Monaco GP Qualifying: Hamilton's Crash Shakes Up FP3
Wow, what a crazy end to final practice at Monaco! It was all set up for a thrilling qualifying session, but then Lewis Hamilton went and crashed his Ferrari, throwing a massive wrench into the works.
Leclerc's Dominance Continues
Before the late drama, Charles Leclerc was, honestly, on fire. He was absolutely flying around the track, looking like the man to beat for pole. He topped both practice sessions on Friday, and he carried that momentum right into FP3, finishing nearly three-tenths clear of Max Verstappen. That's a huge gap on this track.
Verstappen, while close behind, wasn't entirely happy. He grumbled about a lack of grip in his Red Bull, something they'll surely be working on before qualifying. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were also looking strong in their McLarens, slotting into third and fourth respectively. They're definitely in the hunt for pole.
- Leclerc: Fastest in FP3
- Verstappen: Close behind, grip issues reported
- Norris and Piastri: McLaren strong contenders
Hamilton's Heart-Stopping Crash
Then, with just two minutes left, disaster struck. Hamilton lost control of his Ferrari at Turn 3. It was a hard hit – a really hard hit. I've seen a lot of crashes, but this was a significant one. He hit the wall pretty hard on the right-hand side. The whole session ended early because of the red flags.
Hamilton, understandably, apologized to his team. They're facing a huge repair job before qualifying, which is, let's be honest, crucial in Monaco. Sky's Jenson Button commented that the traffic might have played a part, the dirty air from slower cars potentially affecting Hamilton's downforce. But even Button said, in the end, it was Lewis' mistake.
The Qualifying Picture
The timesheet from FP3 tells a pretty clear story, at least for now: Leclerc looks like the favourite, but it's super tight behind him. Verstappen is breathing down his neck, and both McLarens are in the mix. Mercedes, however, might be in a bit of a spot of bother. Kimi Antonelli and George Russell were only 10th and 11th, respectively. They need to find some serious pace.
Looking Ahead
Qualifying is absolutely everything in Monaco. Overtaking is almost impossible, so grid position is everything. We saw it last year when Leclerc won from pole – it was amazing. This mandatory two-stop rule will change things up and the race strategy will be extra exciting, for sure. But securing a good qualifying position will still be a big advantage for any chance at a win.
It's going to be nail-biting qualifying. Will Mercedes get Hamilton’s car ready in time and how will the race strategy play out with this two-pit-stop rule? Tune in at 3 pm (BST) for the Monaco GP Qualifying to find out!
