2024 F1 Round 8 Monaco GP FP3: Leclerc leads for a second session, Verstappen second, Bottas crash brings red flag

The third and final practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix, Round 8 of the 2024 Formula 1 season, ended on the evening of 25 May, Beijing time. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc led for the second consecutive session with a 1m11.369s, continuing his progress towards a third pole at home. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was second, 0.197s behind, but there was still a clear gap to Leclerc.

After a difficult Friday, Verstappen had pessimistically said there was “no solution” in sight. His performance improved in Saturday’s third practice, but he still could not dislodge Leclerc from the top. Third-placed Lewis Hamilton had a heavy lock-up at Sainte-Devote, Turn 1, wasting a set of tyres. It was a warning ahead of qualifying for the three-time Monaco winner.

An early red flag interrupted the session when Sauber driver Valtteri Bottas hit the barrier at the Swimming Pool section and broke his front suspension. He tried to limp back to the pits but, unable to steer, became stranded at the final corner, La Rascasse. The marshals had to remove the car.

Russell, in sixth, improved on his tenth place in Friday’s second practice. The previous day, steering-wheel vibration had troubled him: shaking through the steering system under braking had affected the confidence he needed to attack this circuit.

Only 0.09s covered the six drivers from Piastri in fourth to Tsunoda in ninth, underlining how closely matched the midfield group was. Traffic remained a persistent concern throughout the weekend. Slow cars getting in the way were an even more frequent sight than in previous years on the narrow streets of Monte Carlo, making particular care necessary in the full-field Q1 session later in the day.

Monte Carlo was warm on Saturday and the skies cleared as practice progressed. All 20 cars took to the track for the final hour of preparation.