Two drivers who significantly tempered expectations for Monaco on Thursday finished at the top in the first free practice in the principality on Friday. Charles Leclerc was just under two tenths faster than Max Verstappen.
Leclerc had little confidence in a good performance from Ferrari in Monaco beforehand, but in the first free practice it was not too bad. The Monegasque lapped in 1.11.964 in front of his own crowd, which ultimately proved to be the fastest time.
Verstappen, with the same explanation as Leclerc – not good in slow corners – was also not optimistic, but there was little evidence of this in the first training session. The Dutchman came to a time of 1.12.127.
He was one and a half tenths faster than Lando Norris in the McLaren, who, together with teammate Oscar Piastri, is considered one of the favorites. Piastri was fifth and also saw Alexander Albon (Williams) dive below his time.
Norris in particular could have clocked a faster time, but in a lap in which he was below Leclerc’s time, the Briton himself shot straight on in the Nouvelle Chicane after the tunnel.
Leclerc Collision with Stroll
The fastest time was encouraging for Leclerc, although things went wrong for the Ferrari driver at the start of the training session.
Lance Stroll was not properly instructed by his team and suddenly ended up on the racing line when entering the hairpin bend, in the path of the oncoming Leclerc. He couldn’t brake in time and crashed his front wing into the back of the Canadian’s Aston Martin. He also went to the pit box with damage. Stroll may have to report to the race stewards afterwards.