Leclerc puts Ferrari on pole in Monaco Grand Prix as Perez crashes

In three previous starts on Monaco’s city streets, Leclerc retired twice with crash damage and failed to start

On his home track, where he cycles from his apartment to the course, Charles Leclerc hopes to finish for the first time and reclaim the Formula One points lead.

Leclerc was scheduled to lead the field from pole Sunday in the Monaco Grand Prix — the same position he was in a year ago. But he never even started the race because he crashed his Ferrari at the end of qualifying and the car couldn't be repaired in time for him to compete.

In three previous starts on Monaco’s city streets, Leclerc retired twice with crash damage and failed to start. This Sunday, he hopes a win pushes him ahead of reigning champion Max Verstappen in the F1 standings and dismissed any notion he’s cursed on his hometown streets.

“I’m not superstitious at all,” Leclerc said. “We’ve had a smooth weekend until now and we’re starting in the best place possible. Hopefully we have a clean race and we finally have a good result at home.”

Leclerc was fastest in two of three practice sessions, as well as qualifying.

Ferrari locked out the front row as Carlos Sainz Jr. qualified second despite spinning into Sergio Perez’ disabled Red Bull with 30 seconds remaining in Saturday qualifying.

“I saw the yellow flag, I realized that the car in front of me had crashed and you don’t see where he has crashed, so you enter the corner without knowing where he’s going to be,” said Sainz. "I hit the brakes harder and managed to clip him with the back of the car. It would have been a pretty good save if I’d have saved it, because there was basically no time to save it. But it’s what happens in Monaco.”