Charles Leclerc, the driver from Monaco, showcased his skills during the second free practice session of the Monaco Grand Prix Formula 1. Despite already leading the pack by almost two tenths of a second, Leclerc admitted that he still has more speed to show. As he prepares for the crucial qualifying session on Saturday, the Monegasque driver believes he can further improve his performance by putting all the pieces together. While acknowledging the potential for better lap times, Leclerc is satisfied with his current performance and feeling on the track.
During the opening free practice, Leclerc secured an impressive fifth place using medium tires. However, he faced challenges during the session with soft tires due to heavy traffic. Nevertheless, Leclerc remains confident in his car’s capabilities and believes they have a solid foundation for success.
“I felt quite confident with the car, but it’s crucial that we keep this momentum in FP3, because that’s how Monaco works. Maybe I took more risks than others today, but it was worth it. However, tomorrow’s qualifying is what really matters, when everyone is on the limit. So far, I think we’ve done an excellent job, but we need to keep working and focusing on ourselves. It was a positive first day.”
A surprising competitor in the form of Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton emerged on Friday, with the British driver leading the time sheets in FP1 and finishing second in FP2.
However, Leclerc was not surprised by this, as he knows “anything is possible” in Monaco. He himself has experienced it, having clinched pole position in the uncompetitive Ferrari of 2021 three years ago.
“The Mercedes, which has been facing difficulties this season, is very fast this weekend. We hope they will be equally competitive tomorrow. Lewis was impressive all day,” commented Leclerc.
“Therefore, we need to maximize everything tomorrow and hopefully secure the pole position.”
Although starting on pole position in Monaco almost guarantees victory, Leclerc has been unlucky at his local circuit. Despite starting on pole twice, his best result was fourth place. So, he is not getting ahead of himself, even though he has done well so far.
“If we can secure the pole position, which is the best starting position for Sunday, we need to stay focused on Sunday and put everything together to finally achieve this victory,” he said.
With Red Bull facing difficulties and Leclerc’s teammate, Carlos Sainz, more than half a second slower, this could be the year when the local hero finally achieves his long-awaited victory in Monaco.
