Monaco Grand Prix qualifying: Will this be Charles Leclerc’s day?

Welcome to qualifying day on the Monaco Grand Prix.

On System 1’s greatest stage, qualifying day is every part.

That will bode properly for hometown hero Charles Leclerc, who topped the timing sheets in Friday’s second apply session. If historical past holds, that doubtless means a pole place for Leclerc, because the final 5 editions of the Monaco Grand Prix have seen the motive force atop the timing sheets in FP2 go on to seize pole place.

Even scarier for the remainder of the sphere?

Leclerc thinks he can discover much more time on the Monte Carlo streets.

“I believe there’s extra tempo in me simply placing every part collectively,” stated Leclerc following Friday’s two apply periods. “When you take a look at my three sectors, there was fairly a little bit of lap time in them whenever you put all of it collectively, in order that would be the primary focus for tomorrow. However let’s say efficiency and feeling is there.”

Leclerc’s struggles in his hometown race are properly documented, because the Monégasque driver has but to style victory at dwelling at any degree of racing. Actually, Leclerc is amongst these 5 earlier drivers who’ve taken pole place after topping the timing sheets in FP2, as he did simply that within the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix. Leclerc was on provisional pole in Q3 that yr, and a late crash by the Ferrari driver in that third session froze the sphere, clinching pole place for the hometown hero.

However the injury was sufficient that his SF21 suffered a failure on the reconnaissance lap, and he didn’t begin the race.

Maybe … maybe that every one adjustments for Leclerc beginning later at this time.

Leclerc’s probabilities to interrupt his hometown curse is probably the principle storyline for qualifying day on the Monaco Grand Prix, however it isn’t the one one.

Is Pink Bull really on the again foot?

Suppose again to every week in the past.

The tales popping out of Imola, website of final weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, mirror the tales we’re at present listening to at this time. Max Verstappen was pissed off with the RB20, different groups have been atop the timing sheets — every week in the past Leclerc was quickest in each FP1 and FP2 — and maybe the door was open for one more group to really carry the battle to Verstappen and firm in qualifying, and the race itself.

Properly, as we now have seen so many instances earlier than, Verstappen slammed that door shut. He took pole place after a stronger displaying in FP3, and went on to win the race on Sunday.

However this weekend feels a bit of completely different.

First there was Verstappen’s suggestions in regards to the RB20 all through apply, which he in comparison with a kangaroo:

Then there was what the motive force stated following the session, when he brushed apart comparisons to final week’s struggles in Imola. “I don’t assume I even can describe what is definitely happening. It’s simply very tough. It’s not one thing that I didn’t anticipate, but it surely’s positively on the larger finish of the worst doable consequence of the weekend to date,” stated Verstappen on Friday.

“Imola was fully completely different, additionally completely different points that you would be able to resolve with set-up,” he continued. “These form of stuff you can’t resolve with set-up.

“It’s how the automotive is made and designed, and these form of stuff you can’t change in a single day, so we’re caught with that. We’ll attempt to make it a bit of bit higher however I don’t anticipate any miracles,” continued Verstappen. “[Ferrari] are miles forward. I’m not even fascinated with that for tomorrow, I simply need to attempt to resolve the problems that we now have, attempt to make it a bit of bit extra driveable, after which we’ll see the place we find yourself.”

F1 followers and analysts alike have heard this story earlier than. In spite of everything, when sharing a bit summarizing his Friday struggles on Threads final week I did so with a caption that learn “I imply [Verstappen] will nonetheless most likely put it on pole and win on Sunday however …”

And he did simply that.

Can he do this once more this week, or are Verstappen and Pink Bull really on the again foot heading into qualifying?

A Mercedes stunner?

One other surprising notice from Friday’s twin apply periods?

Some shocking energy from Mercedes.

The group has been speaking about progress these previous few weeks, however Friday was maybe the primary day all season when Mercedes really regarded like they might battle for factors, however for a podium. Lewis Hamilton topped the timing sheets in FP1, with teammate George Russell coming in P3, and so they have been sturdy once more in FP2, with Hamilton up in second.

May the Silver Arrows ship a Saturday shocker in Monaco?

“It’s been a very good day, most likely one of the best we’ve had to date this yr, and the automotive is feeling very optimistic. This monitor is simply wonderful in an F1 automotive, and I’ve been having fun with my driving at this time – I used to be pleasantly shocked by the grip degree and the best way the automotive was responding, which made it a way more pleasurable journey than the final two years,” stated Hamilton within the group’s post-practice report. “Within the second session, it felt a bit much less comfy, and we’ve bought a number of work to do in a single day to enhance the lengthy runs and the entrance graining. It was a sense optimistic on the decrease gasoline, and we don’t need to lose that, however our focus now could be to enhance on the long term.”

