Breaking: Leclerc Fastest in FP1 Despite Early C….read more
Leclerc Fastest in FP1 Despite Early C….read more
Charles Leclerc’s fortunes at his home Grand Prix in Monaco appeared to follow a familiar, frustrating pattern during the first Free Practice session (FP1), as early drama unfolded on the streets of Monte Carlo. Despite a promising end to the session, where he posted the fastest time ahead of Max Verstappen, Leclerc’s opening stint was marked by a mishap involving Lance Stroll, which brought out a red flag and added to the narrative of his so-called “Monaco curse.”
As the green light signaled the start of FP1, all 20 drivers lined up at the end of the pit lane, eager to hit the track and begin preparations for what promises to be a unique race weekend. The FIA is experimenting with a mandatory two-stop strategy, which will add another layer of complexity to a race already known for its unforgiving layout and limited overtaking opportunities.
Leclerc, who has faced a string of misfortunes at his home Grand Prix over the years, was one of the early drivers to encounter trouble. After a brief trip down an escape road, a situation that initially seemed minor, things escalated when he collided with the rear of Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin. The incident was primarily attributed to a mistake by Stroll, who slowed unexpectedly, leaving Leclerc with little room to react. The contact resulted in visible damage to the front of Leclerc’s Ferrari SF-25, particularly the nose and front wing, with the front-left dragging along the track as he limped back to the pits.
The incident led to a temporary halt in proceedings as the red flag was waved to allow marshals to clear debris and inspect the track for any hazards. Back in the Ferrari garage, the team quickly replaced the front wing and assessed the floor damage to ensure Leclerc could return to action.
Despite the early setback, Leclerc responded positively once the session resumed. He went on to set the fastest lap time of the session, narrowly edging out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Lewis Hamilton also showed promising pace in the early part of the session before being overtaken on the timesheets. Verstappen, for his part, struggled to get a clean lap due to traffic on the tight Monaco circuit.
Leclerc will be hoping that this early glitch is the worst of his weekend, as he aims to finally break the streak of bad luck he has endured at his home race. The Monegasque driver’s strong pace in FP1, in spite of the incident, suggests he could be a serious contender if things go smoothly from here on out.
