Sergio Perez ended Charles Leclerc’s run on top of the practice times in Monaco ahead of today’s crucial qualifying session.
The pair were separated by four hundredths of a second at the end of the final hour of practice around the Monte Carlo street circuit. Carlos Sainz Jnr was third fastest, with Max Verstappen fourth in the second Red Bull.For the third session in a row, clear blue skies greeted the drivers as the track opened for the final hour of running before qualifying, with ambient temperatures in the mid-20C range and slowly rising. Despite being the final opportunity to prepare their cars for the most crucial qualifying session of the season, many of the teams were no rush to get out onto the circuit in the opening minutes.
Fernando Alonso set the initial pace with a 1’15.809 on the soft tyres – well off the benchmark set by Leclerc yesterday – before he improved by over a second to a 1’14.757. Eventually, the two Ferraris of Leclerc and Sainz joined the circuit, with Leclerc jumping to the top of the times on a 1’13.647. Verstappen then split the two Ferraris, a few hundredths behind his championship rival.
Perez then lowered the fastest time on a 1’13.297, which was then matched exactly by Leclerc by the nearest thousandth of a second. Leclerc then improved to go quickest of all, lowering the best time to a 1’12.885.
As with on Friday, Sainte Devote was proving the most difficult area of the circuit. Lando Norris bailed out of a lap after locking up approaching the first corner, before Lance Stroll did the same moments later with Sainz making a near identical error not long after. Lewis Hamilton brushed the wall lightly on the exit of Tabac, but was able to continue with no harm done.
Traffic was also a major concern once again in the final hour. Sainz was involved in two incidents, first allegedly impeding Stroll into the final corner of Anthony Noghes, before a scary incident approaching Casino Square left Sebastian Vettel audibly unhappy at having to avoid the slow Ferrari. The stewards have announced Sainz’s incident with Stroll is under investigation along with another between Verstappen and Zhou Guanyu.
Verstappen improved to go second quickest, just over three tenths off from Leclerc’s best, before Sainz went fastest of all ahead of the pair of them. Stroll’s eventful session ended at the exit of the Swimming Pool when he hit the outside barrier. He was able to safely recover to the pits, but did not re-emerge.
Heading into the final ten minutes, times were again improving at the top of the times sheets. Leclerc re-took the top spot, until Perez improved to go quickest. Leclerc jumped back to the top on his next effort, before Perez improved to take the number one spot a second time from the Ferrari.
At the chequered flag flew to end practice, Perez ended the session fastest of all to break Leclerc’s run of quickest times. Sainz was third, three tenths away from Perez, with Verstappen fourth fastest and four tenths back.
Pierre Gasly put AlphaTauri fifth over seven tenths back, just ahead of Norris and Hamilton in the first of the Mercedes. The top ten positions were rounded out by Kevin Magnussen, George Russell and Fernando Alonso.
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2022 Monaco Grand Prix third practice result
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | RB18 | 1’12.476 | 25 | |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | F1-75 | 1’12.517 | -0.139 | 26 |
| 3 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | F1-75 | 1’12.846 | 0.190 | 26 |
| 4 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | RB18 | 1’12.881 | 0.225 | 27 |
| 5 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT03 | 1’13.210 | 0.554 | 20 |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL36 | 1’13.226 | 0.570 | 17 |
| 7 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W13 | 1’13.375 | 0.719 | 24 |
| 8 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | VF-22 | 1’13.436 | 0.780 | 22 |
| 9 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W13 | 1’13.476 | 0.820 | 24 |
| 10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine-Renault | A522 | 1’13.585 | 0.929 | 21 |
| 11 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | AT03 | 1’13.645 | 0.989 | 23 |
| 12 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | Haas-Ferrari | VF-22 | 1’13.827 | 1.171 | 24 |
| 13 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR22 | 1’13.838 | 1.182 | 26 |
| 14 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C42 | 1’13.849 | 1.193 | 23 |
| 15 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW44 | 1’13.882 | 1.226 | 20 |
