Monaco Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc aims to end F1’s home race curse, Oscar Piastri targets maiden win | F1 News

Charles Leclerc secured pole place for the third time on the Monaco Grand Prix, giving himself one other likelihood at his residence occasion.

Leclerc will begin on the entrance row alongside McLaren’s Oscar Piastri when the lights exit at 2pm on Sunday. Sky Sports activities F1 and Major Occasion dwell protectionand hopes his luck improves after a heartbreak in Monaco.

The Monegasque driver has by no means completed on the rostrum, along with his greatest end being fourth, however he has likelihood of adjusting that.

“We simply need to give attention to ourselves. We’re in the perfect place to win the race. Every part is in our arms. We’re a stronger group than we had been previously. We now have to maximise this chance,” Leclerc advised Sky Sports activities F1.

“Rather a lot has occurred previously three years. The group has gained expertise and brought steps in the correct course. Since Fred arrived, [Vasseur]he had a really clear thought and imaginative and prescient of what he needed to attain.

Can Leclerc maintain his beginning place?

Happily for Leclerc, the journey to Flip One is brief and the pole sitter begins from the within, so so long as his begin is not a lot worse than Piastri’s, he ought to keep within the lead.

Essentially the most attention-grabbing side is whether or not Carlos Sainz in third or Lando Norris in fourth can get a seat and due to this fact two Ferraris or two McLarens after the primary nook. Collectively, not aside.

“I am one step away from the rostrum and that is what we’re aiming for. It is all in regards to the begin, the technique and the pit stops,” Norris mentioned.

“There are a whole lot of quick automobiles behind us and we have now to be careful for them. It is going to be thrilling and hopefully we are able to push Ferrari. The one who makes the fewest errors would be the winner tomorrow.”

In current races, the main groups have began utilizing medium tires, Sky Sports activities F1 Technique knowledgeable Bernie Collins does not count on Sunday’s sport to be any completely different.

“When you concentrate on publishing, you see the distinction between software program and medium,” she explains.

“Each groups will contemplate whether or not it is price beginning on the smooth tire to attempt to achieve or keep monitor place.

“I might most likely think about each ranging from the midway line, which supplies you an opportunity to carry on to the road as a result of clearly it is solely a brief distance to show one.

“Nevertheless it offers you a really versatile first interval, so it permits you to cease early or get into the race for a very long time. Over time you’ve got seen the leaders attempt to get into the race so long as attainable to attempt to Keep away from having to cease in any visitors state of affairs.

Anticipate tempo administration earlier than pit cease crescendo

As everyone knows, overtaking in Monaco is extraordinarily tough as a result of slim monitor and sharp turns.

Leclerc will virtually actually management the tempo on the entrance to handle his tires, a technique we have seen earlier than in Monaco and Singapore.

“Whoever is within the lead, the issue from a strategic perspective is deciding how exhausting and when to push,” Burney mentioned.

“There’s normally a whole lot of tempo administration within the first 10 or 15 laps. Whoever is in entrance is driving actually sluggish to regulate their tires and maintain the groups shut behind.

“Then the individuals behind you’re battling particles on their tires as a result of they’re within the soiled air. The advantage of driving slowly is that it retains the convoy crowded, so which means whoever is straight behind you is There aren’t any free pit home windows to cease.

“It is a large query mark about how sluggish you go. You then begin pushing these tires steadily and it is about making the correct determination or the correct stopping lap, you push early so you may have the margin to cease the man behind you Be the primary.

“I feel we noticed at Imola final weekend that McLaren had been very aggressive with the intention to get Piastri previous Carlos. However within the race earlier than that Ferrari had been extra aggressive, so this race may convey that Come give every one one thing in return.

Anticipate Piastri to do the alternative of Leclerc

If Piastri is in second, he’ll attempt to keep a couple of seconds away from Leclerc to try to get an edge. The important thing, nevertheless, is to pit in and are available out in clear air to benefit from the contemporary tires.

If Ferrari decides to pit Leclerc first, McLaren could stick to Piastri long-term and hope the protection automobile or digital security automobile makes it cheaper to pit.

When pitting below inexperienced flag situations, you lose about 20 seconds. Throughout SC or VSC, this time is roughly 12 seconds.

“I feel we are able to win the race. Once you begin from second place, there’s at all times an opportunity,” mentioned Piastri, who had by no means gained a grand prix earlier than.

“You simply need to carry out very well right here. You would possibly get one likelihood and you’ve got to have the ability to take it and do all the pieces proper.

“I feel we are able to win, it’s going to take a whole lot of teamwork, exhausting work and luck, however I positively suppose we are able to win.”

Sainz helps Leclerc

When Leclerc final began at Monaco in 2022, Ferrari botched their technique in sophisticated situations, inflicting their driver to drop to fourth.

No rain is predicted this Sunday, however that race confirmed that changing pole place into victory is not solely easy.

Leclerc could need assistance from Ferrari teammate Sainz, who could also be requested to cease the automobile or implement some form of technique to safe the group’s first win in Monaco since 2017.

Sainz mentioned: “The main target is to see what we are able to do with these two automobiles to win the race with Charles, who’s in the perfect place.”

“Clearly Monaco, you by no means know, every kind of issues can occur, but when I win it could possibly be due to Charles’ technique or one thing bizarre occurred with the protection automobile – I hope they do not [happen] Ultimately.

“Clearly, all of us need to win, however on the identical time, I really feel like Charles deserves to win in Monaco after the unlucky race he had. He is been actually robust all week, all weekend and previously, so yeah, hopefully nothing occurs tomorrow right this moment. In the future of issues to see if we are able to win with Charles.

Sky Sports activities F1 dwell Monaco Grand Prix and Indy 500 schedule

Sunday, Could 26
6.55am: F3 Particular Race
8.35am: F2 Particular Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Monaco Grand Prix preparations*
2pm: Monaco Grand Prix*
4pm: Checkered flag: Monaco Grand Prix reactions
5pm: Ted’s Pocket book
5.30pm: Indy 500 race

* Additionally broadcast dwell on Sky Sports activities Major Occasion

It is time for probably the most well-known F1 race – the Monaco Grand Prix. Watch each race from the well-known avenue circuit dwell on Sky Sports activities F1, with racing going down on Sunday at 2pm. Watch each F1 race and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month-to-month Membership – no contract, cancel anytime