Monaco Grand Prix: Leclerc Dominates First Practice Despite Incident
In the opening session of the Monaco Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc set the pace with a best time of 1m11.964s, leading the field despite a dramatic early incident involving Lance Stroll.
Leclerc’s morning took a tumultuous turn when he collided with Stroll at the hairpin, resulting in a red flag just nine minutes into the session. Stroll, facing rear suspension and gearbox issues, was forced to retire with damage. Over team radio, Stroll noted that he had not heard warnings regarding Leclerc’s approach. Both drivers have been summoned by the stewards for clarification.
Following the red flag, Lewis Hamilton initially led on medium tires, but it was McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris who upped the tempo on soft tires, with Norris posting a time of 1m13.615s. Meanwhile, Verstappen, starting on hard tires, moved swiftly into contention, achieving a third-place time of 1m12.420s.
As the session progressed, McLaren continued to shine, positioning Piastri and Norris in the top ranks before Leclerc’s benchmark lap secured his lead. Despite balance concerns, Leclerc maintained a commanding pace, ultimately finishing ahead of Norris and Piastri, who rounded out the top three.
Verstappen found his footing later in the session, improving his time to second but falling 0.163s short of Leclerc’s mark in his final attempt. The final standings were tightly contested; Alex Albon’s Williams finished fourth, followed by George Russell in fifth and Carlos Sainz in sixth.
Final Results – FP1 Monaco Grand Prix:
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1m11.964s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.163s
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – +0.287s
- Alex Albon (Williams)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
As the teams prepare for the remaining practice and qualifying sessions, the competitive spirit is palpable in the streets of Monaco, setting the stage for an exciting race weekend.
