Monaco GP: Lewis Hamilton tops first practice as Mercedes show encouraging pace at famous street circuit | F1 News
Lewis Hamilton topped first practice at the Monaco Grand Prix as Mercedes produced an encouraging showing at the famous street circuit.
Hamilton’s time of 1:12.169s put him marginally clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, with the seven-time world champion’s team-mate George Russell a tenth further back in third.
Lando Norris, who like the top three did his fastest lap on the softest – and theoretically fastest – tyre compound, was fourth for McLaren.
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Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari suffered damage after hitting debris from Zhou Guanyu’s Sauber following his brush with the wall
World championship leader Max Verstappen was 11th as he opted to use only the medium tyre, with Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez a place behind.
Ferrari, the team many consider to be favourites for victory in Monaco, also chose to save their soft tyres for later in the weekend but had Charles Leclerc in fifth with an impressive lap on the medium compound, while Carlos Sainz was 10th.
Hamilton’s position at the top of the timesheet was protected by a brief rain shower, which arrived as the cars returned to the track for the final 10 minutes of the session following a red flag resulting from Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu hitting a barrier.
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Sky Sports’ Ted Kravitz talks through the upgrades Mercedes have implemented
Along with teams taking different approaches to tyre usage, the fact that the street circuit evolves so significantly over a weekend means that the results of the opening practice session cannot be taken as the true pecking order.
However, Mercedes being able to compete with McLaren, Red Bull’s main rival over recent races, may provide hope that the Silver Arrows could be able to challenge for a first podium of the season.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1’s live Monaco GP and Indy 500 schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Monaco Grand Prix
Friday May 24
2pm: F2 Qualifying*
3.45pm: Monaco GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)*
5.30pm: The F1 Show
7.30pm: Indy 500 Pit Stop Challenge
Saturday May 25
9.40am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Monaco GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)*
1.10pm: F2 Sprint*
2.15pm: Monaco GP Qualifying build-up*
3pm: Monaco GP Qualifying*
5pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday May 26
6.55am: F3 Feature Race
8.35am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Monaco GP build-up*
2pm: The MONACO GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Monaco GP reaction
5pm: Ted’s Notebook
5.30pm: The Indy 500
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
It’s time for the most-famous F1 race of them all – the Monaco Grand Prix. Watch every session from the famous street circuit live on Sky Sports F1, with Sunday’s race at 2pm. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
