F1 Monaco Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying build-up after Leclerc and Ferrari shine in Monte Carlo – latest updates

RECAP

Here’s the top 10 from today’s Monaco Grand Prix practice:

1. LEC – 1:11.684 gives Monegasque a Thursday to remember
2. SAI – A Ferrari one-two after the Spaniard topped FP1!
3. HAM
4. VER – 0.007 seconds behind the Mercedes
5. BOT – Just over two-hundredths back from Verstappen
6. NOR – Comfortably ahead of Ricciardo again
7. GAS
8. PER – A second off Leclerc
9. GIO
10. VET

MORE FROM VETTEL

Aston Martin star Sebastian Vettel finished 10th in free practice but is “quite satisfied” despite his eye injury.

Vettel said: “I was quite satisfied today, we got into the rhythm quickly.

“In the afternoon I lost the overview a bit, but overall it’s okay.

“Ideally we can keep that up. It’s all about Saturday afternoon”

EYE PATCH

Sebastian Vettel suffered an eye injury during Thursday’s practice at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Vettel’s problem wasn’t too serious thankfully and his Aston Martin team-mates made him an eye patch.

He said: “So the team was quite nice and they made this for me.

“I think I’m going to keep it. It will keep me safe for the rest of the weekend.

“I don’t recommend it [watching the Grand Prix with an eye patch]. It’s not as much fun as with two eyes”

MORE FROM VERSTAPPEN

Red Bull star Max Verstappen shared a few worries following Thursday’s practice at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Verstappen said: “We are too slow, and not just by a little bit; I think quite a bit.

“We really need to find some pace. Everyone has traffic, so you need to look at optimum lap times or optimum sectors and we are quite off.

“It also didn’t feel great to drive. Normally I’m quite comfortable in the car, quite easily get to a pace but it all takes too long, [it’s] just not how I like it.

“I’m just surprised at how competitive Ferrari is. But I think it just shows that we are pretty weak.

“They are doing very well and we are very weak, so the offset is very big. Luckily, of course, we have a free day tomorrow so we can look into things but a lot of things need to change, I think”

NEW KIT

Lewis Hamilton donned a new kit during the Monaco Grand Prix practice.

Here’s what he tweeted:

NORRIS REACTS

McLaren’s Lando Norris wasn’t surprised with Ferrari’s performance in the Monaco Grand Prix practice.

“I don’t think Ferrari are surprising.

“The public don’t get to see what we get to see – onboards and data and stuff. We knew they were going to be fast.

“I texted Carlos before the weekend and saying: ‘You are going to be very good this weekend and have a chance to win’.

“It is expected from us. They are looking strong, which isn’t good for us”

MORE FROM HAMILTON

Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton had more to say after the Monaco Grand Prix practice.

Hamilton said: “It feels really cool to be back on track. This track is absolutely mesmerising every time you get the opportunity to drive.

“The Ferraris look really strong, it’s surprising to see them improve so much. But that’s great – it means more competition.

“It is a track where you need to walk before you can run, but you have to do that quickly.

“The car is good, we made some decent steps with the balance of the car and I am just generally happy”

LECLERC REACTS

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc stood out in the Monaco Grand Prix practice round.

Leclerc said: “I was quite surprised it ended that way because, here especially, it is very important to do as many laps as you can and unfortunately, with the issue we had in P1, I had only done four laps.

“But I felt quite at ease with the car and managed to put that lap in.

“There is still a bit of margin but on the other hand I am sure that Mercedes and Red Bull have more margin than we have so we shouldn’t get carried away too much.

“It is looking good but for now it is looking a bit too good to believe it”

MAX-IMUM EFFORT

Max Verstappen took to Twitter after his practice round in the Monaco Grand Prix.

Verstappen insists he will have to do better tomorrow by adding “some more pace”.

Here’s what he tweeted:

WOLFF TRIBUTE

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who works with Lewis Hamilton, paid tribute to legendary Formula One driver Niki Lauda, who died exactly two years ago.

Wolff admitted that Lauda will constantly be in their thoughts during the Monaco Grand Prix.

He said: “The last time we were racing in Monaco was shortly after Niki’s passing.

