Leclerc fastest despite complaints and collision

Charles Leclerc consistently criticized his Ferrari’s behavior in his first practice at the Monaco Grand Prix, but he maintained the pace in the process.

Leclerc, who won his first home race last year, repeatedly claimed that Ferrari was “nowhere” and that there was “something wrong with the car.”

However, he finished the session ahead of Max Verstappen from Red Bull by 0.16 seconds.

Lando Norris of McLaren came in third, 0. 326 seconds off the pace, with Alex Albon of Williams coming in fourth and Oscar Piastri, championship leader, in fifth place.

Leclerc had a contented session despite being pessimistic about Ferrari’s hopes for Monaco.

After the Canadian veered into the Ferrari’s path during a slow lap, he immediately took the escape road at Mirabeau on his first lap, which was followed by a rear collision with Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin at the Loews hairpin.

Lewis Hamilton was the driver who had the most impact on a second significant incident, when he crashed over the inside of the swimming pool’s exit and flew over the kerbs in the run-off area.

After George Russell, Carlos Sainz, Carlos Sainz, and Pierre Gasly, the seven-time champion, finished ninth in his Ferrari.

Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin finished in the top 10, joining Adrian Newey, the team’s new managing technical partner, who was in the garage with his famous notebook and watched the action for the first time.

Norris and Piastri both slammed barriers into Sainte Devote’s escape route at various points throughout the session without causing any damage to their vehicles.