Two Red Flags Interrupt Qualifying in Monaco
After a fascinating qualifying session at the 2022 Monaco GP, Charles Leclerc will start first in the race, thanks to a late crash by Sergio Perez.
Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc was already the first fastest in Q3 when Sergio “Checo” Perez spun into the wall at the exit of Portier, and qualifying was red-flagged. Carlos Sainz was on a flying lap behind Checo when he crashed, but Sainz did not see the yellow flags waved by the marshalls in time, and he spun his Ferrari in an attempt to avoid the Red Bull that was blocking the tunnel.
The fastest 10 drivers were out on track in the last three minutes of Q3 to try and improve on their laps, but the red flag impeded them. Charles Leclerc secured the pole position once it was impossible for Sainz, Perez, rival Verstappen, Russell, and Norris to improve their times.
Yuki Tsunoda clipped the barrier at the Nouvelle Chicane in Q1, which brought out the first red flag of qualifying, and a stoppage that would deny some drivers their final attempt. Tsunoda’s teammate, Pierre Gasly was no less than P7 in all three rounds of free practice, but the Frenchman was eliminated in Q1.
The red flag came out with less than three minutes remaining, so a large queue formed in the pitlane to get out on track in time to start a lap. The Williams of Albon and Latifi was eliminated, as well as Lance Stroll for Aston Martin, and Zhou Guanyu of Alfa Romeo.
Q2 was very tight, the bottom five were closely contested, and Sebastien Vettel, George Russell, and Fernando Alonso barely made it through. Russell has shown pace at times this weekend, but Mercedes seems to have back-peddled from the aerodynamic improvements that they tested in Spain.
Tsunoda, Valtteri Bottas, both Haas cars, and former Monaco winner Daniel Ricciardo couldn’t get the job done in Q2; they were eliminated.
It was an unfortunate result for Ricciardo who is struggling to keep up with his teammate, Lando Norris, who will be starting fifth in tomorrow’s race. Despite rumors that Norris has been ill, the Brit exceeded all expectations. On the other hand, Ricciardo wrecked the McLaren in FP2, he was on the backfoot today in qualifying and only finished P13.
Sergio Perez was faster than his teammate, Max Verstappen, in every session so far at the Monaco GP. The Mexican driver was relegated to second by his team in Barcelona, so he is hungrier than ever to prove himself.
The two red flags really changed this qualifying session. Perhaps Perez doesn’t crash and Verstappen improves his time, or Sainz, or even Leclerc for that matter. The local hero did not complete his final lap in Q3, so he too could have claimed pole outright.
Monegasueqe has failed to finish every Monaco GP that he started, including Formula 2, but he has done all he can on today by putting the F1-75 on the pole. Can break the “curse” and claim the ultimate prize in his home country? Can Ferrari retake the lead from Red Bull in both Championships?
Stay tuned for coverage of tomorrow morning’s race.