The First Practice of the Monaco Grand Prix

The main highlight from the opening practice session at the Monaco Grand Prix? A traffic jam.

The tight streets of Monte Carlo, combined with the size of Formula 1 cars, created quite a challenge during FP1 on Friday morning. This left several drivers frustrated.

Among those affected were Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, both of whom faced issues during the session.

Leclerc, who won the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, was involved in two early incidents, the latter of which resulted in a red flag. The first incident had him veering off the racing line at Mirabeau.

However, the more significant event for Leclerc occurred at the hairpin. Lance Stroll from Aston Martin was ahead of him and temporarily left the track before rejoining the race line.

Leclerc’s SF-25 sustained damage to the front and required a pit stop to replace the front wing. This incident also caused a red flag, halting the session momentarily.

Once FP1 restarted, Hamilton began to navigate the traffic challenges. His first notable encounter came at the Quick Massette Corner when he had to abandon a flying lap due to slower cars in front of him. Yet, the most significant moment for Hamilton happened by the swimming pool when he tried to pass Kimi Antoneri.

Hamilton had to swerve hard to avoid colliding with a Mercedes, which sent him and his Ferrari momentarily into the air.

Despite the early setbacks, Leclerc still appeared on the FP1 timing sheet, shrugging off the two incidents. Max Verstappen and Lando Norris rounded out the top three finishes.

Hamilton ended the session in P9.

Practice will continue later today with FP2, three hours ahead of Saturday’s practice. Tomorrow will feature an important qualifying session, arguably the most crucial of the season.