Ferrari lead Monaco GP practice as Leclerc and Hamilton set pace
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets for Ferrari across both Friday practice sessions at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Ferrari dominated the opening day of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix weekend, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finishing fastest across the two Friday free practice sessions on the Circuit de Monaco. The result will please the home crowd, with Leclerc - who was born and raised in the Principality - continuing to show strong pace around the streets he knows better than any other driver on the grid.
Max Verstappen was the closest threat, lurking within striking distance despite Red Bull appearing to work through setup changes rather than chase outright lap times. McLaren's Friday, by contrast, gave their engineers cause for concern, with the Woking team struggling to find the balance that has served them well at other circuits this season.
Mercedes ran quietly throughout, giving little away about their true race pace. With qualifying on Saturday and a race distance that punishes any mistake on the narrow barriers of Sainte-Dévote, Portier and the tunnel exit, the picture could shift considerably before Sunday afternoon.