Monaco GP Qualifying: Hamilton's Crash Casts Shadow on Leclerc's Pace
Whoa, what a wild end to final practice at Monaco! Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, had a massive shunt at Turn 3, bringing FP3 to a premature end just minutes before the checkered flag. Honestly, it was a pretty hard hit, and the right side of his Ferrari took a serious beating.
Leclerc's Speed vs. Hamilton's Scare
Before the crash, it looked like Charles Leclerc was the man to beat. He was comfortably ahead of Max Verstappen – almost three-tenths quicker, in fact. He set his fastest lap on the softs, while Verstappen used the mediums, which seemed to be pretty close in pace. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were also looking strong, slotting into third and fourth, respectively. Hamilton was fifth, before his unfortunate incident.
The team's are racing against the clock to get his car ready for qualifying later today. This was a big blow to his team, who were now facing a frantic race against time to repair his car.
Jenson Button, the former F1 champion commenting for Sky Sports F1, seemed to think Hamilton might have been caught out by slower cars ahead. He suggested the dirty air and reduced downforce could have played a significant role in the crash. "It’s definitely Lewis’ mistake, but it wasn’t an easy situation for him," Button pointed out. In short, a very difficult situation.
The Timesheet: A Quick Glance
- 1st: Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- 2nd: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 3rd: Lando Norris (McLaren)
- 4th: Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- 5th: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- The rest of the pack trailed considerably behind the top five.
This puts Mercedes in a bit of a tight spot. George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were only 11th and 10th fastest, respectively, meaning they could have a real fight on their hands just to make it into Q3. For the Williams team, Albon and Sainz were a bit more optimistic, coming in 6th and 8th.
What's Next?
Qualifying is scheduled for 3 pm BST (British Summer Time). Ferrari’s mechanics are working flat out to get Hamilton’s car ready, but there’s no guarantee the repairs can be completed in time. I wouldn't be surprised if they pull it off! It's Monaco, anything can happen!
It's certainly going to be a nail-biting afternoon, with the top spots up for grabs and Hamilton's participation in doubt. One thing's for sure: This Monaco GP is already shaping up to be a classic, even before the race has begun.
Tune in to Sky Sports F1 at 3 pm BST to watch the qualifying session live!
