Championship leader Kimi Antonelli showed Ferrari may not have it his way in Monaco Grand Prix qualifying as Mercedes fought back to move ahead of the leaders on Friday in final practice.
After an opening day run around a unique street circuit at three-tenths of a second faster than a flying Ferrari, Mercedes made an obvious effort to improve the W17’s set-up overnight, with immediate results upon returning to the track.
Antonelli, who took his fifth successive win this weekend and leads the title by 43 points, clocked an impressive 1:12.720, 0.327 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
In the typically fastest qualifying simulation, Leclerc’s first lap was badly marred by traffic in the final sector, but the Monegasque was already 0.2 seconds ahead of Antonelli at the end of sector two. Leclerc also suffered from car brake problems again.
“Mercedes turned things around.” Sky Sports F1 Anthony Davidson.
“Antonelli’s products were also really impressive.”
On Friday pacesetter Lewis Hamilton finished third, 0.004 seconds behind team-mate Leclerc, while George Russell finished fourth in his second Mercedes after a run on soft tires did not go to plan, 0.7 seconds behind Antonelli.
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After months of appearing on Lewis Hamilton’s social media, Kim Kardashian made her first Grand Prix paddock appearance at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen was Ferrari’s closest challenger on Friday, but Red Bull struggled to stay with the leaders as the pace increased in final practice. The Dutchman was now 0.9 seconds off Antonelli’s pace and no longer looked like a pole contender.
McLaren held on to the fastest part of the pace, with Oscar Piatri in sixth and Lando Norris likely to make it to the third row at best. Lando Norris is ninth in P2, having had his car repaired overnight after it stalled due to technical issues.
The impressive Audi leads the midfield with Gabriel Bortoleto in seventh and Nico Hulkenberg ahead of the still-flat McLarens and the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar in eighth.
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Several cars got stuck in hairpins during the F3 sprint in Monaco!
Oliver Bearman caused a red flag 15 minutes from the end when he crashed into the barrier after feeling unwell on his way to Massenet at the top of the hill.
Bearman, who finished 14th fastest, quickly apologized to his team over the radio.
“Sorry, it’s the floor! Oh my God,” he said, as he and his Haas machine raced against time to fix the car to qualify at 3pm.
Franco Colapinto had previously damaged Alpine when he spun at a low-speed hairpin and tagged the barrier.
Sky Sports F1 Monaco GP Live Schedule
Saturday, June 6th
1:10 PM: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Monaco GP qualifying build-up
3pm: Monaco GP Qualifying*
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Martin Brundle guesses who sent this iconic Monaco Grand Prix radio message.
Sunday, June 7th
6:50 AM: F3 Feature Race
8:30 AM: F2 Feature Race
10:50 a.m.: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Monaco GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2 p.m.: Monaco Grand Prix*
4pm: Monaco GP reaction: checkered flag*
*Applies to Sky Sports main event as well
Watch the Monaco Grand Prix live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend, the first of six races in eight weeks. Stream Sky Sports NOW – No Commitment, Cancel Anytime
