The Dutch driver Max Verstappen of Red Bull leads the season standings and is chasing a third consecutive title. In Monaco, the race in the principality earned another dramatic win as Verstappen surged ahead of Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin in the Monaco Grand Prix, the sixth round of the Formula 1 World Championship held on the tight streets of Monte Carlo. The battle looked destined to go to the limit with minimal margins between top contenders.
In a session that often proves decisive on the narrow coastal circuit, the Spaniard Carlos Sainz of Ferrari qualified fifth, ahead of his teammate, the new Dutch idol’s partner, Mexican driver Sergio Perez. Perez came into the event with fourteen points in the championship and faced a challenging start from a lower grid position in the opening race at Monaco.
Verstappen, 25, aimed to conquer the iconic race and secure his thirty ninth career victory, which would mark his fourth win of the season and a second Monaco triumph, mirroring a win he earned two years ago on the shortest track of the calendar. He also claimed his twenty third pole position in Formula 1 on Saturday, narrowly edging Alonso by a small margin as the Spaniard edged into a late Q3 push. The Monaco weekend marked a return to form for the 41 year old Alonso, who has shown remarkable pace against a rapidly advancing younger generation.
The qualifying performance was nothing short of spectacular, among the best in many seasons. Verstappen and Alonso pushed their rivals to the limit, with the front four cars separated by just two tenths of a second. The Spaniard, who has already delivered several podiums this season, faced a difficult challenge against the higher speed and raw efficiency of the Red Bull, especially on a track that demands precision from every corner.
Red Bull remains the team to beat, thanks to the design genius of Adrian Newey, whose aerodynamic philosophy has helped create a winning package that has dominated the early part of the season. The team’s latest lap timing showcased the remarkable synergy between driver, car setup, and track conditions, highlighting Verstappen as the favorite heading into the race. Alonso, always a factor, showed why he is a consistent threat, using his Aston Martin to punch above expectations against the fierce Red Bull challenge.
Entering the season, Alonso spoke with confidence about continuing his streak of high finishes. His goal remains clear: keep climbing the standings and fight for more victories with a car that improved substantially from last year and has shown strong performance on circuits that demand driver skill and strategic thinking. The Spaniard has been a standout presence in the early races, signaling his team’s potential to contest for multiple wins this year.
In the fight for the podium, teammate Leclerc from Monaco and Esteban Ocon from France will also be in contention. Leclerc qualified in a strong position, with Ocon lining up behind him as the session concluded. The middle of the pack saw competitive runs from other top teams as drivers looked to maximize grip and optimize tire strategies for a race that rewards precision and clean execution.
Verstappen posted a lap of 1 minute 11.365 seconds on the Monte Carlo circuit, a performance that left rivals chasing. Alonso finished a fraction behind, with Ocon and Sainz completing the top four. The rest of the top ten featured a mix of drivers from different teams, all aiming to capitalize on a competitive qualifying session that showcased the depth of talent in the field and the potential for a dramatic Monaco outcome. Sainz remained well positioned, sharing the front row with a veteran leader and continuing his strong form for Ferrari. The grid saw Hamilton exchanging fast times with the crowd-pleasing display typical of this historic race weekend, while Leclerc aimed to translate his home advantage into a strong race result.
Monaco GP Qualification
1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1’11.365
2. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) at 0.084
3. Esteban Ocon (Alp) at 0.188
4. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) at 0.265
5. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) at 0.360
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) at 0.106
7. Pierre Gasly (Alp) at 0.568
8. George Russell (Mercedes) at 0.599
9. Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) at 0.717
10. Lando Norris (McLaren) at 0.889
11. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) at 1.030
12. Nyck de Vries (AlphaTauri) at 1.063
13. Alexander Albon (Williams) at 1.162
14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) at 1.258
15. Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) at 1.260
16. Logan Sargeant (Williams) at 1.748
17. Kevin Magnussen (Haas) at 1.905
18. Nico Hulkenberg (Haas) at 1.914
19. Guanyu Zhou (Alfa Romeo) at 2.158