Monaco Grand Prix: Here’s who’s in pole position in the 8th F1 race of the season

Ferrari notched up a 1 and 3 start for the Monaco Grand Prix as Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap time (1:10:270), with teammate Carlos Sainz following close in third position. McLaren Mercedes’ Oscar Piastri is in second position at the moment, which, Leclerc hopes Sainz can turn around in the race on Sunday, May 26, giving Ferrari a 1-2 race, which they can then maintain for the rest of the course. Speaking after setting the fastest lap during qualifiers, Leclerc said, “Qualifying is not everything. As much as it helps in Sunday’s race, we need to put everything together, which we managed to do in the past years. We are a strong team and in a stronger position, and I am sure we can achieve great things and, obviously, the win is the target.”

Monaco Grand Prix: When and where to watch Round 8 of 2024 F1 Championship 

Leclerc reckons he needs a good launch off the grid, and that Sainz too will have a great start and follow him into turn 1 and make it a Ferrari 1-2 leading the race. “If we are 1-2, that would be the perfect scenario. Whatever happens, we just need to bring that victory home,” he added. Catch all the action of the Monaco Grand Prix with OTTplay Premium’s Powerplay pack. The Monaco Grand Prix will take place on May 26 at 6.30 pm. Enjoy 35+ OTTs like ZEE5, LionsgatePlay, Ullu, SunNXT, SonyLIV, Fancode and 250+ Live TV channels at just ₹99. 

Earlier in the practice sessions, Leclerc had set the fastest lap time across the 3.3 km track in 1: 11 369. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was second and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton in third place. However, in qualifying, Verstappen and Hamilton got pushed down the order to 6 and 7 respectively. A win on Sunday will give Leclerc his first win of the season, and 5th podium, as well as 25 points to catch up to Verstappen, who is currently 48 points ahead. Also, a Ferrari 1-2 finish will take the team closer to current leader Red Bull Racing and close down the gap, which is currently 268-212.

Meanwhile, F1 organizers are increasingly being urged to improve the Monaco circuit, which is held on the street and, hence, has narrow roads with 19 bends that drivers have to navigate 78 times during the entire race of 260.286 km. With cars getting wider, it leaves barely any opportunity for overtaking during the race, meaning that once their starting positions are determined and nothing major happens during pitstops, cars will just be following each other, providing no excitement whatsoever.