
F1 Results: Leclerc Tops 2026 Monaco GP Free Practice 2
Charles Leclerc led a Ferrari 1-2 in Monaco FP2 ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen. Lando Norris suffered an early power issue, while a red flag for Sergio Perez's Cadillac curtailed running.
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in the second free practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix, leading a Ferrari one-two at the Principality. His 1:13.978 edged teammate Lewis Hamilton by just over two tenths, with Max Verstappen third for Red Bull nearly half a second back.
Why it matters:
Monaco rewards raw single-lap pace above all else. A Ferrari lockout at the front of FP2 signals the Scuderia has found its footing at a circuit where overtaking is nearly impossible. With both cars at the sharp end, Ferrari looks well-placed to fight for pole in Saturday's crucial shootout.
The details:
- Ferrari on top: Leclerc stopped the clocks at 1:13.978, with Hamilton close behind at 1:14.204. The pair traded fastest laps once the soft tyres were deployed.
- Mercedes rookie impresses: Kimi Antonelli finished fourth, outpacing teammate George Russell, who rounded out the top five.
- McLaren's mixed bag: Lando Norris lost power at the Nouvelle chicane after 15 minutes, bringing out the VSC. He recovered to finish sixth, while Oscar Piastri ended the day in eighth.
- Red flag finish: Running ended early when Sergio Perez's Cadillac stopped with smoke, forcing fire marshals onto the track and cutting short final preparations.
- Aston Martin off the pace: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll propped up the timing sheet, with Stroll over 3.5 seconds off the benchmark.
What's next:
Teams now turn their attention to FP3 and the all-important qualifying session. At Monaco, grid position is overwhelmingly decisive, so expect a heavy focus on low-fuel qualifying simulations. Ferrari will aim to convert its Friday pace into a front-row lockout.
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