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Formula 1
Monaco GP
F1 Monaco GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 & Qualifying
Saturday's action from the sixth round of the 2023 Formula 1 season.
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Norris had actually earlier hit the wall at the chicane on that lap, so that was a very messy one for the Briton - currently ninth.
Norris is the latest to clout the wall - at Tabac - and he heads straight to the pits. But how much damage has that done?
Tsunoda jumps up to seventh, to knock Hamilton down to 11th.
Hamilton says: "I think there's something wrong with my right rear suspension." Clearly all is not well for the Mercedes driver at the minute.
Leclerc now jumps up to second with a 1m12.103s.
And Russell goes third, just two tenths slower than Verstappen. Good effort from the Briton as team-mate Hamilton is only 10th.
Russell now goes purple in the first sector, this is more promising!
Replays show Ocon striking the wall that Perez clattered into at St Devote earlier but it's just a very light touch for the Alpine.
Stopwatch
Alonso is now up to second and Verstappen has dipped into the 1m11s with a 1m11.908s.
Hamilton ninth, while Russell is 11th - but not all of the drivers have currently used new tyres and that's potentially the case with Mercedes.
Tsunoda and Albon also join the fun, so all 15 cars out on track.
Now Gasly improves to go second, while the Ferraris are fifth and sixth.
Alonso jumps to second, two tenths slower than Verstappen with Ocon currently third.
Stopwatch
Verstappen sets the early benchmark with a 1m12.038s that is three tenths faster than he managed in Q1 earlier.
Thirteen of the 15 drivers head out - just Q1 stars Tsunoda and Albon still in the pits.
It's Verstappen who leads the queue out - it seems Red Bull is concerned about the possibility of further red flags.
Green flag
Right, let's find out if there are any further surprises in Q2 - the green light is on and the cars head out again.
Less than a second separated the top 18 in that opening session - just incredible.
Now, the Q1 results would make for a very jumbled starting grid as it was a top six of Verstappen, Tsunoda, Albon, Sainz, Stroll and Russell!
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There's an unusual sound on the radio - "Am I safe?" asks Hamilton, who is told he has indeed made it through.
Wow, what a first segment to qualifying that was!
So that means the five drivers out in Q1 are Sargeant, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Zhou and - most significantly - Perez.
And Sainz jumps up to fourth right at the very end, while Hamilton climbs to seventh. They left it late, but got away with it this time.
Albon improves to third!
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Verstappen goes back to the top of the times, three tenths faster than Tsunoda. But all eyes are at the bottom of the timing screens.
Checkered flag
The chequered flag is out and still Sainz and Hamilton are in danger.
Norris has jumped back up to third, while Hamilton is currently 15th and Sainz 17th.
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"I think it's fine," says Verstappen after that wall strike.
Perez, meanwhile, has now been relegated to the very back while replays showing Verstappen brushing the wall put of the final corner.
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Tsunoda goes two thousandths faster then Verstappen! Perhaps we could have a mixed-up grid!
Leclerc climbs to third and is three tenths slower than Verstappen's current ultimate pace.
Sainz is only 15th at the moment as well - has this got the potential to be a very mixed-up grid?
Stopwatch
Verstappen reclaims top spot as he goes two tenths quicker, but Hamilton still only improves to 12th as the Mercedes driver isn't looking entirely comfortable.
Perez is now 18th after these latest times - so the Mexican is going to be at the very back. Hamilton is also still in the drop zone.
Times are tumbling as the Alpines storm up to second and third as the track evolution means the drivers are constantly improving.
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Next up it's Alonso's turn to go fastest as he goes two tenths quicker!
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But his spell at the top is only very brief as Verstappen now sets a 1m13.038s and it's a Dutch 1-2 with de Vries going second.
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Oh and now we've got a Williams on top! Albon goes fastest.
Interesting mix of drivers in the drop zone currently with Hamilton and Sainz both needing to improve.
So, everyone has ventured out apart from the pacesetting McLarens (perhaps it is 1984!) and the Haas cars, currently 14th and 15th.
By: Autosport Staff
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