Saturday is the Monaco Grand Prix

The biggest Formula 1 qualifying session of the season is just around the corner.

Several key questions are on everyone’s mind.

Will Ferrari manage to outperform the competition?

Just a few days before the 2024 US Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc addressed the media at Ferrari’s hospitality area. He mentioned they weren’t considered “favorites” for Austin.

Surprisingly, three days later, Leclerc ended up winning the US Grand Prix.

It was a tight race between Lando Norris and Max Verstappen that opened a path for Leclerc, but could something similar happen in Monaco? The reigning Monaco Grand Prix champion expressed doubts at a press conference, stating that his chances for a repeat were “low” and that “on paper, it’s going to be tough.”

However, he impressively topped the timing sheets in both FP1 and FP2. With Hamilton securing third in FP3, things seem to be looking up for Ferrari.

But can they sustain this momentum into Saturday?

Leclerc himself was hesitant.

“I mean, I think I might be a bit convinced, yet I’m not sure about it either,” he said when asked about his confidence in the official F1 interview. “Fridays in Monaco always feel distinct and quite unique. I think we’re all just kind of waiting. It’s a bit early to feel overly optimistic about the weekend.”

Is it going to be another “M&M” showdown?

Of course, the top three drivers in the championship standings are still heavily in play.

Oscar Piastri, leading the championship, finished fifth in FP1 and second in FP2. Though he had a minor incident during practice, hitting a barrier, he commented afterward that he and his team were in “decent” shape.

His teammate, Lando Norris, sitting 13 points behind Piastri, also performed well, finishing third in FP1 and fourth in FP2. Norris was consistently strong at the end of the session; during FP1, his second sector ranked second, and in FP2 he bettered his performance again.

Norris described his start to the weekend as “solid.”

Max Verstappen also entered this Grand Prix following a victory at Imola, narrowing the gap to Piastri in the standings. He placed second in FP1 but fell to tenth in FP2.

Verstappen felt good about FP1 but mentioned they might have overdone adjustments before FP2.

“FP1 was quite positive regarding our preparations, but we tweaked some settings for FP2,” Verstappen said. “I think we pushed the balance too hard and couldn’t perform as aggressively as I wanted.”

Even with a drop in performance on Friday, Verstappen is always a threat for pole position on Saturdays.

As we approach Q3, we hope to see all three in a fierce competition.

How are the newcomers handling the challenge?

Before the Monaco Grand Prix, both Liam Lawson and Isac Hajar shared their thoughts on experiencing the circuit for the first time as Formula 1 drivers.

Both appeared to embrace the challenge, even if Hajar described the experience as “scary.”

After finishing 13th in FP1 and 17th in FP2, both drivers improved significantly in the later session, with Lawson claiming 5th and Hajar 6th.

This progress came despite Hajar encountering two incidents: one where he hit the inner corner of Newell Cicuné and another brush with a barrier.

“Overall, everyone seems satisfied with the car. We have some adjustments to make, and I’m sure we can enhance the car’s balance,” noted Racing Director Alan Permane.

They could be worth watching as the sessions unfold.

Will the two-stop rule influence qualifying?

The FIA has introduced a new two-stop strategy for the Monaco Grand Prix, which may already start affecting the proceedings.

This could carry into the high-stakes qualifying session.

According to Pirelli Chief Engineer Simone Berra, some drivers utilized medium and/or hard tires during Friday’s practices. The unique regulations for the weekend mean that tire choices will ripple through the race. Notably, 13 drivers from seven teams are heading into the race with just one set of tires available on Sunday. Five drivers, including Piastri and Norris, have been using the same medium set in both sessions.

Will drivers opt for medium tires and save softer ones for race day? A two-stop strategy could create opportunities.

This uncertainty seems to stem from some drivers’ lack of confidence in the C6 soft compounds.

“It was crucial to assess how the C6 performed after its debut at Imola. I can safely say that the observations we made last week were validated today,” Berra stated. “The newest soft tires are slightly quicker than the C5, and can regain most of their performance after a couple of cooldown laps.”

“Given the characteristics of these softer compounds, drivers might feel hesitant to push right from their first laps.”

While tire strategies usually focus on race days, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding the C6, the mandatory two-stop rule could become a prominent topic for Monaco’s qualifying on Saturday.