Charles Leclerc grabs Monaco GP pole but faces anxious wait over crash-damaged Ferrari

Leclerc could receive grid penalty depending on the extent of damage during qualifying

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco gets out of his car on the track after a crash during the qualifying session at the Monaco racetrack, in Monaco, Saturday, May 22, 2021. The Formula One race wShow more

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc grabbed the pole position for his home Monaco Grand Prix after setting the fastest time during qualifying, despite damaging his car on Saturday.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen will start the race alongside him on the front row with world champion Lewis Hamilton back on the fourth row.

Qualifying was red flagged at the end, depriving Hamilton and Verstappen of an opportunity to better Leclerc's time.

Leclerc smashed into the barriers with 18 seconds of the session remaining and could yet lead to a grid penalty depending on the extent of the damage.

Leclerc admitted he was "worried" about a penalty for a change of gearbox.

"It's a shame to finish in the wall, it doesn't feel the same but I'm incredibly happy about my lap.

"I could feel I was quite emotional in the car – now it's Q3, now it's time to put everything together. I managed to do so and I'm incredibly happy."

With his teammate Carlos Sainz on the second row alongside the Mercedes of Valtteri Bottas after posting the fourth quickest time, Ferrari were confirming their impressive form in practice.

"It's tomorrow that we score points but we are incredibly surprised to be on pole and fourth place for the race tomorrow," added Leclerc who has given Ferrari a real shot at their first grand prix win since 2019 after a slump last season.

Leclerc waved to his fans as a crane lifted his car off the track. His lap at 1 minute, 10.35 seconds course gave him his eighth career pole. But it was his first since the Mexican GP in October 2019.

Leclerc is hoping to become Monaco’s first local winner since Louis Chiron in 1931. Perhaps it was a lucky charm, but his friend Prince Albert visited Ferrari’s garage before qualifying. Albert messaged Leclerc when he took his first pole at the Bahrain GP in early 2019.

Verstappen, who trails Hamilton by 14 points in the drivers' world championship, bemoaned the red-flag suspended conclusion to Q3.

"The red flag ruined the chance for pole. Nevertheless, a good weekend and we recovered well from Thursday so not too bad."

Hamilton, who has won three of this season's four races, said it was a case of going "back to the drawing board now".

"There is a lack of grip, so that leaves you to overdrive the car and unfortunately it just didn't improve," said the seven-time world champion.

With overtaking difficult on Monaco's tight circuit, Hamilton's chances of moving up to 99 grand prix wins look compromised.

"I guess the minimum will be hopefully finish seventh, and then hope we can get higher," he said.

Earlier, Verstappen posted the fastest time in the final practice. An eventful session was twice interrupted for crashes near the end.

Nicholas Latifi hit the barriers and mangled the front right wheel of his Williams along the harbour. Then, Mick Schumacher crashed his Haas car coming out of Casino Square and there was not enough time to restart.

He needed a gearbox change and starts last.

Ferrari looked strong in Thursday’s first two sessions, too, with Leclerc topping P2 and Sainz second in both.

Some fans returned to the stands after the iconic race was canceled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Police stopped some buses coming through from Cap d’Ail — which is in France — into Monaco and checked people’s work permits. Security officials also checked passengers at the exit of Monaco-Monte Carlo train station, ensuring they had a negative PCR test for Covid-19 when entering.

Monaco's circuit is back on the F1 menu after last year's race was dropped from the coronavirus-disrupted season.

The presence of 7,500 fans is also an indication that gradually a degree of normalcy is returning to the sport's landscape.