Formula 1 returns to one of the most prestigious venues on the calendar as the famous Circuit de Monaco plays host to the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.
Max Verstappen got back to winning ways last time out in Imola, though the Red Bull driver did have to thwart a late challenge from Lando Norris, who finished less than a second behind.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the podium and this weekend will compete at his home race where, following years of near-misses, he is yet to secure a top-three finish.
Verstappen won last year’s race in Monaco, setting it up after a pulsating qualifying lap denied Fernando Alonso pole position, while Lewis Hamilton is a three-time winner around the tight twists and turns of the principality.
Follow live updates from the Monaco Grand Prix with The Independent
Q1 underway!
We’re underway with Q1 on the streets of Monte-Carlo!
And who’s out first? Lewis Hamilton.
The seven-time world champion is a three-time winner around Monaco and has had a strong weekend so far – what can Mercedes do in this all-important qualifying session?
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 15:00
F1 Monaco Grand Prix – qualifying!
We’re just five minutes away from the most important qualifying of the season so far!
Given how difficult it is to overtake in Monaco, the starting grid is extremely important for tomorrow’s race – can Charles Leclerc keep up his good form in practice to secure what would be a third pole position in his hometown? Can McLaren get involved on the front row? Or will it be Max again?
Qualifying from the Monaco Grand Prix coming right up!
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 14:55
Driver Standings ahead of Monaco:
1. Max Verstappen – 161 points
2. Charles Leclerc – 113 points
3. Sergio Perez – 107 points
4. Lando Norris – 101 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 93 points
6. Oscar Piastri – 53 points
7. George Russell – 44 points
8. Lewis Hamilton – 35 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 33 points
10. Yuki Tsunoda – 15 points
11. Lance Stroll – 11 points
12. Oliver Bearman – 6 points
13. Nico Hulkenberg – 6 points
14. Daniel Ricciardo – 5 points
15. Esteban Ocon – 1 point
16. Kevin Magnussen – 1 point
17. Alex Albon – 0 points
18. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
19. Pierre Gasly – 0 points
20. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
21. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 14:52
PREVIEW: How Monaco GP presents a unique F1 challenge – and why Charles Leclerc is desperate to finally triumph at home
The treacherous twists and turns of the Circuit de Monaco have not been kind to this small principality’s prodigal son. It took until 2022 – after two retirements and one devastating failure to make the start line after qualifying on pole, with a Covid cancellation thrown in the middle – for Charles Leclerc to finish his home grand prix. And even that was ruined by a strategy failure, confining him to fourth after also qualifying on pole.
Two years on, the Ferrari driver is heading into his sixth Monaco Grand Prix having never stood in the royal box overlooking the main straight, with Monaco the only race not to have an official podium for the top-three drivers. There is nowhere Leclerc, currently second in the world championship and trailing Max Verstappen by 48 points after seven races, would rather ignite a title challenge than here. The taste of winning champagne would hit different. You can bet it’d be expensive, too.
“Second or third is not really something that excites me,” Leclerc said on Thursday. “The win is what we need to target. We’ve seen in the last few races that Red Bull, McLaren and ourselves are pretty close in qualifying and we know how important qualifying is here so we’ll have to put everything together.
“If we are on pole, then that will give us a good chance to get what we want, which is a win.”
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 14:44
F1 Monaco Grand Prix – qualifying odds!
Monaco Grand Prix – pole position:
Lewis Hamilton, Oscar Piastri – 16/1
Fernando Alonso, Sergio Perez – 40/1
Daniel Ricciardo, Lance Stroll, Yuki Tsuonda – 250/1
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 14:28
Among the stars on show in Monaco, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk!
Here’s Max Verstappen with his compatriot earlier, overlooking the harbour!



Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 14:14
Constructors’ Championship ahead of Monaco
5. Aston Martin – 44 points
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 14:01
Driver Standings ahead of Monaco:
1. Max Verstappen – 161 points
2. Charles Leclerc – 113 points
3. Sergio Perez – 107 points
4. Lando Norris – 101 points
5. Carlos Sainz – 93 points
6. Oscar Piastri – 53 points
7. George Russell – 44 points
8. Lewis Hamilton – 35 points
9. Fernando Alonso – 33 points
10. Yuki Tsunoda – 15 points
11. Lance Stroll – 11 points
12. Oliver Bearman – 6 points
13. Nico Hulkenberg – 6 points
14. Daniel Ricciardo – 5 points
15. Esteban Ocon – 1 point
16. Kevin Magnussen – 1 point
17. Alex Albon – 0 points
18. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
19. Pierre Gasly – 0 points
20. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
21. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 13:42
How good does McLaren’s Ayrton Senna tribute car look under the Monaco sun!



Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 13:29
PREVIEW: How Monaco GP presents a unique F1 challenge – and why Charles Leclerc is desperate to finally triumph at home
The treacherous twists and turns of the Circuit de Monaco have not been kind to this small principality’s prodigal son. It took until 2022 – after two retirements and one devastating failure to make the start line after qualifying on pole, with a Covid cancellation thrown in the middle – for Charles Leclerc to finish his home grand prix. And even that was ruined by a strategy failure, confining him to fourth after also qualifying on pole.
Two years on, the Ferrari driver is heading into his sixth Monaco Grand Prix having never stood in the royal box overlooking the main straight, with Monaco the only race not to have an official podium for the top-three drivers. There is nowhere Leclerc, currently second in the world championship and trailing Max Verstappen by 48 points after seven races, would rather ignite a title challenge than here. The taste of winning champagne would hit different. You can bet it’d be expensive, too.
“Second or third is not really something that excites me,” Leclerc said on Thursday. “The win is what we need to target. We’ve seen in the last few races that Red Bull, McLaren and ourselves are pretty close in qualifying and we know how important qualifying is here so we’ll have to put everything together.
“If we are on pole, then that will give us a good chance to get what we want, which is a win.”
Kieran Jackson25 May 2024 13:15