Lewis Hamilton Fastest During First Practice Session in Monaco
Lewis Hamilton set the pace in the first free practice session for the 2024 F1 Monaco Grand Prix on Friday. The three-time Monaco winner finished with a best time of 1:12.169 on soft tires, leading the field eager to get the best out of their cars in the streets of the Principality.
Hamilton’s Dominance and Piastri’s Surprise
Hamilton’s impressive lap put him at the top of the timesheets, but it was McLaren’s Oscar Piastri who provided a surprising challenge. The Australian, also on soft tyres, finished just 0.029 seconds behind Hamilton, prevented Mercedes a one-two finish in the session. Piastri’s performance shows McLaren’s potential threat this weekend.
Mercedes and McLaren Show Strong Pace
Mercedes’ George Russell secured the third fastest time, reinforcing the team’s competitive start. Lando Norris, followed closely in fourth, highlighting McLaren’s strong form. The tight gaps between these drivers suggest a fiercely contested qualifying session tomorrow.
Red Bull’s Troubles
Championship leader Max Verstappen faced a challenging session, ending up 11th fastest and 0.815 seconds off Hamilton’s pace. Verstappen had several close encounters with the barriers but managed to avoid significant damage. Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez fared slightly worse, suffering a puncture and finishing 12th. Both Red Bull drivers opted not to push for fast laps on the soft compound, suggesting potential for improvement.
Ferrari’s Mixed Results
Local favorite Charles Leclerc, who has yet to secure a podium finish in his home race, finished fifth fastest. Despite running over debris from Guanyu Zhou’s incident and sustaining minor damage to his Ferrari, Leclerc remains optimistic for the weekend. His teammate, Carlos Sainz, completed the top ten, contributing to Ferrari’s mixed but promising session.
Aston Martin and Red Bull Junior Teams
Fernando Alonso, driving for Aston Martin, posted the sixth fastest time, edging out his teammate Lance Stroll. The VCARB drivers, Yuki Tsunoda and Daniel Ricciardo, also made a strong showing, finishing eighth and ninth respectively. Their consistent performances could prove pivotal in the tightly contested midfield battle.
Zhou’s Incident and Session Disruption
The session was briefly interrupted with 15 minutes remaining when Sauber’s Guanyu Zhou clipped the tyre wall, scattering debris across the track. The incident brought out the red flags, as Leclerc ran over some of the debris, damaging his Ferrari. The track was cleared, and the session resumed, but the disruption highlighted the ever-present risks of the narrow Monaco circuit.
As the teams prepare for the second practice session, Hamilton’s fast start and the surprising pace of Piastri make for an intriguing weekend. With Red Bull struggling and Ferrari showing promise, the rest of the upcoming practice sessions become even more important leading up to qualifying.
