GP Qualifying: Leclerc triumphs in Monaco qualifying, edges out Piastri and Sainz in thrilling session

Red Bull Racing/Red Bull Content Pool

MONTE-CARLO, Monaco -- Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc charged his way to pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix with a stunning qualifying display on home soil, outperforming McLaren rival Oscar Piastri and Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz during Saturday’s action-packed grid-deciding session.

Check out the results of the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, including the race results, qualifying times, and practice sessions

Leclerc navigated through Q1 and Q2 without any slip-ups and unleashed his full potential in Q3, provisionally posting a time of 1m 10.418s and then bettering it with an electric 1m 10.270s – a target none of his rivals could match.

Piastri got closest, putting his McLaren in an impressive second position, ahead of Sainz and teammate Lando Norris. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen had to settle for sixth after hitting the wall at Sainte Devote on his final qualifying lap, breaking his run of eight successive pole positions.

Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton will sandwich Verstappen on the grid in fifth and seventh respectively. RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, Williams’s Alex Albon, and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly all starred to reach Q3.

Esteban Ocon narrowly missed the Q2 cut, placing 11th in his Alpine, while recent qualifying star Nico Hulkenberg had to settle for 12th after briefly leading the way in the early minutes of Q1.

Mirroring Ocon’s experience, Daniel Ricciardo placed 13th, watching Tsunoda lead RB’s charge in the pole shootout. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Kevin Magnussen of Haas completed the Q2 order.

A dramatic first qualifying phase, with several traffic-related incidents and plenty of squabbling for track position, claimed two big names: Fernando Alonso and Sergio Perez, who will line up back in 16th and 18th respectively for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

Logan Sargeant will start between Aston Martin’s Stroll and Red Bull’s Perez in his Williams, while Alfa Romeo’s weekend struggles continued with Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu ending qualifying as the slowest runners.

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