Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari led the way in Friday practice at the Monaco Grand Prix, with Hamilton finishing the second session 0.111 seconds ahead of his teammate Charles Leclerc. This marked the first time in the day that Hamilton was fastest, as the pair had swapped positions in the first session.

Ferrari and Red Bull Lead the Way

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was third fastest in both practice sessions, closely followed by Mercedes drivers, but George Russell ended the day as the fourth fastest driver, 0.124 seconds quicker than championship leader Kimi Antonelli. This positions Mercedes as a strong contender despite their struggles in the first session.

Challenges for Leclerc and Ferrari

Leclerc, the only Ferrari driver to speak to the media during the pooled interviews on Friday, noted that Red Bull and Verstappen were very close in the second session. He anticipates a tight qualifying battle and expects Mercedes to close the gap as they finalize their setup.

Leclerc also revealed that he lost ground after leading Hamilton in the first session due to recurring braking problems, similar to those experienced at the last race in Canada. He mentioned that these issues have persisted for two weekends and that a solution has not yet been found.

Red Bull’s head of engineering. Paul Monaghan, echoed Leclerc’s sentiments, predicting a tight qualifying session. Russell, on the other hand, suggested that his struggles in the first session were due to Mercedes testing different set-up directions to enhance their understanding of the car.

Struggles for Other Teams

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli expressed concerns about the car’s unpredictability in the middle sector of the lap, from Mirabeau to Tabac, including the harbor-front chicane. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar. After a crash in the first practice session, managed to set the sixth-fastest time, ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, whose team struggled throughout the day.

Lando Norris. Who won last year’s race on his way to his first world title, stopped on track with a technical problem early in the session and ended up 19th fastest. Norris’ teammate. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Also noted a lack of grip. Stating that the team was struggling in various areas.

Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto were the best of the rest after the top four teams, with Haas driver Oliver Bearman completing the top 10. The second session was relatively incident-free, although there was a late red flag when Sergio Perez’s car caught fire at Casino Square.

In the first session, Hadjar lost control at the second Swimming Pool chicane, spinning into the barriers. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso also faced challenges, with his car suffering from a lack of front grip and chronic understeer. Alonso, reflecting on the new cars introduced by the current rules, described them as the worst he has driven in Monaco.

Alonso criticized the inconsistency in engine braking and the difficulty in managing the car’s hybrid system, stating that hybrid cars should not be racing due to their unpredictable nature. His comments reflect a broader concern among drivers about the challenges posed by the new car regulations.