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Ferrari's Charles Leclerc emerged as the quickest driver in Friday's opening practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, despite an early clash with Aston Martin's Lance Stroll that led to a red flag.
The collision occurred at the hairpin when Stroll turned in and clipped Leclerc, damaging the Ferrari's front wing and bringing the session to a temporary halt. Stroll's car sustained suspension damage and needed a gearbox replacement, while Leclerc managed to rejoin the track after repairs and went on to set the fastest lap of 1:11.964.
His time put him 0.163 seconds ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion who won last weekend in Imola. McLaren's Lando Norris rounded out the top three, followed by Williams' Alex Albon in fourth and Norris' teammate and championship leader Oscar Piastri in fifth, despite running on slower medium tyres.
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, who initially led the session, dropped to ninth after his car briefly took flight over the kerbs at the swimming pool chicane—possibly damaging the floor. His teammate George Russell finished sixth, with Carlos Sainz (Williams), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), and Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) completing the top 10. Just 0.7 seconds separated all ten drivers, highlighting how tight the field is around Monaco's narrow streets.
Following the incident, race stewards held Stroll fully responsible for the collision, citing that he cut across Leclerc's line. While Stroll admitted he had been warned about Leclerc over the radio, he claimed not to have heard the message in time.
Leclerc, a three-time pole-sitter in Monaco, had earlier tried to lower expectations, acknowledging Ferrari's challenges with low-speed corners this season. However, the unique nature of the Monte Carlo circuit, where straight-line speed is less critical, offers Ferrari a chance to shine.
Speaking ahead of the race, Lando Norris expressed newfound self-belief despite a mixed season so far. The McLaren driver, currently 12 points behind teammate Piastri and just ahead of Verstappen, admitted to struggles in qualifying but remains confident in his potential.
"I've never had more faith in myself," Norris said in an interview with ESPN. "Even with some tough performances, I know I can win. I just haven't executed at my best yet."
Norris has secured one pole and a win in Australia this season, while Piastri has bagged three poles and four victories. Still, Norris emphasized he's not backing down and remains critical of both himself and the team as they chase improvement.
