Ferrari strike again: Vettel knocks out Leclerc in Q1

Mark Scott 25 May 2019 4:10 PM

A costly crash as Sebastian Vettel hits the wall at Ste Devote, whilst a strategy botch saw Charles Leclerc eliminated in Q1.

Here is how qualifying day unfolded in Monaco…

Max Verstappen was all smiles heading to the track on Saturday morning. As work commutes go, this isn’t a bad one.

At sea and smiling for #Quali day 😃 Those #MonacoGP commutes 👌🇲🇨 pic.twitter.com/eLn13b35wt

— Aston Martin Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) May 25, 2019

Mercedes continued to pay tribute to the late, great Niki Lauda by turning their halo red. Nice touch.

Red Halos ready 🔴👊 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/W8cIWLrW5b

— Mercedes-AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) May 25, 2019

Lewis Hamilton had to wait patiently to hop into his new-look W10. Mechanics making the final adjustments after a set-up change.

Sebastian Vettel then provided the first major flashpoint of the day, crashing at Ste Devote and missing a huge chunk of FP3. Not ideal.

Looks like Seb's FP3 is over #MonacoGP 🇲🇨 #F1 pic.twitter.com/3rgqsmWPDq

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 25, 2019

A lonely walk back to the paddock for the four-time World Champ…

Ferrari’s flying start continued with Charles Leclerc then placed under investigation for a VSC infringement after his team-mate crashed.

👀⬇️ We'll keep you posted#MonacoGP 🇲🇨 #F1 pic.twitter.com/EP1mNWfNrA

— Formula 1 (@F1) May 25, 2019

Leclerc did go on to top the FP3 timesheet by 0.053s, but it could be tarnished with the threat of a possible grid penalty…

Final timing screen for #FP3 at the #MonacoGP:
Nico: P11, 1:12.489, 26 laps
Daniel: P12, 1:12.519, 26 laps

And only four tenths covering P6 to P14! #RSspirit pic.twitter.com/2QHiEowwGa

— Renault F1 Team (@RenaultF1Team) May 25, 2019

That threat, though, disappeared when the stewards opted to issue Leclerc with a reprimand rather than a grid drop. Phew.

The youngster almost gave Ferrari a second repair job of the day in Q1, but he just avoided the barriers coming out of La Rascasse.

Charles nearly did a Schumacher…

but on accident…

for real

— iGP Manager (@iGPManager) May 25, 2019

And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse for Ferrari, Vettel got himself out of the drop zone and ended Q1 in P1, the problem was, his team-mate Leclerc was the driver he sent into the drop zone. Disaster at his home race.

Kubica, Russell, Stroll and Perez joined the stunned Monegasque driver in the elimination zone.

@ScuderiaFerrari strategy 2019….#MonacoGP #F1 #quali pic.twitter.com/5kODr6F6S8

— Jonty Beard (@Jontys_Corner) May 25, 2019

A Red Bull top? Don’t be silly man, well that’s what happened as Max Verstappen ended Q2 fastest ahead of Bottas and Hamilton.

Giovinazzi, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Norris and Hulkenberg said ta-ta for now at the end of Q2.

But the Silver Arrows got back on top when it mattered – pole for Hamilton in Monaco. And another front-row lockout for Mercedes, but you could have probably already guessed that.