Lewis Hamilton’s Late Crash Drama as Charles Leclerc Dominates

Lewis Hamilton attracted attention during final practice for the Monaco Grand Prix when a late crash brought out the red flags, leaving his team scrambling with only minutes before qualifying.

The seven-time world champion was pushing hard to beat Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc’s session-best lap of 1:10.953 when he made contact with the barrier at the top of the hill.

For more on Formula 1 safety protocols and barrier design, visit the FIA’s official regulations page.

Two slower cars, Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli and Haas driver Esteban Ocon, were navigating ahead as Hamilton crested the brow. The stewards reviewed the incident and determined that no investigation would be necessary.

To understand how stewards make these decisions, refer to the FIA’s Sporting Code.

The 40-year-old British driver damaged the right side of his Ferrari, losing the right-front tyre against the barriers. The accident left Ferrari’s mechanics with urgent repairs ahead of a crucial qualifying session later in the day.

For insights into the engineering behind F1 cars, explore MIT’s Motorsports Research.

Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc remained out of reach, topping the timesheets and establishing himself as the favourite for pole position.

Leclerc was almost three-tenths clear of Max Verstappen, who set his fastest lap on medium tyres, complaining that the soft compound would not deliver the grip he needed.

For a deeper dive into tyre compounds and performance, check out Pirelli’s F1 tyre guide.

McLaren’s duo stayed close in the chase, with Lando Norris finishing just 0.014 seconds behind Verstappen and Oscar Piastri another 0.151 further back.

Verstappen and the Red Bull team had endured a difficult opening day, languishing 10th in early practice, but saw pronounced improvement Friday night as they challenged the leaders.

By the end of the session, Hamilton was classified fifth, shuffled in behind both McLarens and unable to match his teammate’s pace.

Earlier in the final practice, running began with heavier fuel loads, and only seven drivers posted laps in the first 15 minutes.

Nico Hulkenberg briefly led after clocking a 1:13.916, but locked up and nearly hit the barriers at the final corner.

Leclerc then set the session’s first serious lap, posting 1:12.712, but quickly lost top spot to Norris, who improved by more than three tenths.

As the circuit evolved and cars switched to lighter fuel and softer tyres, lap times steadily dropped, with Leclerc and Norris trading first place.

Verstappen turned heads as the first to dip below 72 seconds, putting in a 1:11.961 while still on mediums.

He later improved to 1:11.653, only for Leclerc to respond with a 0.121-second edge.

At the midpoint, Verstappen again set the weekend’s best with 1:11.233, signalling both his own speed and Red Bull’s long-run potential.

The final 20 minutes featured qualifying simulations as the sun warmed the Monaco roads, but Verstappen could not improve on his best effort with soft tyres.

Leclerc’s attempt yielded only a slight gain, suggesting that track temperature might be playing a role.

For more on how track conditions affect performance, visit NASA’s study on asphalt temperature effects.

In the closing minutes, Oscar Piastri made gains to slot in behind Verstappen, although still short of challenging for the lead.

Hamilton began a rapid sector but aborted his run after encountering a slow-moving Gabriel Bortoleto.

Moments later, Leclerc delivered a lap under 71 seconds, while Hamilton’s crash ended the session early.

Behind Leclerc, Verstappen, Norris, and Piastri, the order saw Williams’ Alex Albon sixth and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson again impressing in seventh.

The rest of the top ten included Carlos Sainz, Yuki Tsunoda, and Antonelli.

Alpine’s Franco Colapinto remained at the bottom of the timesheets and risked a penalty for a red-flag infringement after Hamilton’s crash.

Haas’s Oliver Bearman had already collected a ten-place grid drop for a separate infraction on Friday involving overtaking under red-flag conditions.

With the Monaco grid shaping up and Ferrari looking strong, all teams prepared for a tightly contested qualifying session ahead.

For a deeper look at Hamilton’s career and dramatic moments, including his approach to racing, see this Hamilton F1 movie.

John Martinez

John Martinez delivers real-time NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series news, from live race updates to pit-lane strategy analysis. A graduate of the University of Northwestern Ohio’s Motorsports Technology program, he breaks down rule changes, driver tactics, and championship points with crystal-clear reporting.