Princess Charlene of Monaco watches Lewis Hamilton take pole position
Princess Charlene of Monaco is joined by husband Albert as they watch Lewis Hamilton take pole position for tomorrow’s F1 Grand Prix
- Princess Charlene of Monaco was seen out and about today with Prince Albert
- Britain’s Lewis Hamilton took pole position – qualifying fastest for the Grand Prix
- Charlene and Albert were also seen meeting with members of the Red Cross
Princess Charlene of Monaco was seen out and about with husband Prince Albert today – as Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the Grand Prix.
The Princess, 41, was pictured with Albert as the British Mercedes driver qualified fastest for Sunday’s big race.
Earlier today Charlene and Albert waved to photographers while meeting members of the Red Cross of Monaco and Italy.
Charlene looked radiant in an all-brown trouser suit and sunglasses, opting for a stylish clutch bag and tasteful brooch pin.
Charlene, who was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, pictured today before the qualifying race
Prince Albert waves to the cameras in Monaco today with Princess Charlene
Prince Albert opted for a striking red tie, white shirt, dark jacket and light trousers as the couple met with members of the Red Cross.
The royal couple were spotted today as an emotional Lewis Hamilton delivered a brilliant last lap to snatch a crucial pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix.
The British star, too upset to speak to the media earlier this week following the death of Niki Lauda, saw off his Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas by 0.086 seconds.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen finished third ahead of Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel in fourth. His team-mate Charles Leclerc is set to start 16th after a woeful Ferrari mistake.
‘That is what I am talking about!’ yelled Hamilton over the radio following the victory
He then leapt out of his Mercedes car and onto the catch fencing to celebrate in front of fans at Rascasse
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert waved to photographers after meeting members of the Red Cross of Monaco and Italy during a visit
Prince Albert II of Monaco and his wife Princess Charlene of Monaco leave after meeting members of the Red Cross of Monaco and Italy
Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton celebrates claiming pole position during qualifying at the Circuit de Monte Carlo, Monaco
‘That is what I am talking about!’ yelled Hamilton over the radio.
He then leapt out of his Mercedes car and onto the catch fencing to celebrate in front of fans at Rascasse.
‘This is a race that every driver dreams about,’ he added.
‘We have arrived with a great car and it was a great battle with Valtteri. The pole means so much to me.
‘I had to dig deeper than ever. The lap was beautiful. I feel amazing and super-grateful.
Pictured: Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton during qualifying at the Circuit de Monte Carlo, Monaco
Radiant: Charlene greeting members of the Red Cross of Monaco and Italy today
Princess Charlene wore an all-brown trouser suit and sunglasses, while husband Prince Albert wore a dark jacket, white shirt and bold red tie
‘When you take this car to the limit around here it is like wrestling a bull. We are on the limit the whole time.’
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco
Charlene, who was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), represented South Africa in the 100 metre medley relay at the 2000 Sydney Olympics – and retired from swimming in 2007.
Prince Albert II, has been the ruler of Monaco following the death of his father, Prince Rainier III, in 2005.
The couple met at the Mare Nostrum swimming competition in Monte Carlo in 2000, announced their engagement in 2010, and tied the knot on July 1, 2011.
Her pregnancy was announced in May 2014, and in December that year she gave birth to twins Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques.
Mercedes have had it all their own way this year, starting the campaign with a record five one-two finishes from the first five grands prix.
And the Silver Arrows will be favourite to make it six in six after another dominant performance.
It would be the perfect tribute to Lauda, who died, aged 70, on Monday. Mercedes have painted the halo on both their cars red, with the message ‘Niki we miss you’, in tribute to the three-time world champion.
‘It has been a difficult week for the whole team, and personally for me,’ added Hamilton.
Despite going fastest in final practice, Leclerc was dramatically knocked out of the opening phase of qualifying.
Ferrari thought Leclerc’s lap time was strong enough to survive Q1, but Vettel’s late salvo bumped his team-mate out.
The Monegasque shook his head as he spoke to Ferrari mechanics in another disastrous miscalculation by the Scuderia.
‘I need some explanations,’ said Leclerc. ‘I will have to take a lot of risks tomorrow, even risking a crash.’
Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton, who was fastest in both Friday sessions, was third for Mercedes in the final practise session – but qualified fasted (pictured: Lewis Hamilton yesterday)
The Mercedes cars took to the track with their ‘halo’ devices painted red in a tribute to triple champion Niki Lauda
Princess Charlene was spotted today as Charles Leclerc (pictured today) was fastest for Ferrari in the practice
Leclerc’s team mate Sebastian Vettel (pictured) crashed in final practice for the Monaco Grand Prix
This has been a season to forget for Ferrari – billed as the main contenders to bringing Hamilton and Mercedes’ dominance to an end, mistakes by both drivers and the team leave them well off the pace heading into Sunday’s race. Vettel already trails Hamilton by 48 points and Leclerc is 55 points behind the Mercedes star.
Overtaking is virtually impossible on the Monte Carlo street circuit and Leclerc faces a fight to score a single point at his home track. Ironically, it was Vettel, himself facing elimination from Q1 after whacking the wall at the high-speed swimming section, whose final lap ensured Leclerc would not progress.
Elsewhere, the British teenager Lando Norris finished 12th. Carlos Sainz, in the sister McLaren, will start three places above Norris in ninth. For the sixth straight race, George Russell out-qualified Williams team-mate Robert Kubica. The Williams cars will line up on the final row as they remain woefully off the pace.
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