2024-05-24 18:41:39
The primary day brings hope to the son of rock: On Friday, Monaco driver Charles Leclerc took the primary victory in his Ferrari in his hometown of Monaco, the scene of the eighth spherical of the Formulation 1 season. Finest rating on the quiz.
On the wonderful streets of the principality and beneath threatening skies, the Ferrari driver held down British driver Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) to 188/1000, who was the primary free apply session earlier within the followingnoon. The quickest (Leclerc) was solely fifth on the time).
On the finish of the second apply session of the day, Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) was third, nearly half a second behind Leclerc.
“It appears to be like like now we have a superb automobile on this observe and I felt very assured immediately,” mentioned Leclerc, who has been constant for the reason that begin of the season however remains to be struggling to shine at house.
The Monaco circuit is proven in Monte Carlo the place the Formulation 1 Monaco Grand Prix might be held on Could 26, 2024 (AFP – Jean-Michel CORNU)
And with good purpose: on his avenue, he has systematically had to surrender as a consequence of technical issues or collisions between 2017 (when he was nonetheless in F2, the entrance workplace of F1) and 2021. Final yr, he completed a disappointing sixth place, and in 2022, he failed to succeed in the rostrum.
With a number of drivers approaching the protection barrier on the tight Monaco observe, the second Ferrari, that of Spaniard Carlos Sainz, completed sixth.
– Verstappen falls behind (once more) –
Championship chief Max Verstappen might solely end fourth on Friday evening, forward of British driver Lando Norris, who has carried out properly on the McLaren in latest weeks.
The three-time world champion was solely twelfth on the finish of the primary take a look at on the medium tires (slower than the softs), however he did not appear completely comfy together with his Purple Bull.
Purple Bull driver Max Verstappen performs second free apply on the Monaco circuit on Could 24, 2024 (AFP – Andrei Isakovich)
He particularly complained at first of the second apply session that his automobile was “bouncing like a kangaroo”.
“Vehicles lose quite a lot of time each lap and on this observe a small soar can result in hitting the wall,” he defined on Friday evening.
The Dutchman additionally suffered difficulties within the first take a look at final weekend in Emilia-Romagna (Italy), however this didn’t stop him from taking pole place at Imola following which on the conventional finish of the race (Sunday ) to attain victory.
– KEY QUALIFICATIONS –
Moreover, the Dutchman, who received final yr’s Monaco Grand Prix, will erase a 35-year-old file if he units one other greatest qualifying consequence (synonymous with pole place) on Saturday.
Driving the highly effective RB20, the reigning champion equaled Ayrton Senna’s efficiency by taking pole place in Italy for the eighth consecutive time for the reason that Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on the finish of the 2023 season.
Regardless of this, Verstappen warned on Thursday that Monaco is “one of the tough circuits” for Purple Bull. “Monaco is rarely easy, although you need to have the very best automobile, it is a very delicate observe to make every little thing work,” he defined.
The primary two free apply periods have the identical aim for everybody, which is to regularly achieve confidence beginning at 4:00pm with a view to Saturday’s qualifying session.
As typical, on the streets of the Principality, racing is extra frequent throughout qualifying than elsewhere, as overtaking is sort of unattainable.
Reigning world champion and Purple Bull boss Christian Horner recalled on Friday that Monaco “depended initially” on these {qualifications}. As soon as pole place is confirmed, the race “might be received tomorrow (Saturday, editor’s notice) followingnoon”.
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