Formula 1 training: Leclerc at home game in Monaco with accident and best time

Last year’s winner Charles Leclerc drove the fastest training period at the turbulent start of the Monaco Grand Prix. On the streets of his birthplace, the Ferrari driver surprisingly prevailed in the Red Bull and Lando Norris in the McLaren in 1: 11.964 minutes. The German Nico Hülkenberg steered the kick cleanly in his adopted home.

After just under ten minutes, the opening session was interrupted for around five minutes due to a red flag. Leclerc slipped into the rear of the Canadian Lance Stroll. The Monegasse quickly returned to the route with a new front wing, Stroll could not continue with a defective wheel suspension and broken gear.

Hamilton’s Ferrari takes off after driving errors

“I think something is wrong with the car,” said Leclerc despite his fast round. The 27-year-old complained of a completely worn left front tire. Nevertheless, the competition did not come along. Verstappen came closest with 0.163 seconds.

Lecler’s teammate Lewis Hamilton raced over a curb and his Ferrari briefly picked up the ground with all the bikes. The record champion was lucky not to take the route limit.

Oscar Piatri could only prevent this to a limited extent. “I touched the wall,” the Australian World Cup leader radioed to the box. After that, the 24-year-old’s car had to be briefly inspected.

Before the eighth of 24 World Cup runs on Sunday (3:00 p.m./Sky), Piatri leads in the World Cup ranking with a 13-point lead over Norris. Verstappen is third with 22 points behind Piatri. The Dutch won the glamorous Grand Prix on the Côte d’Azur in 2021 and 2023.