"I don't think there's a faster driver on street tracks over one lap": F1 pundit picks Charles Leclerc to win the 2023 F1 Monaco GP

F1 pundit and presenter Tom Clarkson feels that Charles Leclerc could take the pole position in the upcoming 2023 F1 Monaco GP. The Ferrari driver has been extremely quick over one lap and hence has been able to finish high up the grid during qualifying. He even took both pole positions in Baku, which was a street circuit.

Speaking on the F1 Nation podcast, Clarkson dissected how the qualifying session could pan out and compared Red Bull, Aston Martin, and Ferrari's corner speeds. Since Monaco has a lot of slow corners and Ferrari is quick in those sections of the track, he said:

"Let's look at the three cars that I think are gonna be battling for victory this weekend. There are obviously the Red Bulls, devastatingly effective all season long, very quick in a straight line, and good through quick corners. But when you look at the GPS and you look at the speed of the cars through slow corners, the Ferrari is faster than Red Bull through the slow corners, as it has been so far this year, and the Aston Martin is equal to it."

Hence, the F1 presenter believes that Charles Leclerc could take the pole position next weekend. He mentioned Leclerc's one-lap pace and his brilliant record in qualifying sessions on street tracks as reasons why he feels that the Monagasque will take pole position in Monaco.

"So when you look at Charles Leclerc's record on street tracks—two pole positions in Baku with a car that is brilliant through slow corners, I think Charles is my money for pole position this time around. And surely lightning is not going to strike twice, and Ferrari are going to get the job done on the Sunday. So, I don't think there is a faster driver on street tracks over one lap, than Charles Leclerc."

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Charles Leclerc is still loyal to Ferrari and wants to win his maiden championship with them

Charles Leclerc recently expressed that he is still dedicated to Ferrari and wants to win his maiden and several more championships with the team. He stated how his first part of the dream, driving for Ferrari, has been fulfilled. Now he is fully focused on the next part, which is to win championships. In an exclusive interview with the Italian TV show TG1 on Rai News, he said:

"No. No. To be a Ferrari driver in F1 was one of my dreams, and I fulfilled it. But it doesn’t end here…I want to win a championship, championships, in the plural, if possible."

The Monagasque was close to winning a championship last year. Unfortunately, he was unable to since Max Verstappen and Red Bull were extremely quick and extended their lead by the second half of the 2022 F1 season.