F1 Monaco Grand Prix Live Updates, Formula One 2024: Charles Leclerc manages to stay in front; Sainz out on first lap
The F1 bandwagon moves to one of its most treasured circuits at the Circuit de Monaco on Sunday with home hero Charles Leclerc leading the grid, looking for his first win in the principality.
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We are underway at the Circuit de Monaco. Leclerc manages to get off to a good start. Sainz tries to pass Piastri in the first corner. Sparks coming from the underneath of the car. SAINZ in out!!
The cars are out for their formation lap around the streets of Monaco. No hiccups for any team so far. Verstappen, Russell and Hamilton have all put on hard tyres looking for a cheap pitstop late in the race.
The cars are firmly placed in their grid spots as the countdown to the Monaco Grand Prix begins. All eyes on Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri who start from the front of the grid.
Can Championship leader Max Verstappen do something special from sixth place on the grid?
LIVE STREAMING INFO
The F1 Monaco Grand Prix can be streamed live through the F1TV app and website. Fans from India can also tune into the action through the FanCode app and website.
Qualifiying report
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc ended Max Verstappen’s record-equalling run of Formula One pole positions in style on Saturday and made himself favourite to become the first home winner of the Monaco Grand Prix since 1931.
The pole on a sunny afternoon was Leclerc’s third in Monaco and 24th of his career, but he has yet to stand on the podium in front of his home crowd.
McLaren’s Oscar Piastri will start alongside the 26-year-old on the front row after lapping 0.154 seconds slower around the harbourside street circuit.
“We need to put everything together for Sunday’s race,” said Leclerc, who can become the first Monegasque to win since Louis Chiron drove a Bugatti to victory in the early years of an event that now stands for glamour and history.
“In the past here we didn’t manage to do so, but we are in a stronger position and we are a stronger team. I’m sure we can achieve great things tomorrow and the win is the target.”
Leclerc took pole in Monaco in 2021, but did not start the race due to a driveshaft failure, and 2022 when he ended up fourth.
Red Bull’s triple world champion Verstappen, who was chasing an unprecedented ninth successive pole and eighth in a row for the season, will line up only sixth.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz qualified third, but faced an investigation for alleged impeding Williams’ Alex Albon in the opening session. The Spaniard said the priority for Sunday’s race would be to help Leclerc win, while McLaren’s Lando Norris was fourth.
Mercedes’ George Russell will share the third row with Verstappen.
Seven times world champion Lewis Hamilton secured seventh place, a disappointment after the Briton’s strong showing in practice, with RB’s Yuki Tsunoda eighth.
– Reuters