Charles Leclerc shrugged off a dramatic early collision with Lance Stroll to top Free Practice 1 at his home Grand Prix in Monaco. The Ferrari star clocked a fastest time of 1:11.964, beating Max Verstappen by 0.163s and Lando Norris by 0.326s in a tightly packed session around the iconic Monte Carlo streets.
🚨 Early incident: Leclerc and Stroll collide
Leclerc’s session got off to a rocky start after running into the back of Stroll’s Aston Martin in a miscommunication during the early laps. The contact damaged Leclerc’s front wing and brought out yellow flags, briefly halting the flow of the session. Fortunately for the Monegasque driver, Ferrari performed swift repairs, and Leclerc returned to the track with vengeance.
He ultimately set his benchmark lap on the soft tyres, navigating the tricky circuit with the kind of flair and precision expected from a Monaco native.
🔥 Top 5 finishers in FP1:
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 1:11.964
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:12.127
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:12.290
- Alexander Albon (Williams) – 1:12.314
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 1:12.342 (on mediums)
Championship leader Oscar Piastri, notably, set his time on the medium compound, making his pace all the more impressive as he finished just 0.378s off Leclerc.
⚠️ Drama for Hamilton, strong showing for Albon
Lewis Hamilton had a turbulent session, going airborne over the kerbs at the Swimming Pool exit chicane. The Ferrari driver ended up 9th fastest and reported balance issues during his run.
Meanwhile, Alex Albon put in one of the standout performances, placing his Williams fourth, splitting the McLarens and showing real confidence on a circuit that rewards bravery and finesse.
🏁 Full FP1 Results – Monaco Grand Prix 2025:
| Position | Driver | Team | Time | Tyre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:11.964 | Soft |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:12.127 | Soft |
| 3 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:12.290 | Soft |
| 4 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:12.314 | Soft |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:12.342 | Medium |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:12.482 | Soft |
| 7 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:12.534 | Soft |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:12.669 | Soft |
| 9 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:12.690 | Soft |
| 10 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:12.727 | Soft |
| 11 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:12.765 | Soft |
| 12 | Nico Hülkenberg | Stake | 1:12.979 | Soft |
| 13 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:13.187 | Soft |
| 14 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull | 1:13.232 | Medium |
| 15 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 1:13.329 | Medium |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 1:13.394 | Soft |
| 17 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:13.429 | Medium |
| 18 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Stake | 1:13.470 | Soft |
| 19 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:13.820 | Soft |
| 20 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:15.635 | Soft |
🔍 What to watch for next
With traffic, track evolution, and tyre strategy all playing pivotal roles in Monaco, teams will be analyzing FP1 data closely heading into FP2. For Leclerc, it’s an encouraging start to his home Grand Prix—but with Verstappen, McLaren, and Williams close behind, it’s far from a done deal.
Stay tuned for FP2 later today as the Monaco weekend continues to unfold in spectacular fashion. 🏁🇲🇨✨
