Leclerc leads Monaco FP1 amidst chaos and close competition

The hallowed streets of Monte Carlo roared to life for the first practice session of the FORMULA 1 TAG HEUER GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2025, and it was local hero Charles Leclerc who set the early benchmark, much to the delight of the home crowd and perhaps to his own surprise. Under azure skies, with an air temperature of 21.7°C and track temperatures climbing from 39.3°C towards 41°C, the opening hour of running for Round 8 of the championship delivered its traditional blend of breathtaking skill, heart-stopping near-misses, and the ever-present threat of the unforgiving Armco barriers.

Leclerc Defies Expectations to Lead the Charge in Monaco FP1

Despite his pre-weekend assertions that Ferrari would struggle on the unique, low-speed layout of the Principality, Charles Leclerc piloted his SF-24 to the top of the timesheets with a lap of 1:11.964s on the soft C5 compound. This time, while around 1.7 seconds shy of last year's pole position, was enough to keep the chasing pack at bay and offer a glimmer of hope for the Scuderia faithful.

Home Hero Shines Despite Pre-Weekend Doubts and Early Drama

Leclerc's session wasn't entirely smooth sailing. An early off-track excursion saw him lock up his front-right medium tyre and take to the escape road, a common sight in Monaco, requiring a neat reverse to rejoin. More significantly, he was involved in an incident that brought out the red flags just minutes into the session. Lance Stroll, in his Aston Martin, was moving aside for a faster car approaching the hairpin, then cut back to take the racing line, seemingly unaware of Leclerc's Ferrari arriving at speed. The contact resulted in a shattered front wing for Leclerc, shedding debris across the track and necessitating the session stoppage.

Despite the early setback and his public pessimism about the car's suitability for Monaco's plethora of slow-speed corners – typically a weakness for this year's Ferrari – Leclerc showcased his renowned street circuit prowess. Even a late-session radio message indicated his discomfort, lamenting that the car was "nowhere" and complaining of a tricky balance with oversteer in some corners and understeer in others. Yet, the stopwatch told a different story, as he ultimately edged out Max Verstappen. His teammate, Lewis Hamilton, in the sister Ferrari, also had an eventful session, finishing P9 with a 1:12.690, +0.726s off Leclerc's pace, after his own dramatic encounter with the circuit.

Verstappen and Norris Close Behind in Tight Opening Session

The usual suspects weren't far behind, with Max Verstappen in his Red Bull Racing machine and McLaren's Lando Norris slotting into second and third respectively, hinting at another tight battle at the front.

Verstappen's Red Bull Shows Late Pace

Max Verstappen, running the hard tyre initially, gradually found his rhythm, eventually posting a 1:12.127s on the soft C5 tyre late in the session when the track had evolved. This placed him just 0.163s adrift of Leclerc. Red Bull often adopts a strategy of methodical setup refinement throughout practice, so this early pace suggests they will be firmly in contention. Verstappen, like many, had his share of traffic woes, being forced to abort a fast lap at one point and later being noted by the stewards for an incident where he was baulked by Kick Sauber rookie Gabriel Bortoleto. His Red Bull Racing teammate, Yuki Tsunoda, adapting to his new team colours, finished P14 with a 1:13.232s (+1.268s). Tsunoda was also vocal about traffic, keen to build momentum after a tough qualifying last weekend.

McLaren's Consistent Showing

McLaren continued their strong form, with Lando Norris securing P3, his best effort of 1:12.290s putting him 0.326s behind Leclerc. Norris primarily used the soft and medium compounds, with his fastest lap set on the softs, although, like Leclerc, perhaps not at the peak of track evolution. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, a podium finisher here last year, backed up McLaren's challenge with P5, a 1:12.342s (+0.378s) also on the softs. The Woking team, whose car is theoretically well-suited to Monaco's demands, appears set for a competitive weekend. Norris did have a minor moment, running straight on at Sainte Devote on a new set of mediums, a reminder of Monaco's constant challenge.

Barriers Bite and Traffic Troubles Plague Monaco Practice

Monaco's reputation for treachery was on full display, with several drivers making unintended acquaintance with the barriers, and traffic proving to be a significant headache for all.

Stroll's Session-Ending Mishap

The most significant incident involved Lance Stroll. Following the collision with Leclerc at the Loews hairpin, his Aston Martin sustained considerable damage. The team later confirmed rear suspension damage and a necessitated gearbox change, prematurely ending his FP1. This loss of crucial track time is particularly costly at Monaco, where rhythm and confidence are paramount. Stroll, having only completed a few laps, ended the session in P20 with a 1:15.635s.

Hamilton's Aerial Moment and Barrier Kisses

Lewis Hamilton provided one of the session's most dramatic moments. Distracted by traffic or caught out by dirty air, he clipped the barriers at the Nouvelle Chicane after the tunnel. This sent his Ferrari straight on over the apex, launching him airborne over the high sausage kerbs before crashing back down onto the track. He immediately radioed his Ferrari team to report the incident and the need to pit for the car to be checked. Fortunately, he was able to continue. He wasn't the only one to find the limits. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli hit the wall late on at Turn 3, limping back to the pits. George Russell, Lando Norris, and Racing Bulls' Isack Hadjar were also among those who had minor "kisses" with the barriers, a testament to the precision required. Hadjar, specifically, clipped the barriers and returned to the pits for a check-over.

