Charles Leclerc impressed by topping both practice sessions during Friday’s Monaco Grand Prix, demonstrating competitive speed early in the weekend. Despite leading, the Ferrari driver remains cautious about his chances of securing a victory at the challenging Monte Carlo circuit.
During the first practice, Leclerc faced an early scare when he clipped Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin at the Grand Hotel Hairpin. Stroll had not noticed the Ferrari and slowly moved back onto the racing line after letting other cars pass, leading to the collision. However, Leclerc quickly recovered and began setting fast lap times.
He was the only driver in FP1 to record a lap under 1 minute 12 seconds, posting a time of 1:11.964, which was roughly 0.2 seconds quicker than Max Verstappen. In the second session, Leclerc improved further, setting a best lap of 1:11.355 on soft tires. Close behind him, Oscar Piastri narrowly missed matching that pace by just 0.038 seconds.
Leclerc Maintains a Measured Outlook Despite Strong Practice Performance
Although Leclerc’s Friday performance was encouraging, the Monegasque emphasized the unpredictable nature of Monaco and the early stage of the event. When asked about Ferrari’s prospects, he shared a balanced perspective on the team’s chances.
“Maybe a bit less convinced, but let’s say I’m not convinced the other way either,”
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
He highlighted the distinct challenges Monaco presents, noting that Fridays are particularly unique in setting references, making it premature to draw definitive conclusions about race outcomes.
“It’s too early to feel very positive about the weekend, but let’s say that Friday has been very positive for us. I’ve been feeling pretty good with the car.”
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Leclerc acknowledged that the initial collision was not the ideal start but expressed satisfaction with how the rest of the day went.
It hasn’t started the way I wanted with the crash with Lance, but after that it’s been pretty smooth and I’m happy overall with the car.
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Qualifying Performance Remains Key for Success at Monaco
Leclerc stressed that securing a strong qualifying position on Saturday remains crucial at a circuit where overtaking opportunities are limited. The recent enforcement of a mandatory second pit stop in the race could introduce new strategic elements, potentially opening alternative routes to victory.
He also explained that Ferrari’s car felt balanced on all three compounds provided by Pirelli for the weekend, earning confidence in the team’s versatility.
“Yes, the one-lap pace was strong,”
Leclerc said.
“Whatever compound we were on, I was feeling quite comfortable and the lap time was coming pretty quickly, so that’s always a good sign.”
Qualifying is going to be fundamental around here and we’ve got to be starting in front if we want to hope for a good result.
—Charles Leclerc, Ferrari Driver
Lewis Hamilton Praises Monaco Circuit but Focuses on Improving Driving
Lewis Hamilton, Leclerc’s team-mate at Ferrari, expressed optimism about the car’s potential after Friday practice and spoke enthusiastically about racing at Monaco.
The seven-time world champion labeled the track “the best rollercoaster ride” and noted that his performance gains will mainly stem from refining his driving rather than major adjustments to the car setup.
“I think in the time, I would say there’s more to find in my driving in lines, in braking. I’ve got one tenth, for example, just in Turn 1,”
Hamilton explained.
“But there’s bits here and there throughout the lap. On the car there are subtle changes I think need to be made, but I will not be making many changes at all.”
We might change one small thing, like a quarter of a degree of camber or something like that, but maximum I think that would be it.
—Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Driver
Practice Day Highlights and Emerging Competitors
While Leclerc led the field, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri also showed promising speed, pushing close to Ferrari’s top times across both sessions. Piastri’s consistent performance suggests McLaren has competitive pace despite Friday being described as “very messy.”
Other drivers like Oliver Bearman faced setbacks such as grid penalties but will look to recover on race day. The unfolding weekend continues to showcase a mix of challenges and opportunities for teams and drivers alike.
What This Means for the Monaco Grand Prix Weekend
Charles Leclerc’s dominant showing in the practice sessions highlights Ferrari’s potential to challenge for the win, yet the driver remains grounded about the unpredictable nature of one of Formula 1’s most demanding venues. With qualifying positioning playing a critical role and race strategies evolving due to additional pit stops, both Ferrari and their competitors must stay sharp.
As the weekend progresses, the battle for pole position will intensify, and drivers like Leclerc and Hamilton will seek to translate their practice speed into race-winning performances at the iconic Monte Carlo street circuit.
