
Sun May 25 14:00:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
French drivers Isack Hadjar and Esteban Ocon had strong qualifying performances at the Monaco Grand Prix, securing 6th and 8th positions respectively (Hadjar will start 5th due to Hamilton’s penalty). Hadjar described it as his best Saturday of the season, while Ocon highlighted his recovery from a difficult previous race. In contrast, Pierre Gasly struggled, qualifying in 17th place and citing a lack of pace as the issue. All three drivers acknowledge the unpredictable nature of the Monaco race, especially with the mandated double pit stop rule.
**News Article:**
**French Drivers Hadjar and Ocon Shine in Monaco Qualifying, Gasly Faces Uphill Battle**
Monaco – French drivers Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) and Esteban Ocon (Haas) delivered impressive qualifying performances at the Monaco Grand Prix, boosting their hopes for a strong race on Sunday. Hadjar secured 6th place, his best qualifying result of the season, and will start 5th after Lewis Hamilton’s penalty. “Friday was positive, but today was even better,” Hadjar said. “We managed to progress with each lap, and it paid off.”
Ocon also celebrated a solid result, qualifying in 8th place after a difficult previous race. “We were last in Imola,” he acknowledged, “but we kept working, and the car woke up in Q2.” He described his Q3 lap as one of the best of his career in Monaco.
However, the news wasn’t as positive for Pierre Gasly (Alpine), who failed to make it out of Q1 and will start from a disappointing 17th place. “There’s no other excuse, we’re just too slow,” Gasly admitted, citing a lack of solutions to the team’s struggles.
The unpredictable nature of the Monaco Grand Prix, compounded by the new mandatory double pit stop rule, means that anything could happen on race day. While Hadjar and Ocon look to capitalize on their strong starting positions, Gasly hopes to take advantage of potential chaos to move up the order.