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Formula 1 Monaco GP

F1 Monaco GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 & Qualifying

Updates from Saturday's F1 FP3 and qualifying sessions ahead of the Monaco GP.

Fresh from the Spanish GP, the F1 action continues with the Monaco GP.

Max Verstappen is the new Formula 1 world championship leader after winning the Spanish GP, as Charles Leclerc was forced to retire from a dominant lead in the race due to a MGU-H and turbo failure with his Ferrari.

Third and final practice for the Monaco GP gets underway at 12.00pm BST (1.00pm local time) before the all-important qualifying session which starts at 3.00pm BST (4.00pm local time).

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11:03

Norris goes fifth with a 1m11.849s to push Alonso back one spot.

11:04

Russell improves too but not by enough as he goes sixth, but nearly three-tenths off of Norris.

11:04

Final lap time!

Red flag

11:04

Red flag! Perez has crashed!

Checkered flag

11:05

Last year it was Leclerc who crashed on the final Q3 lap and ended up taking pole, this time it is Perez who crashes and it hands Leclerc pole!

11:06

Q3 will not be resumed so that confirms pole for Leclerc for the 2022 Monaco GP!

11:08

Perez lost the rear of his Red Bull at Portier which put him sideways on the track, and seconds later an unsighted Sainz comes around the corner and despite his best efforts bangs into the stranded Mexican.

11:10

The Perez and Sainz crash completely blocks the track, with Verstappen and Ocon stopping behind the impromptu Monaco car park. Elsewhere, Alonso crashed all on his own around Mirabeau.

11:11

It's all a bit messy - classic Monaco - but the result sees Leclerc take pole from Ferrari team-mate Sainz ahead of Perez with Verstappen only fourth.

Quote

11:12

Leclerc on his Monaco GP pole: "It is very special, I am so incredibly happy, it has been a very smooth weekend up until now. It went perfectly up until now and that last lap before the red flag was really, really good."

11:14

There won't be any immediate reaction from the rest of the top three because Perez and Sainz are stuck at the other end of the track after their crash at Portier. But the main driver is there, at least.

Twitter

11:15

11:18

There's a sense of deja vu at Monaco given the anti-climax of the final Q3 laps ended by the late red flag - the exact same thing happened last year! Not that Leclerc will mind, and he doesn't even have to worry about a damaged Ferrari this time.

Quote

11:20

Sainz has made it back to the pits after his Q3 crash: "Checo crashed in front of me on my flying lap, I saw the yellow flags just coming into Turn 8 and I had to hit the brakes to avoid him the best I could."

Breaking news

11:22

Here's the full report on a dramatic Monaco GP qualifying:

https://autosport.com/all/news/f1-monaco-gp-leclerc-claims-home-pole-as-perez-suffers-late-crash/10312508/

11:27

That was qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix, tomorrow is the Monaco Grand Procession.

11:28

Harsh? Possibly, given the rain forecast for tomorrow and, as always, anything can happen in F1.

11:33

There's plenty to digest from Monaco GP qualifying in the meantime, so stick with us as reaction begins to roll in from the F1 paddock, but for our live coverage of qualifying we are sad to say that's our lot. I know, it gets harder to say goodbye every time.

Checkered flag

11:34

Never fear, we'll be back tomorrow for the pre-Monaco GP build-up ahead of the race which starts at 2pm BST (3pm local time). Until then, have a lovely rest of your Saturday and go well!

By: Autosport Staff

Published:

May 28, 2022, 3:34 PM