Leclerc Leads Ferrari in Monaco GP Practice
Charles Leclerc demonstrated impressive pace during the first practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix, finishing ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. The season leaders, Mercedes, managed to secure fourth and fifth positions, while Ferrari reinforced its status as the favorite for the weekend’s event.
As the cars took to the iconic twists of the Monaco circuit, modifications made by competitors for their 2026 vehicles were evident. Leclerc, who recently extended his contract with Ferrari, clocked a remarkable time of 1 minute 13.978 seconds, placing him 0.226 seconds clear of Hamilton in second. Max Verstappen from Red Bull came in third, though he lagged behind by half a second.
Despite having secured every pole position and race win so far this season, the Mercedes team is aware that the competition in Monaco will be particularly tough. Kimi Antonelli claimed the title of fastest Mercedes driver in the session, finishing fourth, just a tenth behind Verstappen. His teammate, George Russell, was substantially slower, landing in fifth place, half a second off Antonelli’s pace.
Reigning Monaco champion Lando Norris found himself more than a second behind Ferrari in this practice session, while his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri also struggled, finishing eighth. Their efforts come after a promising victory the previous year in Monaco.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Martin Brundle commented on Ferrari’s quick start, noting that Leclerc faced challenges early on with moments of understeer and was forced to navigate a few errors during the session. Nonetheless, he praised their raw performance and speed.
Incidents During Practice Session
The session was marred by accidents involving two drivers. Isaac Hajar suffered a significant crash after losing control of his Red Bull at the swimming pool section. He expressed his confusion over the incident over team radio, assuring that he was okay but unclear about the cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso, a two-time Monaco champion, collided with a barrier during the session after veering left into the harborside chicane. Although he damaged the front wing of his Aston Martin, he managed to return to the pits without further incident. Both crashes briefly halted the session, as drivers, including Leclerc and Hamilton, struggled with navigating run-off areas.
Monaco GP Practice 1 Timesheet
1) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:13.978
2) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – +0.226
3) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.513
4) Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.559
5) George Russell (Mercedes) – +1.005
6) Lando Norris (McLaren) – +1.313
7) Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) – +1.365
8) Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +1.587
9) Gabriel Bortleto (Audi) – +1.772
10) Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +1.850
Upcoming Schedule for Monaco GP
Looking ahead, the Monaco GP weekend is packed with activities:
Friday, June 5th
2:05 PM: F2 Qualifying
3:00 PM: Team Boss Press Conference
3:30 PM: Monaco GP Practice 2 (Session starts at 4 PM)
5:15 PM: F1 Show
Saturday, June 6th
9:40 AM: F3 Sprint
11:15 AM: Monaco GP Practice 3 (Session starts at 11:30 AM)
1:10 PM: F2 Sprint
2:15 PM: Monaco GP Qualifying Build-Up
3:00 PM: Monaco GP Qualifying
Sunday, June 7th
6:50 AM: F3 Feature Race
8:30 AM: F2 Feature Race
10:50 AM: Porsche Supercup
12:30 PM: Preparation for Monaco GP: Grand Prix Sunday
2:00 PM: Monaco Grand Prix
4:00 PM: Monaco GP Reaction
Fans can follow the Monaco Grand Prix, the first of six races within eight weeks, live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend.
