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MONACO, May 26 (Reuters) – Formula One world championship leader Max Verstappen managed to keep his Red Bull ahead of local hero Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari on Friday while Carlos Sainz crashed in a sunny second session practice for the Monaco Grand Prix.
Double champion Verstappen’s best time of one minute and 12.462 seconds was just 0.065 faster than Leclerc on the twisty street course and came after the Dutchman struggled with his car’s set-up.
Leclerc will seek his third consecutive pole position in Monaco on Saturday and his first podium finish at home on Sunday.
Ferrari’s Sainz, who was quickest in the first session with a lap of 1:13.372, was third fastest in the second moto but crashed after hitting the barriers at the exit of the Pool chicane.
The impact broke his car’s right front suspension and red flags were waved to stop the race.
“Yes, I crashed. I’m sorry,” the Spaniard told the team over the radio, which included the company’s president, John Elkann, closely following events.
His compatriot Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest for Aston Martin in a race he has won twice and believes he can win again.
Alonso, third on the podium four times in the five races held to date this season, was second in the opening session, which was marked by two red flags after two drivers crashed into the barriers.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton took his new Mercedes, which includes significant changes to the sidepods and suspension, to third fastest time in the first free session and sixth in the second.
Last year’s winner, Mexico’s Sergio “Checo” Pérez, trailing Verstappen by 14 points in the championship, was fourth and seventh respectively for Red Bull.
(Edited in Spanish by Carlos Serrano)
Source: Ambito

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