Breaking: Lewis Hamilton in scary incident as CRASH Si…read more

Lewis Hamilton in scary incident as CRASH Si…read more

The opening practice session of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix delivered an early dose of high drama, with both Ferrari drivers making headlines — but under contrasting circumstances. On a day that saw the streets of Monte Carlo come alive with roaring engines and tight maneuvers, Lewis Hamilton experienced a heart-pounding scare at the iconic Swimming Pool section, while his team-mate Charles Leclerc managed to recover from a separate incident to end the session as the fastest driver on the track.

The most dramatic moment of Free Practice 1 came when Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, found himself in a precarious situation while pushing hard on a flying lap. Navigating the notoriously unforgiving Monte Carlo street circuit, Hamilton was met with heavy traffic as he approached the fast and technically challenging Swimming Pool complex. Attempting to maintain his pace despite the congestion, the British driver aggressively attacked the kerbs through the chicane. However, his car reacted unpredictably to the manoeuvre. It launched briefly into the air after hitting the kerb with too much force — a heart-stopping moment for the Mercedes driver and his team.

Frustrated and clearly shaken, Hamilton immediately came on the team radio, expressing his displeasure at the situation. “Ah **** mate, so much traffic. I have to box mate, I’ve just gone completely over the kerb mate,” he radioed back to his engineer. Though the car remained largely intact and he was able to return to the pits without further incident, the event served as a stark warning of how easily things can go wrong at Monaco, where the margin for error is razor-thin. The crash highlighted the difficulty of finding clear space during practice on a circuit with narrow streets and limited overtaking opportunities.

While Hamilton’s moment raised eyebrows, the spotlight quickly shifted to Charles Leclerc — the home hero — who was involved in an incident of his own. Leclerc, eager to impress in front of his home crowd, was engaged in a heated on-track exchange with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. During a bold overtaking attempt at the tight and slow Fairmont Hairpin, Leclerc dove down the inside of Stroll. However, the two drivers failed to anticipate each other’s moves. As Leclerc committed to the inside line, Stroll drifted toward the racing line. The resulting contact was immediate and costly.

Leclerc’s Ferrari sustained significant front-end damage, with the left portion of his front wing completely ripped off due to the collision. Debris from the contact was scattered across the track, prompting race officials to wave the red flag and halt the session. Marshals were quickly deployed to clear the carbon fibre shards and ensure the circuit was safe to continue. Meanwhile, Leclerc limped back to the pit lane with a partially damaged car. Despite the setback, his team worked efficiently to repair the car and send him back out before the session ended.

In contrast, Stroll’s car suffered more extensive damage, and he was unable to continue in the session. The Aston Martin crew were left with a significant repair job ahead of the second practice. The stewards noted the incident but chose not to issue immediate penalties, opting instead to investigate further after the session.

Despite the early drama, Leclerc bounced back impressively. Once back on track with a repaired front wing, the Monegasque driver showed strong pace and determination. In the closing minutes of the session, he set the fastest lap, topping the FP1 timesheets to the delight of the local fans. His recovery highlighted his growing maturity as a driver and underscored Ferrari’s strong pace heading into the weekend.

With Free Practice 1 setting the tone for what is expected to be an intense and unpredictable Monaco Grand Prix weekend, both Hamilton and Leclerc will be under close scrutiny as they prepare for qualifying — a session that holds extra weight in Monaco, where starting position often determines race outcome.