Charles Leclerc loses unique Monaco qualifying record after Lewis Hamilton outqualifies him. Lewis Hamilton ends Charles Leclerc's unbeaten Monaco Q3 streak.

Second row for Ferrari in Monaco, with Lewis Hamilton ahead of Charles Leclerc

Charles Leclerc’s qualifying session ended in disappointment after the Ferrari driver missed out on a front-row start for the Monaco Grand Prix. Ferrari’s SF-26 will line up on the second row, with Lewis Hamilton qualifying ahead of his teammate in what proved to be a frustrating afternoon for the Monegasque driver.

Ferrari can still rely on the strong launch performance that has characterized the SF-26 this season, but making the most of that advantage will not be easy around the narrow streets of Monte Carlo, where opportunities are extremely limited and track position remains crucial.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen managed to beat both Ferrari drivers in qualifying. In addition, Charles Leclerc suffered a first in his Monaco Formula 1 career, as he was outqualified in Q3 by a teammate for the very first time at his home circuit.

Lewis Hamilton finished ahead of Charles Leclerc after the Monegasque made a costly mistake during his first Q3 run in the Massenet-Casino section. Later in the session, Charles Leclerc produced a strong lap and briefly remained in contention for pole position. However, after Max Verstappen first improved and then Andrea Kimi Antonelli went even faster, the Ferrari driver found himself forced to push beyond the limit in his final attempt as he chased the top spot on the grid.

That decisive lap ended dramatically. Charles Leclerc lost control of his Ferrari at Tabac, making contact with the barrier on the right-hand side before bouncing across and hitting the wall on the left. Despite the damage, the Monegasque driver was able to bring his SF-26 back to Parc Fermé.

Now Ferrari faces a difficult challenge heading into Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix. Starting from the second row, the 28-year-old will need something close to a miracle to repeat the victory he achieved on the streets of Monte Carlo in 2024, especially with overtaking opportunities expected to be extremely limited throughout the race.