2021 Monaco GP: return of Max Verstappen vs Charles Leclerc, and Carlos Sainz on a charge. We pick out two key things to look out for in Sunday’s race at in Monaco.

We pick out two key things to look out for in Sunday’s race at in Monaco…

1 – Charles Leclerc fighting Verstappen for a home victory

Ferrari took a surprise pole position but have a nervous wait

Charles Leclerc does not have a good record at his home event, having failed to finish every time he has raced in Monaco stretching back to his junior formula days. So when he missed FP1 with a gearbox issue, it seemed like that run might continue. Then came the stunning form from Ferrari that saw him capable of fighting for pole position and taking it before crashing in Q3.

The Monegasque driver is left playing a waiting game to find out if his gearbox needs changing or any parts replacing that could carry a grid penalty – though the team revealed on Saturday evening they had found no ‘serious damage’ after intial checks – but if he does remain on pole position, then he’s got the car to win on a track that is so difficult to overtake on.

But Leclerc’s big threat will come from his old sparring partner Max Verstappen, who was going extremely quickly on his final attempt before having to abort due to the red flag, and lines up alongside him on the front row. Verstappen has never won at Monaco either – in fact he hasn’t even had a podium – and it could come down to who gets off the line best.

If Leclerc does hold the lead, then Verstappen would be expected to stick with the Ferrari, and strategy will be crucial in determining who wins this one.

2 – Sainz and Norris in the podium mix

Both drivers could have ended up on the front row

As Leclerc put one Ferrari on pole position, his crash denied the other of his chance to take a maiden pole as Carlos Sainz was limited to fourth on the grid. Seeing as Sainz had been P2 in all three practice sessions and made an error on his first timed lap when going quickest, he was definitely in with a chance, but his target now is likely to turn to trying to secure a first podium for Ferrari.

While Valtteri Bottas lines up third ahead of him, Sainz also has to worry about his former McLaren team mate Lando Norris – who ended up fifth, but was just 0.044s away from a spot on the front row.

Ferrari might have the best opportunities with both cars in the top four, while the Red Bulls are second and ninth and the Mercedes pair third and seventh, so strategically the Scuderia have a few more options. But Norris has been able to get the maximum out of his McLaren at most races this season and will count himself in with a chance of a second podium of the year.