“So, he won’t be far from our thoughts this year, either”

LAUDA TRIBUTE

Mercedes star Lewis Hamilton has paid tribute to Formula One legend Niki Lauda.

Today marks two years since Lauda’s death at the age of 70 years old.

The legendary Austrian is considered as one of the best drivers of all time as he is still the only one to have been champion for both Ferrari and McLaren.

Hamilton tweeted the following:

LEW AGE

Mercedes champion Lewis Hamilton is also impressed with Ferrari’s imrovement.

British superstar Hamilton finished third in Practice Two

He said: “The Ferraris are really strong.

“Surprising to see them improve so much, but it’s great – it means more competition”

VERSTAPPEN REACTS

Red Bull star Max Verstappen was very surprised with Ferrari’s performance as he finished fourth.

Verstappen said: “I’m surprised how competitive Ferrari is.

“I think it just shows that we are pretty weak.

“They are doing very well and we are very weak, so then the offset is very big.”

PRACTICE LATEST

Ferrari have stood out in the opening day of the Monaco Grand Prix by besting title challengers Mercedes and Red Bull during the second practice.

Ferrari led with both their cars in the afternoon around the famously tight and twisty streets of the Principality.

Hometown hero Charles Leclerc beat team-mate Carlos Sainz by 0.112s with a best lap of 1:11.684.

Ferrari have yet to make the podium this year and last won a race two seasons ago, but have significantly improved

TOP TEN IN FP2

1. LEC – 1:11.684 gives Monegasque a Thursday to remember
2. SAI – A Ferrari one-two after the Spaniard topped FP1!
3. HAM
4. VER – 0.007 seconds behind the Mercedes
5. BOT – Just over two-hundredths back from Verstappen
6. NOR – Comfortably ahead of Ricciardo again
7. GAS
8. PER – A second off Leclerc
9. GIO
10. VET

SCH-WHACK-ER

Michael Schumacher leaving his Haas in the Nouvelle Chicane run-off has done for FP2, leaving him to inspect the damage to the right-hand side.

Nothing too serious, it seems.

THAT’S THAT

Teams are asking race director Michael Masi if they can jump back out for a practice start.

But it has been confirmed that the session will not be restarted, so don’t hold your breath, fellas…

THE WRECKAGE

Well, not quite that bad. Here’s the evidence of Schumacher’s skirt along the barrier outside the casino.

RED FLAG

An early end to the session as the last four minutes look set to be under the red flag.

This is most likely linked to Schumacher’s said off, which cannot be retrieved at the Nouvelle Chicance run-off area.

DONK

The Monte Carlo casino is probably used to seeing some risks not paying off and the Haas of Mick Schumacher is the latest… losing his grip and riding along the barrier at Massenet.

A tyre puncture means the young German hobbles into the run-off area by the chicance under the guard of yellow flags.

FINAL TEN

Race runs the order of the day as the second practice session edges towards its conclusion.

Teams will pile on the fuel and gather some lovely data.

Worth remembering we don’t know the fuel levels or how turned up the engines are when looking at the timesheet.

FERRARI ONE-TWO

Charles Leclerc takes advantage of a quiet moment on track to go fastest, just ahead of team-mate Carlos Sainz.

That is a surprise!

Meanwhile, no sign of Yuki Tsunoda recently, currently sat plumb last.

The live scenes of his AlphaTauri garage show some mechanics focused on the back end of his car, which he dinked against the barrier about half an hour ago.

FULL CHAT

You may have been surprised by some of those names in the top ten at halfway and you can thank the Soft tyres for that.

After a fuller set of times on the quick set, Carlos Sainz has plonked his Ferrari at the top of the leaderboard with a 1:11.796.

Lando Norris is fifth and Charles Leclerc sixth.

And Sebastian Vettel is in the top ten and jokes his eyes are ‘bleeding’ and blames it on being ’emotional’ as he shrugs off the chance to pit.

TOP TEN AT HALFWAY

1. BOT
2. HAM
3. GIO
4. SAI
5. VER
6. PER
7. GAS
8. RAI
9. OCO
10. LAT