©Ferrari
Charles Leclerc continued his Monaco mastery on Friday afternoon, topping FP2 with a 1m11.355s lap, edging out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri by a mere 0.038s.
The reigning Monaco Grand Prix winner led a Ferrari 1-3, with Lewis Hamilton close behind, as the Scuderia flexed their muscles on the Principality’s tight streets.
Despite two red flags disrupting the session, Leclerc’s pace on soft tyres during qualifying simulations set the tone for a thrilling weekend.
The session was haled on two occasions. First, Racing Bulls rookie Isack Hadjar clipped the barriers at the Nouvelle Chicane, suffering a left-rear puncture. Though visibly frustrated, Hadjar was able to limp back to the pits.
Shortly after the restart, it was Piastri who brought out the second stoppage. The Australian went straight on at Ste Devote and hit the tyre wall, causing minor damage but prompting a pause while his car was recovered.
Despite the mishap, Piastri recovered strongly, returning to the track and setting the second-fastest time after quick repairs by the McLaren crew.
Lewis Hamilton completed a promising day for Ferrari by finishing third, just over a tenth down on Leclerc, with Lando Norris placing fourth. McLaren looked quick throughout both sessions, with both drivers consistently near the top of the timesheets.
Racing Bulls duo Liam Lawson and Hadjar delivered a surprise, placing an impressive fifth and sixth respectively. Hadjar, however, had a second brush with the barriers later in the session, bending his left-rear suspension after a slide exiting Turn 1.
It was a quieter session for Red Bull. Max Verstappen only managed the 10th-fastest time, with teammate Yuki Tsunoda just behind in P11, while Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli was just ahead in ninth.
Verstappen ran wide at Ste Devote during one of his quicker laps and later complained about slow-moving traffic in the tight swimming pool complex, calling the conditions “so dangerous.”
Fernando Alonso slotted into seventh for Aston Martin, displaying some solid early from, although congestion out on the track often got the better of the Spaniard’s patience.
Haas stand-in Oliver Bearman caught the stewards’ attention for potentially not adhering to the second red flag, and a post-session investigation was launched.
The track action in the Principality will continue on Saturday with third practice at 12:30 local time,, followed by the all-important qualifying session at 16:00.
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