Top again in practice

The first practice session in Monaco LIVE from 13:30

Chalres Leclerc(Bild: AP)

Local hero Charles Leclerc also set the fastest time in the Formula 1 final practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix. The Monegasque in the Ferrari was the fastest driver in the Principality on Saturday, as he had been in the second practice session the day before.

Second was Red Bull world champion Max Verstappen (+0.197) ahead of Lewis Hamilton (+0.341) in the Mercedes. Qualifying is still on the agenda on Saturday (16:00/ORF 1, Sky), which is particularly important due to the limited overtaking opportunities.

"In a class of its own"
For Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko, there is one big favorite for pole position. "The maximum is the front row. Leclerc is out of competition, in a class of his own here," said the 80-year-old Styrian on ORF. Most recently, Verstappen had secured first place on the grid eight times in a row over the course of the season, equaling a record set by Ayrton Senna.

Ahead of the eighth race of the season on Sunday (3.00 pm), Verstappen, Monaco winner in 2021 and 2023, leads the championship standings with 161 points, clearly ahead of Leclerc (113) and Sergio Perez (107) in the second Red Bull, who triumphed in the Principality in 2022. McLaren driver Lando Norris (101) is 60 points behind.