Leclerc leads again in Monaco FP3, with Verstappen, Norris and Piastri close behind as Hamilton crashes and Williams show pace.
The Monaco Grand Prix enters its third and final Free Practice session before moving into an entirely new phase, that of raw competition, where every fast lap will count toward determining the final result.
Before heading into qualifying, which determines the starting grid for the race and will take place this afternoon at 4 p.m. local time, we are together for one last free session in preparation for qualifying.
FP3 is crucial for preparing one-lap performance, which is essential in a season as tight as the one we are currently experiencing. But more importantly, the stakes are doubled in Monaco, as a crash on track could result in a driver being unable to take part in qualifying.
With the fastest times yesterday in both sessions, Charles Leclerc stands as the man to beat at home. The main challengers are the McLaren F1 drivers, of course, but also Max Verstappen, along with the Williams and Racing Bulls teams, who were very quick in FP1 and FP2 respectively.
12:15 p.m.: It’s worth noting that Lance Stroll has received a one-place grid penalty for colliding with Charles Leclerc, while Oliver Bearman has been handed a 10-place penalty for overtaking under red flag conditions during a session stoppage.
12:24 p.m.: The best tactic to bring the C6 tyres, which are prone to overheating, up to the right temperature might actually be to heat them less using the tyre warmers. That’s reportedly what several teams have been doing since yesterday.
12:30 p.m.: FP3 for the Monaco Grand Prix is underway!
12:33 p.m.: Franco Colapinto sets the first time, but it’s ten seconds off yesterday’s pace.
12:36 p.m.: Liam Lawson goes faster with a 1:15.171, but there aren’t many drivers on track. Aside from the two who’ve set a time, only Isack Hadjar and the Saubers are running.
12:39 p.m.: Nico Hülkenberg clocks a 1:14.065 on medium tyres, while Esteban Ocon takes to the track. Hadjar moves up to second.
12:43 p.m.: Hülkenberg slightly improves to 1:13.916, staying on top as Hadjar also progresses, closing the gap to just 0.049.
12:45 p.m.: Lewis Hamilton goes second, just 0.023 behind, on soft tyres. He complains about the rear of the car sliding.
12:46 p.m.: Hülkenberg runs wide at Anthony Noghès corner but avoids the wall.
12:48 p.m.: Lando Norris takes the lead with a 1:12.970 on softs. Lance Stroll slots into third on mediums, ahead of Hadjar.
12:49 p.m.: Max Verstappen moves up to second on mediums, before Charles Leclerc grabs the top spot with a 1:12.712. Oscar Piastri is only fifth for now, and Yuki Tsunoda takes fourth, within the same tenth as Verstappen.
12:51 p.m.: Norris improves to 1:12.347.
12:52 p.m.: Carlos Sainz was impeded and even brushed the inside wall at the top of Beaurivage.
12:53 p.m.: Leclerc reclaims the top spot with a 1:12.199.
12:54 p.m.: Norris goes even quicker with a 1:12.126.
12:55 p.m.: Bortoleto brushes the wall, but fortunately without damage.
12:58 p.m.: Leclerc steps up again with a 1:11.532, a tenth ahead of Verstappen who had just gone fastest. Red Bull are still running on medium tyres.
1:00 p.m.: Verstappen returns to the top with a 1:11.233 halfway through the session. Alex Albon is up to fourth.
1:04 p.m.: Adrian Newey held a press conference yesterday where he revealed a critical issue for Aston Martin’s future — problems with its brand-new simulator.
1:08 p.m.: Newey also shared the arguments he believes could help lure Max Verstappen to Aston Martin.
1:12 p.m.: Drivers completed a few longer runs and are now preparing for a final push for quick laps in the last minutes of the session.
1:18 p.m.: Times aren’t really improving anymore despite some strong sector performances. Between traffic and shifting temperatures, it’s hard to make gains.
1:21 p.m.: Piastri climbs to second place on softs, still behind Verstappen’s medium-tyre time. Pierre Gasly improves but remains down in 12th.
1:23 p.m.: Leclerc finally beats Verstappen’s time with a 1:11.179 on softs.
1:25 p.m.: Hamilton posted the best first sector but was held up at the hairpin. Norris took the kerb too aggressively at the Swimming Pool, but without consequence.
1:26 p.m.: Leclerc improves to 1:10.953! We are now within seven tenths of the 2024 pole time.
1:28 p.m.: Hamilton hit the wall and stopped at the side of the track with a punctured tyre and a banner wrapped around the other right wheel. The red flag is shown, bringing the session to an early end. The Briton lost control at Massenet and struck the side barriers hard. Fortunately, he is unharmed.
Leclerc finishes on top, remaining unbeaten across all three free practice sessions. He leads Verstappen and the two McLarens of Norris and Piastri, followed by Hamilton, who ended his session in the barrier at Massenet.
Albon takes sixth ahead of Lawson and Sainz, confirming the strong form of Williams and Racing Bulls. Tsunoda is ninth ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, underlining the continued struggles for Mercedes F1.
Fernando Alonso is 12th ahead of Hülkenberg, Gasly, Stroll, Bearman, Hadjar, Ocon, Bortoleto, and Colapinto, who remains nearly two seconds off the pace.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari SF-25 | 1:10.953 | 25 |
| 02 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB21 | 1:11.233 | 23 |
| 03 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes MCL39 | 1:11.247 | 23 |
| 04 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes MCL39 | 1:11.398 | 21 |
| 05 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari SF-25 | 1:11.516 | 26 |
| 06 | Alex Albon | Williams Mercedes FW47 | 1:11.668 | 24 |
| 07 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT VCARB 02 | 1:11.814 | 33 |
| 08 | Carlos Sainz | Williams Mercedes FW47 | 1:11.893 | 24 |
| 09 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB21 | 1:11.952 | 21 |
| 10 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes W16 | 1:12.013 | 23 |
| 11 | George Russell | Mercedes W16 | 1:12.066 | 22 |
| 12 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR25 | 1:12.101 | 22 |
| 13 | Nico Hülkenberg | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C45 | 1:12.125 | 25 |
| 14 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault A525 | 1:12.194 | 20 |
| 15 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR25 | 1:12.202 | 24 |
| 16 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari VF-25 | 1:12.251 | 20 |
| 17 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls Honda RBPT VCARB 02 | 1:12.271 | 30 |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | Haas Ferrari VF-25 | 1:12.499 | 25 |
| 19 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C45 | 1:12.601 | 28 |
| 20 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine Renault A525 | 1:12.852 | 32 |
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