Charles Leclerc Maintains Dominance Ahead of Monaco Grand Prix

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc continued to assert his dominance in the lead-up to the Monaco Grand Prix, outpacing championship leader Max Verstappen by nearly two tenths of a second in the final practice session, with Lewis Hamilton securing third place.

Leclerc, who topped Friday’s practice sessions, wasted no time in asserting his presence on the track. Despite a brief interruption caused by Valtteri Bottas’ unfortunate collision with the wall, Leclerc swiftly reclaimed his position at the top of the timesheets. With impressive lap times, he eventually clocked a fastest time of 1:11.369, showcasing his familiarity with the iconic street circuit.

While Leclerc soared ahead, others struggled to find their rhythm on the demanding circuit. Verstappen expressed dissatisfaction with his car’s performance but managed to close the gap to Leclerc, finishing just 0.197 seconds behind the Ferrari driver.

Hamilton encountered his own challenges, narrowly avoiding damage to his tires after a lock-up into Sainte Devote. Despite the setback, he secured a respectable third place.

Behind the frontrunners, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Sergio Pérez battled for fourth and fifth positions respectively. Pérez, like his teammate Verstappen, voiced concerns about his car’s performance, highlighting the complexities of mastering the Monaco circuit.

Rounding out the top ten were George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, Yuki Tsunoda, and Fernando Alonso, each showcasing their skills on the challenging street circuit.

As anticipation builds for the Monaco Grand Prix, all eyes will be on Leclerc as he aims to translate his practice dominance into a podium finish on home soil.