Leclerc warns about Verstappen in Monaco: 'Expect him to be very close to us in qualifying

Leclerc clarifies that it’s not a single specific issue, but a combination of factors that have been affecting him for two races now. "I mean, it’s just a very tricky situation, so it’s a number of things, and Monaco is obviously tricky. But on the race, I’m not super confident, so that’s why I make a bit more mistakes since two weekends at least on braking with lockups, and it’s just been a lot trickier."

That’s a striking admission from a driver who is usually at his strongest in Monaco. Leclerc won here in 2024 and knows every inch of the circuit. But technical uncertainty under braking is especially dangerous on a track with no run-off areas and guardrails right next to the racing line. A lockup at the wrong moment here doesn’t just cost time, but potentially the car as well.

Ferrari finished first and second in both practice sessions, creating the impression that the Scuderia will dominate through the weekend. However, Leclerc has since firmly put that into perspective. "I mean, Red Bull and Max especially were very close to us in FP2, so I expect them to be very strong. I expect Mercedes as well. Once they put everything together in qualifying, they will be very close. So I think it’s going to be a tight quali and more than what people expect."

That warning is significant. In Monaco, qualifying is everything: overtaking is virtually impossible on the narrow street circuit, which means starting position largely dictates the race outcome. If Verstappen is indeed as close to Leclerc as he suggests, pole position on Saturday is wide open.