- Charles Leclerc third in Monte Carlo but may face grid penalty
- Lewis Hamilton sixth after Mercedes step in right direction
Max Verstappen claimed pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix, delivering a masterclass for Red Bull in a gripping session on the streets of Monte Carlo to beat Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso into second place. Verstappen absolutely threaded the needle on the narrow, twisting confines of the principality with a consummate lap and with it secured a commanding advantage for Sunday’s race.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third, his teammate Carlos Sainz in fifth, with Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in fourth. Mercedes, who had brought their long awaited new design upgrades to this meeting, made tentative steps in the right direction with Lewis Hamilton in sixth and George Russell in eighth.