Leclerc achieves pole with Sainz fourth and Alonso's new disappointment | Qualification of the Monaco Grand Prix of Formula 1

Charles Leclerc achieved pole position in his home Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver will start from the top position in Monaco after a very good qualifying for the Ferraris, with a Carlos Sainz finally finishing fourth. Great result for the Madrilenian –the best since wearing red–, although it could be better. Max Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas will start from second and third respectively, while Fernando Alonso suffered again in qualifying and was beaten for the fourth consecutive Grand Prix in Saturday’s session by his teammate Esteban Ocon. The Asturian rider remains uncomfortable in the Alpine and will start from seventeenth position this Sunday in Monaco. The end of qualifying was tremendous: Leclerc’s accident, which caused the red flag and the end of the session with pole position for him. LECLERC CRASHES, BUT TAKES POLE! He brings out the red flag after hitting the barriers, and the session will not be restarted # MonacoGP 🇲🇨 # F1 pic.twitter.com/BG46Wf4pxY- Formula 1 (@ F1) May 22, 2021 The classification of one of the most special and beautiful Grand Prix of Formula 1 starts with very good omens for Ferrari. Carlos Sainz had been second in recent free practice, only behind a Max Verstappen who narrowly surpassed him. The opportunity for Ferrari was one of those that cannot be missed: the red car was rolling faster than ever and had a very exciting qualifying ahead with the expectation of putting Sainz and Leclerc between the top positions of Saturday’s session. his part, the feelings for Fernando Alonso were totally different. Long faces were visible in the Alpine garage before the start of the session, aware that the car was not being competitive at all on the asphalt of Monaco. In fact, its presence in the top ten of the rankings was almost ruled out. The feelings in Mercedes were not good either, but we already know Toto Wolff’s team: despite the fact that Lewis Hamilton finished in seventh place this morning, no one believed that they were not going to fight in the afternoon in the clock. Eliminated in Q1 The bad omens at Alpine were confirmed in the first qualifying round. Fernando Alonso did not pass the cut of Q1 and will start from the seventeenth on Sunday. The Asturian driver continues to be very uncomfortable in the blue car and was once again overtaken by Esteban Ocon in qualifying for the fourth consecutive Grand Prix. Likewise, they accompanied Alonso in the elimination zone of Q1 Yuki Tsunoda, Nicholas Lafiti, Nikita Mazepin and Mick Schumacher, who did not participate in qualifying after his accident in free practice. 🏁 ELIMINATED: Q1 🏁TsunodaAlonso (📸) LatifiMazepinSchumacher (No time) #MonacoGP 🇲🇨 # F1 pic.twitter.com/hwG8T05wmk – Formula 1 (@ F1) May 22, 2021 The fight in the first positions was very tight. They were few in the battle for pole and was joined by Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes, who finished Q1 in first position after setting the best time of the whole weekend to send a strong message to Red Bull. For his part, Carlos Sainz finished fourth and a somewhat uncomfortable Lewis Hamilton in ninth. Ricciardo, the only surprise in Q2 The second qualifying round began with great news for the Spanish public: the confirmation that Carlos Sainz could fight for pole. The Ferrari driver signed the best time of the weekend at the start of Q2 to excite everyone. However, Max Verstappen soon snatched it away with his Red Bull, which was flying in Monaco. Q2 ended with Charles Leclerc leading with Verstappen and Valtteri Bottas behind. Q2 CLASSIFICATION Home hero Leclerc on top… three drivers from three teams separated by a tenth at the top 🤤 # MonacoGP 🇲🇨 # F1 pic.twitter.com/tg9R546loA – Formula 1 (@ F1) May 22, 2021 , Daniel Ricciardo suffered again with his McLaren and was left out of Q3. As is happening to Alonso, the Australian is having a hard time adapting to his car. Along with him, Esteban Ocon, Lance Stroll, Kimi Raikkonen and George Russell did not pass the cut and stayed out. For his part, Antonio Giovinazzi gave the surprise and got into the top ten of the Monaco standings.Leclerc triumphs at homeThe two attempts promised to be exciting to decide the poleman of the Monaco Grand Prix. It was difficult to think of more contenders: the Ferraris of Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, the Mercedes of Bottas and even the McLaren of Norris, without ever forgetting Hamilton, were signing up for the great fight in Q3. In the first attempt, Sainz had painted the first sector purple, but an error in the last one deprived him of taking the top of the classification, a position that remained his teammate. Finally, Charles Leclerc achieved pole position in the Grand Prix of his country, but he did it in an almost unprecedented way: an accident of his forced the red flag and the end of the classification when Max Verstappen threatened his best time from behind. For his part, Carlos Sainz is left with a fourth place that could have been much better.