Charles Leclerc Battles Back From Crash to Lead Monaco GP Practice

Charles Leclerc delivered a dramatic start to the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. The Ferrari driver experienced trouble just eight minutes into the opening practice session.

Approaching the Loews Hairpin, Leclerc ran into Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin as the Canadian shifted lines to let a Mercedes by. The contact caused significant damage to the front of Leclerc’s Ferrari and left debris scattered across the track.

The red flag came out for six minutes to clear the surface while Stroll was unable to continue due to rear suspension damage. He was later summoned by stewards to discuss the collision, as his car also required a gearbox change before any further running. For more on F1 race regulations and incident reviews, you can refer to the FIA’s official guidelines.

Despite the early setback, Leclerc managed to guide his battered Ferrari back to the garage even with a damaged front wing stuck beneath the car. Throughout the session, Leclerc continued to share frustrations about his car’s handling via radio, mentioning understeer and other performance issues.

However, he soon surprised everyone by clocking the fastest lap at 1:11.964. That run placed him at the top of the timesheets, edging out Max Verstappen by 0.163 seconds.

Lando Norris took third for McLaren, 0.326 seconds behind, followed closely by Alex Albon for Williams. The opening minutes featured fast-changing times as drivers settled into the unique demands of Monaco. To learn more about the Monaco Grand Prix circuit and its challenges, visit Formula 1’s official track guide.

Not long after the session restarted, Norris posted a quick 1:12.290, but Leclerc responded with an even stronger effort. The close confines of Monaco tested everyone, with Sainz and Norris both forced to use the run-off at Ste Devote while pushing the limits.

Hamilton also experienced a wild moment, catching air over a kerb after finding himself blocked by slower traffic. That incident sent him back to the pits for a checkup on his Mercedes, but he returned without further issues.

Hamilton finished the session ninth overall, 0.726 seconds adrift of Leclerc’s benchmark. In between the leaders, Oscar Piastri recorded a strong time for McLaren, while George Russell slotted his Mercedes into the top six.

Sainz and Pierre Gasly followed, and Fernando Alonso rounded out the fastest ten. Stroll, due to his early crash and required repairs, completed only four laps and ended at the bottom of the order, 3.671 seconds off the best time.

Monaco rookie Franco Colapinto, driving for Alpine, also had a cautious session. Still recovering from a crash in Imola the previous week, he finished the practice 1.856 seconds behind Leclerc. For insights into F1 rookie experiences, check out Motorsport.com’s analysis.

The day’s action made clear that the challenging Monaco circuit would punish even minor errors, as drivers adjusted setups and built their confidence on the streets. Leclerc’s speedy recovery after his incident sets a promising tone for Ferrari as the weekend continues. (source)

The close times among the top teams point to a tight battle ahead, with Verstappen and Norris both within striking distance. As teams review data and tune their cars, anticipation is building for the next sessions and the competitive fight for Monaco glory. (source)

James William

James William covers the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, from the Rolex 24 at Daytona to sprint-race formats. His reports include prototype performance reviews, GT class battles, and pit-stop strategy insights for endurance-racing fans.