F1 Monaco Grand Prix pre-qualifying prediction and free betting tips

Free Formula 1 tips, best bets and analysis for the F1 Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday.

Where to watch

Practice Three Sky Sports F1, 11am Saturday
Qualifying Sky Sports F1, 2pm Saturday

Best bet

Pierre Gasly top-six finish
1pt 7-4 general

Race preview

Ferrari stole the limelight on day one in Monaco as Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz headed the times in Thursday afternoon’s practice.

It was particularly impressive from Leclerc, who had managed just four laps in the morning hour following an early gearbox failure.

The Monegasque driver has failed to finish either of his F1 starts at his home track and retired from the lead of the GP2 race there in 2017.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton was third, 0.007 seconds ahead of his title rival Max Verstappen.

Dutchman Verstappen trails Hamilton by 14 points in the championship, but is favourite for pole position and the race victory in Monte Carlo.

His Red Bull team are often at their strongest on the unique, twisty street circuit where raw power counts for little.

However, this year’s Mercedes has looked smart around slow corners, while the team’s strategic boffins have outfoxed their Red Bull counterparts repeatedly in the early part of the season.

Red Bull undoubtedly began the campaign with the quicker car, but Mercedes have improved rapidly.

If Verstappen is unable to halt Hamilton’s winning run this weekend then the Silver Arrows could take a stranglehold on yet another season.

While Ferrari had form-students scratching their heads after their practice performance, Pierre Gasly quietly put in another solid display.

The Frenchman has been consistent this season and was well inside the top ten in both practice sessions.

Gasly has a fine record in Monaco, finishing seventh on his first appearance there in an F1 machine in 2018.

The following year he was within ten seconds of winner Hamilton when finishing fifth and could be set for another strong weekend in the AlphaTauri.

But for a late retirement in the season-opener in Bahrain, Gasly would have scored points in every race. In what can often be a chaotic race, Gasly could prove a value bet to finish in the top six.

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