Monaco: pre-qualifying 2024

And so to the worst circuit on the calendar: Monaco. Yep, slow speed and passing being almost impossible is just what you want on a racetrack.

Anyway, the weather forecast is dry, so luckily it seems rain won’t get in the way of Sunday’s procession. Saturday is always annoying, because it can be competitive and unpredictable, and who wants that when you’re trying to sleep?

 

The top of the leaderboard was a bit unexpected in P1 with Hamilton leading Piastri and Russell. Norris, Leclerc, and Alonso followed, with Stroll, Tsunoda, Ricciardo, and Sainz completing the top 10.

Second practice was more in line with expectations, and had Leclerc fastest ahead of Hamilton, with Alonso and Verstappen a few tenths further back. Norris was a hundredth ahead of Sainz (six-tenths off his team mate), with Stroll, Perez, Albon, and Russell following.

At this stage Leclerc looks heavy favourite for pole and win with Verstappen potentially not getting on the podium.

Unfortunately I don’t have time today to wait for third practice.

So this might be the only bet of the weekend as it relates to the race: Sainz, each way at 23 (Ladbrokes boosted). In the last two years he’s been ahead of Leclerc on the grid but one time that was due to a penalty for the Monegasque (who otherwise would’ve been a single place ahead). Yes, the Spaniard looks off the pace right now but he’s in the same car and at the last two races has been highly comparable in pace terms.

Qualifying is at 3pm.

 

Morris Dancer

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