Ferrari Lock Out FP1 in Monaco as Leclerc Leads Hamilton

Ferrari delivered a dominant 1-2 finish in the opening practice session for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc setting the pace at 1:13.978s, just 0.226s ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. The result signals strong early form for the Scuderia around the tight streets of Monte Carlo, a circuit where Leclerc has historically excelled but often faced misfortune.

Why it matters:

Monaco is a track where track position is everything, and Ferrari’s pace in FP1 suggests they have the package to challenge for pole. Leclerc, seeking his first home win, already looks in sync with the SF-26. Hamilton’s close lap time underlines the team’s depth, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was 0.513s back in third, indicating a potential gap that could widen when engines are turned up.

The details:

• Mercedes duo impresses: Teenager Kimi Antonelli placed fourth, just 0.559s off the top, ahead of teammate George Russell (+1.005s). The W16 looked competitive on the medium tires.
• McLaren plays catch-up: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished sixth and eighth respectively, both over 1.3s down. The MCL66 struggled with rear grip on the bumpy surface.
• Audi’s promising start: Nico Hülkenberg was seventh (+1.365s) and rookie Gabriel Bortoleto ninth (+1.772s), a strong showing for the German manufacturer in its first season.
• Red Bull’s rookie flashes: Isack Hadjar had a session to forget—only 14 laps on board before stopping early, finishing 13th. Teammate Verstappen completed a solid 26 laps.
• Alpine’s pace: Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto both cracked the top 15, with Gasly 10th and Colapinto 15th. Alpine continues to show midfield promise.
• Aston Martin struggles: Fernando Alonso was 20th (+2.700s) after just 21 laps, while Lance Stroll brought up the rear with only 16 laps, ending 22nd. The AMR26 seems off the pace.

What's next:

FP2 later today will offer a clearer picture as teams switch to the soft tire compound and begin race sims. However, Ferrari’s early dominance suggests they are the team to beat this weekend. Leclerc will be eager to convert practice speed into a result that finally delivers a home win.