with video
Max Verstappen started the race weekend in Monaco with a third place in the first free practice. The Dutchman only had to tolerate Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. For Isack Hadjar it was a training to quickly forget. Verstappen’s teammate immediately crashed into the wall.
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Finding the right adjustment, that was the motto for everyone in the initial phase of the training. It was immediately busy on the track and it soon became clear that one team had already done well: Ferrari.
Leclerc and Hamilton alternately recorded the fastest time on the hard tires in the first half hour. The Italian team may also be the favorites this weekend. The red cars are fast in the winding sections, but this season they have difficulty on the straight. And there shouldn’t be such a straight stretch in Monaco.
After more than half an hour it was championship leader Kimi Antonelli who was fastest on the medium tire. Shortly afterwards, Isack Hadjar caused the first red flag of the day. Verstappen’s French teammate spun near the pool section, after which he landed head-on into the wall.
With fifteen minutes to go, the lights turned green again and the Ferraris showed themselves at the top again. First Hamilton was faster than Antonelli, then Leclerc went even further. Verstappen also improved, good for a third fastest time.
In the last few minutes, Fernando Alonso caused a second red flag by hitting the wall, losing part of his front wing. Then the drivers only had time to get onto the track for a test start.
liveblog
Just time for a test start
A third place for Verstappen, who had to give up half a second to Leclerc. Can he go faster in the second training? This can also be followed later in a live blog on this site at 5 p.m. See you then!
Ferrari in the lead, another red flag
Leclerc and Hamilton are proudly at the top, while Fernando Alonso raises a red flag. He hit the wall.
Verstappen to P3
A good final sector brings the Dutchman to the third fastest time. Well, four-tenths from Antonelli.
We’re driving again!
The lights are green again with fifteen minutes to go.
Red flag!
Isack Hadjar smashes into the wall and gives his mechanics a long afternoon.
There’s Antonelli
The World Cup leader reports at the top of the time list with a tight lap on the medium tire, almost four tenths faster than Leclerc.
Our man in Monaco has found a nice spot
Verstappen complains about the tires
His hard tires aren’t working. “My tires are dead, completely,” the Dutchman said over the on-board radio.
Hamilton to P2
For the time being it is Ferrari that is doing the talking.
Leclerc just keeps improving
The Monegasque is in his element in his home city and is half a second faster than number 2 Antonelli. In the meantime, Verstappen returns to the track.
Verstappen into the pits
Some time to tinker with the setup at Red Bull.
Leclerc also fast
Bam, half a second faster than teammate Hamilton. Ferrari seems to be doing well and that is not surprising. The red cars are fast in the winding sections, but this season they have difficulty on the straight. And there shouldn’t be such a straight stretch in Monaco.
Steering problems for the Racing Bulls
Hamilton also got off to a good start
That second place in Canada seems to have given the Brit a lot of confidence. He records the fastest time and is three tenths faster than Verstappen.
Verstappen reports to the top early on
The Dutchman seems to be looking forward to it and has recorded the fastest time for the time being. It’s getting a little faster every lap now.
Green lights!
We started and it immediately became busy on the circuit. Because of the narrowness, drivers cannot help but get in each other’s way. But that is also Monaco.
Max is ready!
Just a few minutes to go and then the cars take to the track.
Look who we have there
Paul Pogba now plays football for AS Monaco, so it is not surprising that the French star player comes to visit. In this case at Red Bull.
Hamilton doesn’t seem to be cold
Arjan Schouten and Tim Hartman
Arjan Schouten is a sports reporter and writes about Formula 1 and skating. He has been at Grands Prix since 2016 and follows Max Verstappen closely. Read all his stories in this file.
Tim Hartman has been writing about Formula 1 since 2025 and also follows darts and martial arts. Read all his stories in this file. Together they also appear in the Formula 1 podcast. Follow our F1 podcast on Instagramalso for behind-the-scenes footage!