| 16 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL36 | 1’14.104 | 1.448 | 27 |
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A522 | 1’14.260 | 1.604 | 20 |
| 18 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR22 | 1’14.639 | 1.983 | 20 |
| 19 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | C42 | 1’14.861 | 2.205 | 23 |
| 20 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams-Mercedes | FW44 | 1’14.910 | 2.254 | 24 |
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2022 Monaco Grand Prix complete practice results
| Position | Number | Driver | Team | FP1 time | FP2 time | FP3 time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull | 1’14.570 | 1’13.035 | 1’12.476 | 86 | |
| 2 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1’14.531 | 1’12.656 | 1’12.517 | -0.139 | 85 |
| 3 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | 1’14.601 | 1’12.700 | 1’12.846 | 0.044 | 86 |
| 4 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1’14.712 | 1’13.103 | 1’12.881 | 0.225 | 86 |
| 5 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | 1’15.083 | 1’13.636 | 1’13.210 | 0.554 | 85 |
| 6 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’15.056 | 1’13.294 | 1’13.226 | 0.570 | 72 |
| 7 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1’15.499 | 1’14.267 | 1’13.375 | 0.719 | 82 |
| 8 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1’15.211 | 1’13.406 | 1’13.476 | 0.750 | 89 |
| 9 | 20 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas-Ferrari | 1’15.806 | 1’14.239 | 1’13.436 | 0.780 | 83 |
| 10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Alpine-Renault | 1’15.749 | 1’13.912 | 1’13.585 | 0.929 | 80 |
| 11 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | AlphaTauri-Red Bull | 1’15.536 | 1’14.134 | 1’13.645 | 0.989 | 86 |
| 12 | 47 | Mick Schumacher | Haas-Ferrari | 1’18.636 | 1’14.894 | 1’13.827 | 1.171 | 68 |
| 13 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’15.387 | 1’14.059 | 1’13.838 | 1.182 | 90 |
| 14 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | No time | 1’14.468 | 1’13.849 | 1.193 | 53 |
| 15 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | 1’16.110 | 1’14.486 | 1’13.882 | 1.226 | 92 |
| 16 | 3 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’15.157 | No time | 1’14.104 | 1.448 | 62 |
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | 1’16.315 | 1’15.216 | 1’14.260 | 1.604 | 77 |
| 18 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Alfa Romeo-Ferrari | 1’16.417 | 1’14.525 | 1’14.861 | 1.869 | 72 |
| 19 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | 1’15.539 | 1’14.623 | 1’14.639 | 1.967 | 75 |
| 20 | 6 | Nicholas Latifi | Williams-Mercedes | 1’17.714 | 1’16.276 | 1’14.910 | 2.254 | 87 |
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amian
28th May 2022, 13:41
Once again, an angry Perez is a fast Perez.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
28th May 2022, 13:42
True, but it’s in quali that we’ll see the true performance, even in fp3 times are not at their best.
SjaakFoo (@sjaakfoo)
28th May 2022, 13:57
I think both Max and Charles especially learned the value in not getting even close to the limit in free practice in previous seasons at this track.
daniel
28th May 2022, 13:44
3 0 perez in practice that never happens. He will need a 2 pos gap to max to win. Hopefully max starts p4 would love see Checo Lec Sainz Ves grid we need it.
DaveW (@dmw)
28th May 2022, 14:51
And verstappen was right to the wall in la piscine and drifting out of the last couple corners. He was not holding back.
Srdjan Mandic (@srga91)
28th May 2022, 13:50
Damn it, Checo! It’s not your job to go fastest, but constantly finish one position BEHIND Max! ;)
HJ
28th May 2022, 13:56
In FP3 is that no problem;-)
kpcart
28th May 2022, 14:01
Go Check, payback for last week in qualifying. Or will the team turn down his engine in last sector? Far too early for team orders
OmarR
28th May 2022, 14:19
These are not RC cars. The team can’t “turn down the engine in the last sector”.
DaveW (@dmw)
28th May 2022, 14:50
Checo coming in with 14 mins left, changing his rear set up even though he was at the front of the pack, and going yet faster is a sign he and his engineer are in the zone right now.
MG1982 (@mg1982)
28th May 2022, 15:28
Well, so far it doesn’t look like a Ferrari-track at all. No.2 is doing an incredible job again stealing Ferrari’s Mojo while No.1 is still celebrating his latest victory in Spain. Previously, MiniMe threatened the World with the Appeal Court if the budget cap is not adjusted to his liking, while Scotty is on fire upgrading the car with a Goldmember!