Lewis Hamilton crashed from the final practice after Charles Leclerc was fastest prior to qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Hamilton hit the wall hard by turning 3 on the entrance to Casino Square with two minutes left and brought the session to an early end.
A slow Mercedes and Haas may have caught Hamilton out as his Ferrari would have been influenced by dirty air.
His car had significant damage on the right side when the seven-time world champion apologized for his team for putting them on the back foot before Qualification later Saturday at. 15, live on Sky Sports F1.
“I don’t know what he would do if he didn’t crash because he would go down on the cars in front,” said Sky Sports F1‘S Jenson button.
“This is the problem. You arrive at such high speed there, on the border, and you have a car in front that loses you all your downforce upon entry.
“It’s definitely Lewis’ mistake, but it wasn’t an easy situation for him at the time. A loss of downforce has certainly hurt him there.”
However, Leclerc is the driver to beat when he was in front of Max Verstappen with almost three tenths as he continued his top pace from Friday, topping both exercise sessions.
The Ferrari driver put his best lap on Softs while Verstappen made his time on the media, which seemed to give similar speed as the soft connection.
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Teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri respond to McLaren’s ‘Vintage’ Riviera-inspired Livery for Monaco Grand Prix
Lando Norris became the third and championship leader Oscar Piastri fourth, with both McLaren drivers also contrary to the very important pole position in Monaco.
Hamilton, a three-time Monaco winner, was classified the fifth, but Ferrari is facing a race to repair his car in time for qualifying.
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Prior to the Monaco Grand Prix, drivers have their opinion on the new extra pit-stop rule
Elsewhere, Williams Pair Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz were sixth and eighth, split by Racing Bulls from Liam Lawson.
Mercedes could fight to get into Q3 when Kimi Antonelli was only 10. And George Russell 11.
Sky Sports F1’s Monaco GP plan
Saturday 24 May
13.10: F2 Sprint
14.10: Monaco GP Qualifying Building
15:00: Monaco GP qualification
17:00: Teds qualifying notebook
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Look back on some of the most dramatic moments that have taken place on Monaco Grand Prix
Sunday 25 May
06.55: F3 Feature Race
8.35: F2 FEATURE RACE
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Monaco GP building*
14:00: Monaco Grand Prix*
16:00: Controlled Flag: Monaco GP -Reague
17:00: Teds Notebook
17.30: Indy 500
*Also live on Sky Sports Main Event
Then up in F1’s European Triple Header is ‘Jewel in the Crown’, Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, with Sunday’s race, starting at 1 p.m. 14.00 LIVE ON SKY SPORTS F1. Stream Sky Sports With Now – No Contract, Cancel anytime