Local hero Charles Leclerc rebounded from an early crash with Lance Stroll to top the timesheets in Formula 1 Monaco FP1 for Ferrari.
The tight, twisty streets of Monaco renowned for their unforgiving nature left little margin for error for even the most experienced drivers. This year’s event is particularly significant due to the FIA’s trial of new regulations, including a mandatory two-stop strategy for the race.
Charles Leclerc got off to a rocky start as soon as the lights went green for Monaco FP1 with a lock-up on his very first outlap forcing him to take to the escape road at Mirabeau. The Monegasque driver was seen slowly reversing out of the run-off, a minor setback but one that hinted at challenges ahead.
However, the real drama unfolded a few minutes later at the Hotel hairpin after Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll moved to the inside to allow Mercedes’ young driver Kimi Antonelli to pass unaware Leclerc was closing in at high speed.
As Stroll attempted to return to the racing line, he inadvertently pulled directly into the path of the charging Leclerc resulting to a heavy crash that obliterated Leclerc’s front wing, forcing him to limp back to the pits with significant damage.
The collision also left Stroll’s Aston Martin with rear suspension damage and necessitated a gearbox change, effectively ending his session early.
The incident brought out a red flag as marshals cleared debris from the track and Race Control announced that the stewards would review the incident after the session.
Despite the setback, Leclerc’s Ferrari team worked swiftly to repair the front wing and assess the floor for any additional damage. Remarkably, the reigning Monaco Grand Prix winner was back on track within a short time determined to make the most of the remaining session.
Leclerc’s determination paid off in spectacular fashion as he proceeded to set a blistering lap time of 1:11.964 on a set of worn C6 tires, concluding the Monaco FP1 session as the only driver to dip into the 1 minute 11-second bracket.
Behind Leclerc, reigning World Champion Max Verstappen slotted into second place, just 0.163 seconds adrift while Lando Norris continued his strong run of form by securing third place, just over three-tenths of a second behind the leader.
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Alexander Albon in the Williams delivered a standout performance to claim fourth place, just ahead of Oscar Piastri who finished fifth albeit on the medium tires which may have cost him a few tenths compared to softs.
Albon’s lap was a testament to the progress Williams has made this season, as the Thai driver consistently found himself among the top runners. His teammate,
George Russell finished sixth for Mercedes while Carlos Sainz took seventh, highlighting the improved competitiveness of the Williams team. Russell’s teammate Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished eleventh despite showing flashes of pace but faced challenges adapting to Formula 1’s most demanding circuit.
Alpine’s Pierre Gasly finished eighth while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton endured a tricky session and ended up ninth.
Hamilton’s session was punctuated by a moment of air over the Swimming Pool exit chicane, a reminder of the circuit’s unforgiving nature. Despite the setback, the seven-time World Champion remained within a second of his teammate.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso rounded out the top ten, just behind Hamilton.
Behind him, Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber), Isack Hadjar (VCARB), Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), Oliver Bearman (Haas), Esteban Ocon (Haas), Liam Lawson (VCARB), Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber), Franco Colapinto (Alpine), and the unfortunate Lance Stroll completed the field.
