It was Charles Leclerc at the top of the timesheets in FP1 in Monaco. Image: XPB Images
Ferrari kicked off its Monaco Grand Prix weekend in style as Charles Leclerc topped opening practice with a 1m13.978s to lead a Scuderia one-two ahead of Lewis Hamilton, finishing 0.226s clear of his teammate.
Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, 0.513s off the pace, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli and George Russell completed the top five for Mercedes.
Lando Norris was sixth for McLaren ahead of Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, with Oscar Piastri ninth after traffic compromised one of his quickest laps.
The session was interrupted by two red flags, first for Isack Hadjar after the Red Bull driver crashed at the exit of the Swimming Pool section, and later for Fernando Alonso, whose Aston Martin shed debris after clipping the wall approaching the Nouvelle Chicane.
Second practice for the Monaco Grand Prix begins at 5pm local time (1am AEST).
Results: Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, Free Practice 1
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Pos.
No.
Driver
Team
Time / Gap
Laps
1
16
Charles Leclerc
Ferrari
1:13.978
31
2
44
Lewis Hamilton
Ferrari
+0.226s
28
3
3
Max Verstappen
Red Bull Racing
+0.513s
26
4
12
Kimi Antonelli
Mercedes
+0.559s
31
5
63
George Russell
Mercedes
+1.005s
29
6
1
Lando Norris
McLaren
+1.313s
27
7
27
Nico Hulkenberg
Audi
+1.365s
27
8
81
Oscar Piastri
McLaren
+1.587s
29
9
5
Gabriel Bortoleto
Audi
+1.772s
31
10
10
Pierre Gasly
Alpine
+1.850s
32
11
23
Alexander Albon
Williams
+2.011s
33
12
55
Carlos Sainz
Williams
+2.063s
31
13
6
Isack Hadjar
Red Bull Racing
+2.170s
14
14
11
Sergio Perez
Cadillac
+2.192s
28
15
43
Franco Colapinto
Alpine
+2.211s
32
16
87
Oliver Bearman
Haas F1 Team
+2.314s
31
17
31
Esteban Ocon
Haas F1 Team
+2.355s
31
18
41
Arvid Lindblad
Racing Bulls
+2.411s
34
19
30
Liam Lawson
Racing Bulls
+2.453s
31
20
14
Fernando Alonso
Aston Martin
+2.700s
21
21
77
Valtteri Bottas
Cadillac
+3.482s
27
22
18
Lance Stroll
Aston Martin
+3.578s
16