Leclerc heads Hamilton in Monaco first practice

Image source, PA Media Image caption, Charles Leclerc won in Monaco - his home race - in 2024 By Andrew Benson F1 Correspondent in Monaco Published 8 minutes ago Charles Leclerc led Lewis Hamilton to a Ferrari one-two in first practice at the Monaco Grand Prix as Isack Hadjar crashed his Red Bull. Leclerc was 0.226 seconds quicker than Hamilton, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen 0.513secs off the pace in third place, ahead of the Mercedes of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Hadjar lost control on the entry to the second Swimming Pool chicane, the rear swinging around on entry and spinning him into the barriers on the exit. And Fernando Alonso rescued what could have been a high-speed crash at the harbour front chicane in his Aston Martin. The rear flicked sideways as he went over the crest at the start of the braking point, and as he corrected, the car fishtailed, sending the front towards the barriers. Title Antonelli's to lose, says team-mate Russell Published 20 hours ago Will 2026's 'yo-yo racing' mean overtaking in Monaco? Published 2 days ago Although the incident broke the car's front-wind endplate, Alonso kept it largely under control and out of the barriers as it slid wildly up the kerb on the outside of the circuit. The Ferrari drivers were quick throughout, but the car looked on edge. Both made at least two visits to escape roads at the first corner and chicane, and Leclerc kept the car at Sainte Devote as he suffered a big oversteer slide as he sought to put the power down to launch it up the hill. McLaren's Lando Norris was sixth fastest, split from team-mate Oscar Piastri by Audi's Nico Hulkenberg. The second Audi of Gabriel Bortoleto was ninth, ahead of the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz. First practice results Related topics Formula 1 More on this story Audi wants turbos to stay in F1 amid engine debate Published 1 hour ago Predict the final standings of the Monaco Grand Prix Published 15 hours ago Classic Monaco Grand Prix images through the years Published 4 days ago Formula 1 to race in Las Vegas until at least 2037 Published 14 hours ago Will Monaco suit Ferrari more than rivals? F1 Q&A Published 3 days ago