Charles Leclerc emerged as the frontrunner during Friday’s practice sessions at the Monaco Grand Prix, outpacing his competitors with a remarkable performance that left him 0.188 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
His commanding lead drew commendations from world champion Max Verstappen and Mercedes’ George Russell, both of whom acknowledged Leclerc’s superior speed on his home circuit. The practice also saw a more competitive showing from Mercedes compared to their recent outings, with Hamilton expressing satisfaction with the improved handling and grip of his car, despite some ongoing issues with tire graining affecting race pace.
Meanwhile, Red Bull struggled with their car setup, particularly with handling the bumpy and challenging street circuit of Monaco.
Verstappen, who finished fourth, expressed frustration over the car’s inability to handle bumps effectively, likening the experience to “bouncing like a kangaroo” and clipping the barriers during the session.
Despite attempts to adjust the setup, Verstappen did not anticipate significant improvements due to inherent design limitations of the car. This comes after Red Bull faced similar issues in the previous races, highlighting ongoing challenges as they head into the qualifying and race day at Monaco.
