Charles Leclerc leads FP2 at Monaco GP after narrowly outpacing Oscar Piastri by 0.038 seconds in the second practice session on Friday. The session featured multiple incidents and red flags, underscoring the challenging nature of the Monaco circuit as drivers prepare for qualifying and race day.
Leclerc Tops FP2 with a Narrow Margin Over Piastri
Charles Leclerc, the winner of last year’s Monaco Grand Prix, dominated Friday’s practice by claiming the fastest time in both sessions, culminating in a close battle against McLaren’s championship leader Oscar Piastri in FP2. Leclerc clocked his best lap at 1:11.355, just ahead of Piastri’s 1:11.393. Lewis Hamilton joined the top three, ensuring both Ferrari drivers performed strongly amid rising competition.
Earlier in FP2, Piastri and teammate Lando Norris set the early pace before Max Verstappen took the lead briefly. However, the session was interrupted multiple times due to accidents involving several drivers. Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls triggered the first red flag when clipping barriers at the Nouvelle Chicane, damaging his left rear tyre but managing to return to the pits safely.
Multiple Crashes Disrupt Practice Session
After the session resumed, Piastri led consistently until a second red flag was waved when he slid into the tire wall at Turn 1’s Ste Devote corner. The Australian escaped with minor damage, but this incident marked another challenge in an already stop-start session. Simultaneously, Hadjar returned on track but later hit the wall again at Turn 1, suffering suspension damage.
Between these incidents, drivers like Leclerc, Fernando Alonso, and Hamilton swapped the lead on older hard Pirelli tires before switching to softer rubber for qualifying simulations. Leclerc gradually improved his lap times, ultimately setting three fastest laps in succession as he approached the session midpoint.
Performance Highlights and Unexpected Standouts
Leclerc’s pace proved unbeatable by the session’s end, but Piastri finished just fractions behind after quick repairs from his McLaren team. Hamilton secured third place, about a tenth of a second off Leclerc’s best lap, while Lando Norris took fourth, trailing by three-tenths.
A surprising highlight came from the Racing Bulls team, as Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar recovered well despite Hadjar’s double setbacks and damage to his left rear suspension. Alonso’s consistent performance placed him seventh, with Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull champion Max Verstappen rounding out the top ten.
Verstappen experienced a relatively quiet day but expressed frustration over congestion on the track, especially at the swimming pool section, describing the traffic as “so dangerous.” Meanwhile, Haas driver Oliver Bearman was called before the FIA stewards for allegedly failing to comply with the second red flag during the session.
Looking Ahead to Monaco Qualifying
The Monaco Grand Prix weekend continues on Saturday with a third practice session scheduled for 12:30 local time. This will be followed by the critical qualifying session at 16:00, where track position is especially vital on Monaco’s narrow streets. After Friday’s interruptions and fast lap times, teams and drivers will aim to fine-tune their setups and strategies in preparation for one of Formula 1’s most demanding events.
