There was a crash just before the end.
At no other race is the qualifying position as important as in Monaco. It is already the preliminary decision to win the race. Overtaking is hardly possible in the cult race.
It quickly became clear in Q1: It will only be about Ferrari versus Red Bull on Saturday. The two teams were clearly the fastest in the first part of qualifying. The red flag was waved just before the end of Q1! Tsunoda brushed against a guardrail and suffered a flat tire, but was able to drive to the pits on his own.
The red flag was particularly bitter for Alfa-Sauber driver Zhou, who was no longer able to set a top time and will start Sunday’s race from last. It was just as bitter for AlphaTauri driver Gasly. Being very fast in practice, he was washed out of the top 15. He was about five seconds short of being able to do another fast lap – the traffic light turned red just before the finish line. A bit happy from a Sauber point of view: Bottas just made it into Q2.
Leclerc with scale problem
In Q2, Leclerc and Perez then fought a duel at eye level: However, the Monegasque caused a curious incident at his home race. He missed the obligatory weigh-in in the pit lane and had to be pushed back by the mechanics. Helmut Marko from Red Bull says: “Normally that means the last place or the start from the pit lane.” It is not yet clear what the race stewards will decide. Ferrari says: “We spoke to the Fia. They told us to push the car back.”
The Monegasque caused a curious incident at his home race. (Video: SRF)
In Q2, the second Alfa-Sauber also retired from the competition. Bottas ended up in 12th place. They had high hopes for a top placement. SRF expert Surer said: “The car has never been so bad this season.”
Does he break the curse of the home race?
The big question about pole position was of course answered in Q3. Leclerc quickly drove to the top. Team-mate Sainz and the two Red Bulls with championship leaders Verstappen and Perez wanted to go for the best time again, but it wasn’t enough! Shortly before the end, Perez lost control of the car and crashed into the crash barrier.
Sainz couldn’t stop and drove straight into the Red Bull – there was a red flag! Leclerc will therefore start from pole position on Sunday – subject to the decision of the race stewards. The curse of the home race has to be broken for the Ferrari driver. He started five times and didn’t make it to the finish five times. The race takes place on Sunday at 3 p.m.