In a thrilling start to the 2025 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Charles Leclerc emerged as the fastest driver in the first practice session. Despite this impressive performance, the Ferrari driver expressed significant frustration with his car’s handling. Throughout the session, Leclerc made several complaints, notably stating that his Ferrari was “nowhere” and indicating that there was “something wrong with the car.”
Leclerc’s lap time was notably 0.163 seconds quicker than Max Verstappen from Red Bull Racing, placing him at the top of the time sheets. Following them were Lando Norris of McLaren in third place, trailing by 0.326 seconds, while Alex Albon from Williams took fourth and Oscar Piastri, the current championship leader, rounded out the top five. This strong display from Leclerc, wearing his signature red Ferrari, raised expectations for the weekend ahead.
However, the session was not without incident for Leclerc. He started on a shaky note, veering off the track onto the escape road at Mirabeau during his first lap. He later collided with an Aston Martin driven by Lance Stroll at the Loews hairpin. Stroll, who appeared to misjudge his position on the track and inadvertently steered into Leclerc’s path, continued on only to suffer rear suspension damage from the collision. Stroll’s team subsequently reported that they would need to change his gearbox and as a result, he would take a one-place grid penalty for the race on Sunday.
Leclerc managed to continue after the collision, despite sustaining damage to his Ferrari’s front wing. He remained focused and resilient, determined to salvage the session for whatever insights it could yield about his car’s performance. The young Monégasque and former Formula 2 champion has experienced quite a career trajectory, characterized by both triumphs and trials, and fans were eager to see how he would maneuver the challenges presented at his home Grand Prix.
In terms of surrounding competition, Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, faced his own struggles. He clipped the inside wall at the exit of the Swimming Pool and bounced over the curbs, finishing the session in ninth place, which underscored the tight competition on the narrow streets of Monaco. Hamilton ended the session behind teammates George Russell, Carlos Sainz from Williams, and Pierre Gasly from Alpine. Fernando Alonso closed out the top ten for Aston Martin, marking a competitive start for the team, which was under the eye of new managing technical partner Adrian Newey.
All drivers faced various challenges during the session, including several incidents of clipping the walls or utilizing the escape roads—testament to the unforgiving nature of the Monaco circuit. Both Norris and Piastri had moments of excitement, with Norris taking a trip to the escape road at Sainte Devote without damage, while they and other teams experimented with tire strategies in preparation for the race weekend. The Monaco Grand Prix, known for its demanding two-stop strategy due to rule changes implemented solely for this race weekend, significantly complicated tire management for all teams involved.
As practice continues in the lead-up to the competitively poised race on Sunday, the tension mounts, with fans eager to see whether Leclerc can convert his pace into another potential victory on home soil or if rival drivers like Verstappen and Hamilton will reclaim their dominance as the race unfolds amidst the glamour of Monaco.