Traffic: The Perennial Monaco Challenge

As expected, traffic was a dominant theme. From the outset, drivers struggled to find clear track. Verstappen's aborted hot lap early on was a sign of things to come. Tsunoda's frustration was audible over the radio. Hamilton found himself boxed in on a push lap. Pierre Gasly was particularly incensed when a car cut the chicane after the tunnel and rejoined ahead of him, exclaiming that drivers needed to "wake up." Liam Lawson in his Racing Bulls also had a close call, nearly hitting Hamilton, whom he felt backed off unexpectedly. These incidents highlight the immense challenge teams will face in managing track position during Saturday's crucial qualifying session, where a clean lap can be the difference between a front-row start and a Q1 exit.

Rookies Navigate the Treacherous Streets as Midfield Takes Shape

The 2025 grid features several new faces and drivers in new team environments, all facing the unique challenge of Monaco, some for the first time in F1 machinery.

Mercedes Newcomer Antonelli Learns the Ropes

Mercedes' highly-touted rookie, Kimi Antonelli, navigated his first official F1 session in Monaco, finishing a respectable P11 with a 1:12.765s (+0.801s) on soft tyres. His late brush with the wall at Turn 3 was a sharp lesson in Monaco's unforgiving nature, but valuable experience nonetheless. His teammate, George Russell, was further up the order in P6, his best a 1:12.482s (+0.518s) set on a 10-lap old set of softs, indicating good pace in the Mercedes.

Young Guns Gain Monaco Experience

Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber) had a notable moment when he impeded Verstappen, finishing P18 (1:13.470s). Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls), after his barrier clip, ended P13 (1:13.187s). Franco Colapinto in the Alpine was P19 (1:13.820s). Oliver Bearman, driving for Haas F1 Team, put in solid laps to finish P15 with a 1:13.329s. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls), though experienced from previous outings, continued his adaptation as a full-time driver, finishing P17 (1:13.429s). For all these drivers, every lap around the Principality is invaluable.

Notable Midfield Performances

Alex Albon delivered an eye-catching performance for Williams, securing P4 with a 1:12.314s (+0.350s) on the hard tyre, an impressive feat. His new teammate, Carlos Sainz, also showed promising pace for Williams, finishing P7 with a 1:12.534s (+0.570s) on hards, though he too had a moment, requiring a slight reverse to get back on track. Alpine's Pierre Gasly, despite his traffic frustrations, managed P8 (1:12.669s, +0.705s). Fernando Alonso, now in the Aston Martin, rounded out the top ten with a 1:12.727s (+0.763s), demonstrating his enduring class around the street circuit. Nico Hulkenberg, in the other Kick Sauber, was P12 (1:12.979s), while Esteban Ocon, in Haas colours for 2025, ended P16 (1:13.394s).

Tyre Strategies and Track Evolution Key Factors

Pirelli's selection of the softest compounds – C4 (Hard), C5 (Medium), and C6 (Soft) – added another layer of intrigue to the session.

Softest Compounds in Play

Teams experimented with all three compounds. The C6, the softest in Pirelli's range, was the tyre of choice for the fastest laps. A crucial observation was its durability; the C6 appeared to hold on well for more than just a single push lap, even as track temperatures rose. This is good news for drivers, as it means a lap compromised by traffic might not be a complete write-off if the tyre can still deliver on a subsequent attempt. This will be critical for managing tyre allocations, especially with the mandatory two-stop strategy expected for Sunday's race.

Track Evolution and Conditions

The session began with a track temperature of 39.3°C, which climbed to 41°C by the end. As expected in Monaco, track evolution was significant, with lap times tumbling as more rubber was laid down. The "green" track surface at the start contributed to early mistakes, but conditions improved steadily. The weather remained stable and sunny, with no sign of the rain that is often a threat in the Principality.

Early Impressions and What to Watch for in FP2

Charles Leclerc's headline time in FP1 has certainly set tongues wagging, especially given his team's cautious outlook. While only practice, topping the times at home will be a confidence booster. However, with Verstappen close behind and McLaren looking strong, the pecking order is far from settled. The tight gaps suggest qualifying will be an intense affair.

The key takeaway remains that Monaco is as challenging as ever. Barriers were kissed, traffic was a nightmare, and one driver's session was cut short by damage. Teams will be poring over data to fine-tune setups and devise strategies for navigating the qualifying maze.

All eyes will now turn to the second practice session later today. Will Ferrari's pace prove genuine, or were their engines turned up a notch? Can Verstappen and Red Bull unlock more performance? And how will the rookies fare with more laps under their belts? One thing is certain: Monaco rarely fails to deliver excitement, and this weekend looks set to be no exception. The quest for every tenth, every inch of tarmac, continues.