The first free practice for the Monaco Grand Prix has concluded! Charles Leclerc managed to uphold his honor on his home circuit. After these initial practice laps, he can call himself the fastest in the principality, although it was not without a struggle. Both McLaren drivers also showed their strength – as expected. However, it was Max Verstappen who ultimately positioned himself behind Leclerc; he was just under two-tenths behind the Monegasque.
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri were the first to appear at the end of the pit lane as the first training hour in Monaco got underway. Both had the red tires fitted to the MCL39. Once again, it was the C6 compound, the extra soft rubbers that Pirelli introduced during the last race weekend in Imola. Max Verstappen followed on the hard tire; the rest of the field opted for either yellow or white sidewalls.
Home hero Charles Leclerc quickly proved that there was little grip on the Monaco street circuit in the first test minutes. In his first lap, he let his Ferrari slide a bit too far in the Mirabeau corner. It didn’t cause any damage, although a few minutes later, he had another incident. In the hairpin turn at Fairmont, he encountered Lance Stroll‘s Aston Martin – in a minor crash, he broke his front wing on the Canadian’s diffuser. Stroll lamented over the team radio that he had not received a warning and thus overlooked Leclerc. This ended his session. Anyway, the small amount of debris on the track resulted in a red flag.”After this brief interruption, the first half hour steadily passes. The two McLaren drivers lead the time sheets, but face competition from Ferrari when they too switch to the red tires. Lando Norris retains – for what it’s worth – the lead, until Leclerc improves on him by three tenths. Interestingly enough, his fastest lap is accompanied by a lament over the radio: “We’re nowhere, I’m suffering so much from oversteer.”
With just a few minutes left on the clock, virtually the entire field opts for the C6 compound. It’s a hustle and bustle on the track, but for now Charles Leclerc manages to maintain his fastest time. Max Verstappen – now also switched to the red rubbers – comes closest. Lewis Hamilton finds it a bit too crowded on the asphalt; in the chicane, he has to swerve for Kimi Antonelli, causing him to shoot straight over the kerbs. His Ferrari lifts off the ground with all four wheels! Due to the crowd, Leclerc’s time is not improved any further. “That was the busiest FP1 of my life,” concludes Isack Hadjar over the radio.”
