The streets of Monaco delivered their usual brand of unpredictability in Free Practice 1, with Charles Leclerc finishing fastest despite early contact with Lance Stroll and his own pre-weekend pessimism about Ferrari’s chances.
Following Red Bull’s victory in Imola last weekend – or more accurately, Max Verstappen’s – all eyes were on how McLaren and Ferrari would respond on a circuit theoretically better suited to their cars. But Leclerc’s 1:11.964s on the soft C6 compound put him on top, 0.163s ahead of Verstappen, while Lando Norris slotted into third.
All Compounds, All Action
Pirelli’s choice to bring their softest tyres – C4, C5 and C6 – immediately shaped the session. All three compounds were in use from the start, as teams tested different strategies and fuel loads. The high-degradation C6 held up well, with Norris’ 14-lap-old softs still producing strong times and track temperatures reaching 37°C early on and rising to 41°C by the end.
Early Incident Brings Red Flag
It didn’t take long for the first major moment. Just minutes into the session, Leclerc locked up on a set of mediums and ran off at a corner escape road. He rejoined safely, but not before every car on the grid had already taken to the track – a clear sign that no one was wasting time.
Shortly after, Leclerc collided with Stroll while attempting to return to the pits with a damaged front wing. Replays showed Stroll moved off-line to let a Mercedes by, then returned to the racing line just as Leclerc arrived at speed. The Ferrari lost its entire front wing, which split in two, scattering debris and prompting a red flag.
Leclerc returned to the pits, while Stroll’s car remained stationary for the rest of the session. Aston Martin later confirmed damage to the rear suspension and a gearbox change, ending the Canadian’s day early.
Traffic Everywhere
Once the session resumed, drivers quickly found themselves battling not just the circuit but each other. Verstappen was forced to abort multiple laps after getting stuck behind slower cars. Liam Lawson nearly hit Lewis Hamilton after a Ferrari slowed unexpectedly. Gasly complained over team radio about rivals cutting the chicane and rejoining unsafely. Tsunoda also let fly on the radio after running into traffic.
With Monaco’s tight confines and a grid full of rookies and returnees – including Bortoleto, Antonelli, and Hadjar – many struggled to find clear air. Hadjar clipped the barriers, Lawson complained of smelling brakes, and Verstappen, after setting a personal best in sector one, had to back off yet again.
Mixed Strategies and Building Pace
Leclerc wasn’t alone in his early issues. Carlos Sainz had to reverse onto the track after an error in the closing stages. Hamilton looked strong early but clipped the barriers and launched over the chicane’s sausage kerbs, forcing a visit to the pits for checks. Later, Hamilton was boxed in by traffic during another push lap.
Despite early struggles, Leclerc returned to the top after his team replaced the front wing. His lap came without full track evolution, unlike Verstappen’s late attempt on softs, suggesting Ferrari’s true pace might be even better.
McLaren, meanwhile, looked strong but perhaps didn’t show their full hand. Norris’ and Piastri’s best laps came early, and neither McLaren improved late on when the track was at its best. Piastri ended the session on mediums but still improved his time.
Late Push, Final Order
As the session drew to a close, Verstappen popped into second, just 0.286s behind Leclerc, then improved again to close the gap to 0.163s. Still, he couldn’t top the Ferrari – and with Red Bull often starting weekends slowly, questions remain about their peak performance here.
Russell, on 10-lap-old softs, jumped to fourth. Antonelli ended P11, 1.1s back from the top time. Tsunoda made a late push to P10, but even on the C6 tyre, it wasn’t eye-catching.
Looking Ahead
Every driver bar Stroll managed to get valuable laps in, which could be crucial if rain arrives later in the weekend – a real possibility, though today’s skies remained calm and serene.
In the end, it was Leclerc, the man who claimed Ferrari would struggle, who stood on top – for now. But with the entire field complaining about traffic and a qualifying session to come that will demand perfection, FP1 has only scratched the surface of what promises to be a fascinating Monaco weekend.