Leclerc Tops First Practice at Monaco Grand Prix
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in the first practice session at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix, securing a Ferrari one-two with Lewis Hamilton. Leclerc, racing at his home event, finished 0.226 seconds ahead of Hamilton. Max Verstappen of Red Bull was third, 0.513 seconds behind the leader, followed by Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.
Isack Hadjar experienced a crash during the session, losing control at the entry to the second Swimming Pool chicane. His car’s rear swung around on entry, causing a spin into the barriers on the exit.
Fernando Alonso narrowly avoided a serious incident at the harbour front chicane while driving for Aston Martin. The rear of his car flicked sideways over the crest at the braking point, and as he corrected, the vehicle fishtailed, sending the front towards the barriers. Despite breaking the front wing endplate, Alonso managed to keep the car largely under control and prevent a collision as it slid up the kerb on the circuit’s outside.
Aston Martin clarified that the incident was not due to driver error, explaining that the car is challenging to handle and that the brakes locked during the maneuver.
Ferrari’s Performance and Challenges
Both Ferrari drivers demonstrated strong pace throughout the session, although their cars appeared on edge. Each driver made at least two excursions onto the escape roads at the first corner and chicane. Leclerc notably experienced a significant oversteer slide at Sainte Devote as he attempted to apply power to climb the hill.
Other Notable Performances
McLaren’s Lando Norris secured the sixth fastest time, separated from teammate Oscar Piastri by Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg. Gabriel Bortoleto, also driving for Audi, was ninth fastest. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, along with Williams drivers Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, completed the top twelve.
Additional Context and
The session included several incidents and highlighted the competitive nature of the field at Monaco. Discussions continue around the technical aspects of the cars, including the future of turbocharged engines in Formula 1 and the challenges of overtaking on the tight street circuit.
For further insights, see such as Audi’s stance on turbo engines, predictions for the Monaco Grand Prix final standings, classic images from past Monaco races, Formula 1’s commitment to Las Vegas races through 2037, and analysis on whether Monaco will favor Ferrari over its rivals.
