Lewis Hamilton crashes as Charles Leclerc leads ahead of Max Verstappen in Monaco GP qualifying

Ferrari is racing against the clock to ensure that Lewis Hamilton’s car is ready for qualifying after he was involved in a crash towards the end of the final practice session. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc demonstrated once again why he is the driver to beat, securing the fastest lap leading up to the Monaco Grand Prix.

During the last moments of the final practice, Hamilton suffered a significant incident, crashing hard into the wall at Turn 3 as he approached the renowned Casino Square. With merely two minutes left in the session, his collision not only damaged the right side of his car but also prematurely ended the practice session, leaving his team scrambling to make last-minute repairs.

The high-stakes environment of the Monaco circuit means that every driver must be acutely aware of their surroundings. Hamilton potentially lost time due to the slow pace of both a Mercedes and a Haas car on track, which could have disturbed the clean air his Ferrari desperately needed for optimal performance. Navigating through the tight bends and limited visibility of Monaco makes it crucial for drivers to maintain clean air to maximize their speed, further complicating Hamilton’s chances during this session.

Despite this setback, Hamilton—a driver with a wealth of experience and a record of three victories in Monaco—apologized to his team for putting them in a difficult position just before qualifying, set for later on Saturday at 3 PM. His track record in Monaco could play a pivotal role as he vies to recover quickly and ensure a strong position on race day.

In the meantime, Leclerc continued to shine, showcasing formidable talent and speed that has made him the man to beat this weekend. He clocked an impressive lap time, finishing nearly three tenths of a second ahead of Max Verstappen, demonstrating Ferrari’s prowess as they seek to secure pole position. Leclerc’s fastest lap was achieved on soft tires, while Verstappen’s competitive time was set on medium tires, suggesting that there’s potential for both tire compounds to deliver similar performance levels.

Further down the leaderboard, Lando Norris of McLaren hastily secured the third position, closely followed by his teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri in fourth. Both McLaren drivers’ strong performances indicate they are serious contenders for a top starting spot, adding tension to the already competitive atmosphere for qualifying.

Hamilton ultimately found himself classified in fifth place, indicating the intense competition among the front-runners and the urgent repair job that Ferrari faces to prepare his car in time. The Williams duo of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz placed sixth and eighth, respectively, while Liam Lawson from Racing Bulls managed to split them, securing seventh.

As the Mercedes team navigates their own challenges, they find themselves in a battle to secure a place in Q3, with Kimi Antonelli in 10th and George Russell in 11th, spotlighting the fierce competition across the grid. As the excitement builds for the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, every team is racing not just for points but for the strategic advantage that can be gained during the crucial qualifying rounds, making effective preparation key for drivers like Hamilton and the Ferrari team.

Monaco GP Practice Three Timesheet

Driver	Team	Time
1) Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	1:10.953
2) Max Verstappen	Red Bull	+0.280
3) Lando Norris	McLaren	+0.294
4) Oscar Piastri	McLaren	+0.445
5) Lewis Hamilton	Ferrari	+0.563
6) Alex Albon	Williams	+0.715
7) Liam Lawson	Racing Bulls	+0.861
8) Carlos Sainz	Williams	+0.940
9) Yuki Tsunoda	Red Bull	+0.999
10) Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+1.060
11) George Russell	Mercedes	+1.113
12) Fernando Alonso	Aston Martin	+1.148
13) Nico Hulkenberg	Sauber	+1.172
14) Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+1.241
15) Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	+1.249
16) Oliver Bearman	Haas	+1.298
17) Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	+1.318
18) Esteban Ocon	Haas	+1.546
19) Gabriel Bortoleto	Sauber	+1.648
20) Franco Colapinto	Alpine	+1.898