Leclerc reveals that traffic affected his first Q3 flying lap

On the back of a brilliant performance in qualifying at his home race in Monaco, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has revealed that traffic might have cost him an even better result than his actual starting position.

The qualifying session saw Ferrari and McLaren battle it out for the top positions for Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix. Home hero Charles Leclerc set the benchmark in all three practice sessions, but McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri closed in on him come qualifying.

In the end, Norris snatched pole position, setting a 1m 09.954s to deny Leclerc, who had briefly held the top spot. Championship leader Piastri ended up third after a messy qualifying session for the Australian.

Expanding on his qualifying session, the Monegasque noted: "There's always something more to be done. But, at the end of the day, this was the best we could do. I think the lap was really good.

"The first lap was a little bit of a shame because when you have a first good lap that gives you a bit more confidence for the second round. I couldn't have that. I had sector two traffic, but it's the way it is.

"Just obviously very frustrated. We know that we don't quite have the car to go for wins this year. But this weekend, the car felt good. And starting second here is going to be tricky to then take that first place."

When asked why he has historically been so strong around the streets he grew up on, he said: "I don't know. I like city tracks in general. I like to really go all in into qualifying and take maximum risks. And I think this most of the time pays off. Sometimes it doesn't pay off.

"I'm proud, anyway, of the result we've had today, as on paper it was going to be a very difficult weekend for us. At the end of the day, it's not that bad."