In the opening practice session, Hamilton emerged as the fastest driver, indicating that Mercedes may have a chance to achieve a satisfactory result this weekend. However, given Mercedes’ recent performance, it is advisable not to get too excited until qualifying is completed.
The highlight was Leclerc in the Ferrari. The Monegasque driver consistently demonstrated speed and skill, regardless of the type of tire or fuel load, surpassing his competitors.
Alonso secured the third fastest time, but it is still unknown whether this was an anomaly, as McLaren has not revealed all of its potential. Norris, who achieved the fifth fastest time, and Piastri, who chose not to use the soft tire and finished in 12th, also kept their strategies hidden.
Verstappen continued to struggle, expressing dissatisfaction with the lack of front grip and quality of his car’s handling. He finished in fourth place, over half a second behind the leader. Red Bull is working tirelessly both on track in Monaco and in the simulator in Milton Keynes to find a solution before the crucial qualifying session on Saturday.
During the first free practice session in Monaco, Lewis Hamilton led the times for Mercedes. McLaren kept a low profile, while Ferrari also did not reveal its true pace during its runs on soft tires.
On the other hand, Red Bull faced difficulties, not getting off to a good start. Verstappen’s dissatisfaction with his RB20 and the team’s ongoing struggle to improve its performance have become a recurring issue for the current F1 champions.
As the second practice session (FP2) approaches, it will be interesting to see if Mercedes can maintain their momentum or if Hamilton’s impressive pace was just a stroke of luck. Teams will be conducting qualifying simulations, providing insights into their true potential.
Will McLaren finally reveal their true performance? What can we expect from Ferrari? Can Red Bull make significant progress?
Although rain was initially expected for FP2, the probability has now decreased to 20%. Therefore, we may witness a significant session.
The session began with clear conditions, with some scattered clouds. The track temperature dropped to 32 degrees Celsius, almost 10 degrees lower than before, while the air temperature was at 20 degrees.
For the second consecutive session, Hamilton eagerly took to the track, positioning himself at the pit lane exit and waiting for the green light. He opted for the medium tires.
All drivers, except Verstappen, Ricciardo, Tsunoda, and Piastri, started the session on the medium compounds. These four drivers chose the hard compounds.
At the start, Perez tested the limits and hit the barrier with his front left tire near Casino Square. Norris also had a minor loss of control with his McLaren in the swimming pool section.
Sargeant reported hitting the wall but managed to continue, while Tsunoda relayed the same message to his team.
Replays showed Sargeant colliding with the barriers at the final corner, while Tsunoda scraped against the barrier at the Piscine chicane.
Stroll also had a close encounter with the barriers, narrowly avoiding a collision.
Meanwhile, Verstappen, Hamilton, and Leclerc took turns leading at the beginning, but lap times continued to drop as the Ferrari driver emerged victorious in the first round, with Hamilton in second and Verstappen in third.
Shortly after, Norris joined the fight and secured the third fastest time. It is worth noting that the top three drivers were using medium tires, while Verstappen opted for the hards and was 0.887s off the pace at that moment, 15 minutes after the start of the session.
Russell experienced intense vibrations when braking at Turn 11, making it difficult for him to control the steering wheel. A replay showed that he actually went straight through the chicane. He soon returned to the Mercedes garage for some adjustments.
Verstappen seemed to be facing some challenges, as he radioed to his team, expressing his frustration by saying: “I’m bouncing like a kangaroo, man. I’m getting headaches, it’s insane.”
Meanwhile, Leclerc in the Ferrari continued to dominate his home track, consistently improving his lap times and displaying impressive speed.
Gasly, who faced engine issues (specifically a turbo waste gate valve problem) in FP1, was determined to make up for lost time in FP2.
As the session reached the halfway point, the soft tires made their first appearance, as teams began their qualifying simulations.
After completing his first lap on soft tires, Perez reported that the handling of his RB20 was “horrible” and that he couldn’t see the apex of Turn 3.
Piastri logo se juntou ao grupo de pilotos que fizeram contato com os muros. Ele informou sua equipe sobre o incidente, voltou brevemente para a garagem para uma rápida inspeção e logo voltou para a pista. Verstappen também encontrou uma situação semelhante, atingindo as barreiras na Curva 7 ao descer para o túnel. Tsunoda também fez contato com a barreira em Sainte Devote.
Alonso não ficou satisfeito com as táticas de Sainz na Ferrari e comentou sarcasticamente pelo rádio da equipe: “Não sei o que Sainz estava fazendo lá. Ele queria uma lacuna de três minutos em Mônaco.”
Leclerc parecia estar se divertindo na pista, estabelecendo consistentemente voltas rápidas que o colocavam muito à frente da concorrência.
Com menos de 25 minutos restantes, Leclerc liderou as tabelas de tempos, entregando consistentemente voltas rápidas e estabelecendo setores roxos ao longo do percurso.
Verstappen teve um incidente com Tsunoda em Rascasse e os oficiais da corrida anunciaram que estavam investigando um possível caso de obstrução, mas decidiram não prosseguir com isso.
Ocon fez contato com a barreira um pouco fortemente na saída da chicane da piscina e Stroll também colidiu com as barreiras.
Entre todas as equipes, VCARB, Sauber e Piastri da McLaren ainda não usaram os pneus macios, enquanto aqueles que usaram se concentraram em simulações de classificação até dez minutos antes do final, quando voltaram aos compostos mais duros.
Com dez minutos restantes, Leclerc acionou uma breve bandeira amarela ao perder o controle da frenagem em Sainte Devote com pneus médios frios e acabou na área de escape, mas nenhum dano significativo foi causado.
Russell continuou a ter problemas de direção e solicitou à sua equipe que monitorasse o torque de direção, pois algo incomum estava ocorrendo.
Relatório ainda em andamento…
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The soccer star, Cristiano Ronaldo, once again surprised everyone with his incredible performance in the last game. The Portuguese player scored three goals and provided an assist, contributing to his team’s 4-1 victory. With this flawless performance, Ronaldo once again showed why he is considered one of the best players in the world.
In addition to his achievements on the field, Cristiano Ronaldo is also known for his luxurious lifestyle. The player owns a spectacular mansion, luxury cars, and an enviable collection of watches. He is also one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, with sponsorship deals with major brands.
However, not everything is smooth sailing for the soccer star. Recently, Ronaldo has faced some controversies off the field. He was accused of tax evasion and had to pay a hefty fine. Furthermore, rumors have surfaced that he may be unhappy with his current club and could be considering a transfer to another team.
Despite these controversies, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to be an admired and idolized figure by many fans around the world. His skill in soccer and his determination to achieve success are inspirations for young athletes worldwide. The player has already won numerous titles and awards throughout his career and shows no signs of slowing down.
With his undeniable dedication and talent, Cristiano Ronaldo remains one of the most influential and popular players of today. Soccer fans eagerly await to see what the future holds for this true sports icon.
