Charles Leclerc revealed to the media that he encountered an issue that almost destroyed his weekend ahead of qualifying for the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix.
The 26-year-old Scuderia Ferrari driver was clearly the fastest on the track in all the practice sessions. He topped the timing sheets in FP2 and FP3 (in FP1, he was P5, but on medium compound tires).
In FP3, Leclerc put more than half a second between himself and Max Verstappen, so he was the favorite for pole coming into the qualifying.
However, he encountered a problem that nobody knew about. After the qualifying on Saturday, he revealed to the media that he had issues with his engine and had to change it shortly before the qualifying.
"It's been a bit of a roller coaster. The weekend has been incredible until after FP3 where there was an issue with my engine. There was an engine swap at the very last minute, which was quite tricky."
Ultimately, though, the swap solved the issue, and everything worked out for Leclerc in the qualification, as he put his SF-24 on pole.
"But fortunately for me, there wasn't any consequence for my weekend. Once you finish the lap and you hear that you're on pole position, it's always a very special feeling."
Qualifying at the Circuit de Monaco is perhaps the most important session of the season. The driver who gets the pole will likely retain his position in the tight and twisty streets of the principality, making it impossible to overtake.
However, the 26-year-old remains careful and 100% focused ahead of the Grand Prix on Sunday. He has already stood on pole two times in the past but didn't manage to win the race.
"However, maybe in the past the emotions were staying for longer, but now having started twice on pole and not bringing the victory, which is at the end what matters the most, is where my mind is at the moment, just trying to prepare and make everything possible."
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