilton is a three-time winner around the tight twists and turns of the principality.