Leclerc Dominates Traffic-Filled FP1 at Monaco GP

Charles Leclerc set the pace during the busy first free practice session at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, beating Max Verstappen by just over a tenth of a second. Leclerc clocked a 1:11.964 around the famous streets of Monaco, putting his Ferrari at the top of the timesheets.

Verstappen, representing Red Bull Racing, came closest to catching him, finishing 0.163 seconds behind. Lando Norris put his McLaren in third, three tenths back.

The session got off to a dramatic start with a red flag after only nine minutes. Leclerc collided with Lance Stroll at the hairpin. For more details on F1 racing regulations and incident protocols, you can refer to the FIA’s official documentation.

Stroll had eased onto the racing line while Leclerc approached at speed, and the Ferrari made contact with the back of the Aston Martin. Both drivers were called to see the stewards after the incident, and Stroll’s session ended early due to the damage.

Leclerc returned after a front wing change and kept pushing despite saying on the radio that his car felt unbalanced.

Lewis Hamilton took the early lead on medium tires when running resumed, but the McLaren duo responded on softs, with Oscar Piastri and Norris trading fastest laps.

Norris set a 1:13.615, showing strong pace for McLaren. Verstappen started on hard tires and was a few tenths behind early, but later switched to softs as the end of the session approached.

With traffic a constant problem around the tight Monte Carlo circuit, many drivers had to abort runs or dodge slow cars, making consistent laps tough. For a deeper dive into Monaco’s unique track challenges, check out this analysis by Motorsport Magazine.

In the final 20 minutes, Piastri improved to 1:13.031, only 0.005 seconds ahead of Norris. Soon after, Leclerc delivered his best lap despite the earlier trouble, and it stood as the session’s fastest.

Several drivers found the limits on their last runs. Sainz and Norris both missed Turn 1 at Sainte Devote.

Rookie Isack Hadjar brushed the wall in the swimming pool section. Hamilton nearly crashed when a group of cars blocked his view heading to Casino, and later had to take the escape road at the chicane.

Verstappen’s first effort on new soft tires was only seventh fastest, but he quickly moved up to second with a 1:12.127. He was unable to close the gap to Leclerc on his final attempt, keeping Ferrari on top.

Norris stayed third, followed by Alex Albon’s Williams and Piastri. George Russell slotted his Mercedes into sixth, and Carlos Sainz finished seventh in the other Ferrari.

The rest of the top 10 was rounded out by Pierre Gasly, Hamilton, and Fernando Alonso in the Aston Martin. The session gave teams the first look at this year’s Monaco conditions, where grid position is especially important. For historical context on Monaco’s significance in F1, visit the Formula 1 official history page.

As usual, traffic and minor scrapes kept everyone on their toes. With Leclerc fastest and Verstappen close behind, the weekend promises a tight fight at the front in one of Formula 1’s most challenging races.

Qualifying on the twisty Monaco layout will be the next big test for the drivers and their teams. To learn more about Monaco’s track characteristics, explore this detailed breakdown by RaceFans.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.