Red Bull
With Leclerc out, Verstappen inherited the de facto pole and made it count. He had to be aggressive at the start to cut across Bottas but after that, his race was uncomplicated and he sailed serenely to the finish line for his first win in Monaco, and took the championship lead to boot. Perez had to work slightly harder but made his soft tyres last really well to pit late and overcut his rivals. He came home a very decent fourth, after a spirited attack on Norris ahead proved fruitless.
Max Verstappen, 1st
“I’m super happy to win the Monaco Grand Prix. It’s such a tricky track and you need a smooth weekend so I’m very pleased with what we have achieved as a Team and of course with Honda. I just had to focus on my own race and make sure I had a clean start. Of course it all looked under control but to keep your focus for so many laps is the hardest part because it’s easy to relax when you’re in the lead and make a mistake, so you have to keep reminding yourself
The drivers and teams report back on all the action from a busy final practice and qualifying at the fifth race of the season, the Formula 1 Grand Prix de Monaco 2021.
Mercedes
After opting to run the hard and medium compound tyres in FP1, Mercedes found themselves in the mix with those on the same strategy, but behind the few who ran the soft compound. Roll on FP2 and with most drivers on the same compounds, it was easier to see a pecking order emerge – and as it stands Mercedes are not the quickest here. Hamilton might have to find something special on Saturday if he wants that all-important pole in Monaco.
Lewis Hamilton – FP1: 1:12.995, P5; FP2: 1:12.074, P3 Everyone loves to drive here - the weather has been great and this track is rapid, absolutely mesmerising, so I ve enjoyed today. The Ferraris look really strong, which is great, it means more competition.
Mercedes
With Red Bull getting the beating of both Mercedes drivers in FP3, it looked set for a titanic battle for pole. Hamilton seemed fractions behind his team mate through Q1 and Q2 but as he so often does, pulled a lap out of the bag when it mattered at the start of Q3. With the wind picking up and the track moving away from them, the top three didn’t improve on their second runs leaving the reigning world champion with his 100th pole position, an absolutely astonishing feat. Bottas had to make do with third, but starts on the clean side of the grid and could pick up a handy tow so is still very much in this one.