Leclerc tops Monaco FP1 as Ferrari goes 1-2, Hadjar crashes

Charles Leclerc was quickest in opening practice for the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, setting a 1m13.978s to lead a Ferrari 1-2 ahead of Lewis Hamilton. The result backed pre-weekend hype that the SF-26 would be strong on Monaco's slow-speed layout. Isack Hadjar crashed for Red Bull, causing one of two red flags.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's dominant start at Monaco is a huge confidence boost for Leclerc, who just signed a new contract with the team. With the championship battle heating up, a strong result here could shift momentum and put the Scuderia back in contention for a home-race win.

The details:

• Ferrari 1-2: Leclerc's 1m13.978s was 0.226s faster than Hamilton. The pair were on medium tires for their quickest laps, with Ferrari choosing to run a different program early on.
• Red flags: Hadjar crashed at the Turn 15-16 chicane, sliding into the barrier after a turn-in error. It was his second crash in three weekends. Alonso also caused a red flag when parts of his Aston Martin spread across the chicane after hitting the barrier.
• Championship leader: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) was fourth, 0.559s off the pace, while teammate George Russell completed the top five, over a second down.
• Other teams: Max Verstappen (Red Bull) took third but complained of dead tires early on. McLaren struggled with Lando Norris sixth, 1.313s off, and Oscar Piastri eighth. Audi's Nico Hulkenberg split the McLarens in seventh.
• Traffic issues: Early session saw traffic problems on the tight track, with Haas drivers Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman ruining each other's laps.

What's next:

FP2 is scheduled for 5pm local time later today. Qualifying will set the grid for Sunday's race, where Ferrari will aim to convert its Friday pace into a result. Leclerc will be hoping to finally win his home race after several near-misses.