Whereas Russell skilled some vibrations within the steering wheel throughout FP2, which hampered his efficiency, he too thought it was probably the greatest Fridays the group has had this season.

“That was considered one of our greatest Fridays of the yr, and the automotive is feeling one of the best I’ve ever had in Monaco. My session was restricted by the steering vibration – as quickly as I touched the brakes, the steering system was shaking, and on a monitor like this the place you want confidence to assault, that actually set me again,” stated Russell. “Each group is creating so rapidly, and you’ll see how a lot sooner the lap instances are this yr than final. The automotive is feeling good, and Lewis’s instances confirmed the efficiency that’s in there, however Charles (Leclerc) may be very fast, and we all know as properly how rapidly issues can change. I hope we might be preventing for the highest 5 tomorrow.”

Simulation knowledge from F1.com exhibits that they very properly could possibly be within the battle for the highest 5 tomorrow:

Much like the Pink Bull dialogue, we now have been down this highway earlier than with Mercedes. They have been sturdy within the single Friday apply on the Miami Grand Prix, for instance, earlier than fading over the remainder of the week.

However just like how issues really feel completely different at Pink Bull when in comparison with earlier weeks, this too feels a bit of completely different relating to Mercedes. They could really be within the battle.

Don’t forget about McLaren

Then there’s McLaren.

It was a little bit of a blended Friday for McLaren. Oscar Piastri was the second-fastest driver in FP1, with Lando Norris shut behind in P4.

The second apply session was a little bit of a distinct story, with Norris up in P5 and Piastri outdoors the highest ten, down in P12.

Nonetheless, the group referred to as it a “productive” afternoon, and so they consider they’ve the MCL38 — Ayrton Senna tribute livery and all — in a very good window heading into Saturday.

“That’s Friday achieved in Monaco. I’d say it’s been a fairly good day total. The tempo has regarded good but it surely’s very, very tight between a variety of groups at this time, so it’s tough to say the place we might internet out,” stated Piastri within the group’s post-practice report. “We’ve bought some issues to have a look at and tweak in a single day, however I really feel like we’re in a very good place. It’s going to be an thrilling Saturday.”

“It was a productive day of apply right here in Monaco. We labored by way of our deliberate programme with none difficulty. The threatened rain didn’t materialise, so we had loads of time to judge tyres, perceive setup and provides the drivers as a lot monitor time as doable,” stated Group Principal Andrea Stella. “The battle on the entrance appears very fascinating: there are fairly just a few fast groups. We’ll work laborious this night to maximise our potential, have a very good qualifying session tomorrow and rating factors in a race which will nonetheless be affected by the climate.”

Who wins the Aston Martin/VCARB battle?

If the qualifying simulation knowledge holds to kind, the ultimate two spots in Q3 might come all the way down to a battle between Aston Martin and Visa Money App RB F1 group.

The VCARB drivers particularly sounded assured following Friday’s periods.

“It was one other optimistic first day for us. Straight from FP1, I felt optimistic. There are nonetheless some little issues we are able to enhance on to extract the efficiency however that’s what apply is for. For instance, I believe we are able to enhance usually within the braking section as a result of we had a pair slides there and clearly with this C5 [tire], it’s very delicate,” stated Yuki Tsunoda within the group’s post-practice report. “Aside from that, warmup is sweet and every part is optimistic, so it’s simply fine-tuning the little issues that at all times depend, particularly right here in Monaco. The final tempo is there and I’m wanting ahead to bettering one other step tomorrow, maximising it for qualifying.”

“I’m proud of the work we did at this time, I believe that we now have some tempo in hand, and possibly the timesheets didn’t present the complete image, so hopefully placing on some softs tomorrow we might be preventing inside the highest 10,” added Daniel Ricciardo. “I really feel like I bought myself into a greater rhythm in direction of the top of FP2 and was proud of the final lap I did on the mediums. Contemplating every part, I believe we’re in a very good place and now it’s a matter of placing the setup collectively.”

An enchanting battle between these two groups is beginning to take kind within the Constructors’ Championship. In the meanwhile Aston Martin sits fifth with 44 factors, 24 factors forward of sixth-place VCARB. However the group that has the stronger day on Saturday might be in good postion to both prolong that lead — or reduce into that deficit — on Sunday.