theglobalsun – Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in Monaco’s practice sessions, beating McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by just 0.038 seconds. The Ferrari driver began the day with a minor collision after Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin unexpectedly moved into his path. This caused damage to Leclerc’s front wing, but he managed to continue without major issues. Stroll received a one-place grid penalty for the incident. Despite the rocky start, Leclerc felt confident about the car’s performance and praised its pace across different tire compounds. He acknowledged that qualifying would be crucial to securing a good result at his home race.
Piastri Recovers from Crash to Secure Second Place
Oscar Piastri, currently leading the world championship, recovered well after an early crash at the Sainte Devote corner. His McLaren suffered a broken front wing but no serious damage beyond that. Despite the setback, Piastri secured second fastest time in practice. He described the day as “up and down” and admitted to making mistakes but remained optimistic about the car’s pace. Piastri said he plans to reset and learn from the session to perform better in qualifying. His strong performance showed McLaren’s potential on the tight and challenging Monaco circuit.
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Hamilton Enjoys the Challenge, Finishes Third Fastest
Lewis Hamilton put in a solid performance, finishing third fastest in the second Ferrari. He described Monaco as the “coolest track” and the “best rollercoaster ride” on the Formula 1 calendar. Hamilton expressed excitement about driving on the narrow and fast street circuit, despite its challenges. He faced some traffic issues in the first session but improved significantly in the second. Hamilton remains confident in his car’s performance and is eager for a competitive weekend. His experience and skill on this track make him a key contender.
Midfield Battles and Penalties Shake Up the Grid
Several drivers faced difficulties during the practice sessions, including Haas’ Oliver Bearman. Bearman was handed a 10-place grid penalty and two penalty points for overtaking under a red flag after Piastri’s crash. Other notable incidents included Isack Hadjar crashing twice during the second session, damaging his suspension. Fernando Alonso finished seventh fastest as Aston Martin welcomed technical partner Adrian Newey’s first grand prix visit with the team. Williams’ Alex Albon, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen rounded out the top ten, highlighting the competitive midfield battles.
Verstappen Struggles to Find Balance After Emilia-Romagna Win
Max Verstappen, fresh off his Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix victory, had a challenging Monaco practice. He ended up 0.713 seconds off the pace and struggled after making balance changes between sessions. Verstappen lost pace and took an escape road late in the session at Mirabeau. He admitted they overdid the setup changes, limiting his ability to attack corners effectively. Despite the difficulties, Verstappen remains confident about improving performance and closing the gap on Ferrari and McLaren. He praised Ferrari’s progress, acknowledging they have taken a significant step forward at Monaco.
