Sat May 24 11:20:00 UTC 2025: **Leclerc Leads Ferrari Charge in Monaco Practice, But Remains Cautious**
**Monte Carlo -** Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc topped both Friday practice sessions at the Monaco Grand Prix, setting the fastest time just 0.038 seconds ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri. Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top three, marking an encouraging day for the Italian team.
Despite the strong showing, Leclerc, who won last year’s race, remained hesitant to declare Ferrari as favorites. “Maybe a bit less convinced (it will be difficult) but I am not convinced the other way either, for now. It is too early to feel very positive about the weekend but the Friday has been very positive for us,” he said.
The practice sessions were not without incident. Leclerc damaged his front wing after colliding with Lance Stroll in the first session, while Piastri crashed at Sainte Devote, damaging his front wing. Stroll also received a one-place grid penalty. Haas driver Oliver Bearman also received a 10-place grid penalty for overtaking under a red flag.
World Champion Max Verstappen struggled, finishing over seven-tenths of a second off the pace and admitting to balance issues. “We made some changes for P2 to see how far we could push the balance and we overdid it a little bit. I don’t expect us to be the quickest. But we want to be a lot closer than in P2.”
The Monaco Grand Prix continues Saturday with final practice and qualifying, with the race scheduled for 2:00 PM BST on Sunday. Coverage will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website and app.
First Piper 