Leclerc Leads Ferrari 1-2 in Monaco GP Practice 1

Charles Leclerc set the pace in Monaco Grand Prix Free Practice 1, leading teammate Lewis Hamilton by two-tenths of a second. It’s a promising start for Ferrari, widely considered the favorite at a circuit where chassis and driver confidence often decide the weekend. Despite a substantial crash for Isack Hadjar, Max Verstappen managed third, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli and title rival George Russell rounded out the top five.

Why it matters:

Ferrari’s early dominance on the streets of Monaco reinforces the team’s strong form and could set the tone for the rest of the weekend. With qualifying position critical to race success, a clean Friday is vital. Ferrari’s 1-2 suggests they have both the pace and the balance to challenge for pole and potentially the win.

The details:

• Charles Leclerc topped the timesheets, setting a lap time that was 0.2 seconds faster than teammate Lewis Hamilton. The Monegasque driver has often shone at his home Grand Prix but has yet to convert that into a win.
• Lewis Hamilton slotted into second, showing immediate comfort with Ferrari’s package around the tight, twisty streets. His feedback will be crucial for setup refinement.
• Max Verstappen was third despite multiple radio complaints about car balance and rear grip. Red Bull clearly has work to do overnight to keep the Dutchman in contention.
• Isack Hadjar suffered a heavy crash at Turn 15, bringing out red flags and ending his session early. The damage is extensive, likely limiting his FP2 track time.
• Championship leader Kimi Antonelli placed fourth for Mercedes, while teammate George Russell was fifth, suggesting the Silver Arrows are still a step behind Ferrari in pace.

What’s next:

FP2 will be critical for teams to dial in their setups ahead of Saturday’s qualifying. Ferrari will aim to consolidate their advantage, while Red Bull focuses on solving Verstappen’s handling issues. Hadjar’s crash complicates his weekend, and his mechanics face a long night. With the championship battle heating up, every tenth of a second matters—and Ferrari has taken the early initiative.