Monaco Grand Prix

Monaco: Qualifying LIVE from 4pm

(Bild: AP/Associated Press)

Local hero Charles Leclerc has secured pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix! 

The Monegasque in the Ferrari confirmed his training performance in qualifying on Saturday and, as in 2021 and 2022, took first place on the grid in the Principality. Leclerc, who is hoping for his first home win, will start the eighth race of the season on Sunday (3pm) ahead of McLaren driver Oscar Piastri (+0.154s) and Carlos Sainz (+0.248s) in the second Ferrari.

World champion Max Verstappen (+0.297) had to settle for sixth place on the grid in the Red Bull. The Dutchman touched the kerb in the first corner on his last fast attempt. "This car is slippery," complained Verstappen, who had recently been first on the grid eight times in a row. As a result, the triple champion missed out on becoming the first driver ever to record nine pole positions in a row and eight at the start of the season.

Here is the final result:

For the Scuderia it was the 250th pole position, for Leclerc the 24th of his career. "The feeling after the last qualifying lap is always very special here. I'm very happy," said the Ferrari hopeful, who immediately put things into perspective.

"Qualifying is not everything, I have to bring everything together tomorrow. I haven't been able to do that in recent years, but we are a stronger team now and can achieve great things tomorrow." Leclerc was born in the Principality and still lives there. However, despite good starting positions, the 26-year-old has never been able to win in his home country, with fourth and sixth place being his best results to date on the iconic street circuit on the Côte d'Azur.

Here are the standings in the drivers' championship:

Veteran Fernando Alonso had to make do with 16th place on the grid in the Aston Martin. Sergio Perez struggled even more in the second Red Bull and was unable to get past a disappointing 18th place on the grid. "A complete disaster," said the Mexican, who complained about traffic and failed in the first qualifying section, just like last year. "The car has so much more potential. In general, we have problems on this track. We have to look ahead to Montreal. If it doesn't rain tomorrow, I don't see any hope."

Verstappen, Monaco winner in 2021 and 2023, leads the championship standings with 161 points, clearly ahead of Leclerc (113) and Perez (107), who triumphed in the Principality in 2022. McLaren driver Lando Norris (101) is 60 points behind.