F1 Montecarlo, Sainz the fastest in free practice 1. Then Alonso and Hamilton. Leclerc is 5th

In the inaugural session of the Monaco GP, Ferrari leads with the Spaniard, while Verstappen is sixth also preceded by Perez (fourth). At 17 the second session

by the envoy Mario Salvini

– monte carlo (monaco)

Carlos Sainz is the fastest of all in the first warm-up sprint in Montecarlo. And that already in the lead there is someone who is neither Charles Leclerc nor Sergio Perez is news. Because if you look at the recent precedents, with the sole exception of FP3 2022 closed in the lead by Max Verstappen, all the other sessions, free practice and qualifying, have been duopolized by them. Always up front either the home boy or the Mexican street circuit specialist. And not only that: Sainz detached everyone: by 3 tenths abundant Fernando Alonso, author of the second half. Carlos had already caressed the barriers at the beginning of the session in a lap that he had impressed. It must be said that no one mounted soft tyres: therefore Sainz’s time, which was also 1″2 lower than Leclerc’s best in FP1 a year ago (he too then with the mediums), is susceptible to significant improvements .

verstappen to 8 tenths

The renewed Mercedes gives the idea of ​​being on the ball, at least in the hands of Lewis Hamilton, however 7 tenths from Sainz. Same gap accumulated by Perez and Leclerc immediately behind him. While George Russell, 15th, got lost by 1”5 abundant. Max Verstappen is missing: sixth, also over a second behind. The champion and undisputed leader complained: “Now I’m going back to the pits,” he said angrily.

good mclaren

Seventh Lando Norris. With a nice McLaren. Aesthetically beautiful, with the special livery for the Triple Crown: the House’s conquest of all three iconic races in the world, that is, in addition to this one in Monte Carlo, also the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Indianapolis 500. Indianapolis where, moreover, McLaren is also in the race this weekend (starting on Sunday at 6 pm Italian time).

times

The times of the first free practice session:

1. Sainz (Ferrari) 1’13″372

2. Alonso (Aston Martin) 1’13″710

3. Hamilton (Mercedes) 1’14″035

4. Perez (Red Bull) 1’14″038

5. Leclerc (Ferrari) 1’14″093

6. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1’14″244

7. Norris (McLaren) 1’14″467

8. Ocon (Alpine) 1’14″585

9. Stroll (Aston Martin) 1’14″653

10. Albon (Williams) 1’14″666

11. Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1’14″718

12. Magnussen (Haas) 1’14″725

13. Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1’14″820

14. Gasly (Alpine) 1’14″866

15. Russell (Mercedes) 1’15″035

16. De Vries (AlphaTauri) 1’15″083

17. Piastri (McLaren) 1’15″192

18. Sargeant (Williams) 1’15″557

19. Zhou (Alfa Romeo) 1’15″684

20. Hulkenberg (Haas) 1’15″785



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