Verstappen fourth in Monaco first training, local hero Leclerc the fastest | NOW

Max Verstappen set the fourth fastest time in the first free practice for the Monaco Grand Prix on Friday. The reigning world champion had to pass both Ferrari drivers and teammate Sergio Pérez.

Home favorite Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in Monte Carlo. The Ferrari driver did 1.14.531 over a lap and was 0.039 seconds faster than Pérez in the Red Bull.

Carlos Sainz was third, 0.070 seconds behind his teammate. Verstappen conceded 0.181 second on the fastest time. All four Red Bull and Ferrari drivers drove their fastest laps on the medium tyre. Verstappen and Pérez also used the hard tire in the session, Ferrari did not.

The fifth fastest time was set by Lando Norris in the McLaren. The young Briton is still struggling with the consequences of inflamed tonsils, and therefore skipped the press conferences earlier on Friday. Pierre Gasly was sixth in the AlphaTauri.

Mercedes was previously counted among the favorites, but did not perform well in the first practice. Both drivers complained about a violently bouncing car, the problem the Barcelona team still thought they had said goodbye to.

George Russell eventually finished eighth. Lewis Hamilton clocked tenth time.

Verstappen and Leclerc shoot straight ahead

The session was stopped once to remove Mick Schumacher’s car from the entrance to the pit lane. The German was stranded there, so other drivers could not visit their team.

There were also the usual Monaco incidents. Both Leclerc and Verstappen shot straight once at the end of the star finish, but were able to keep their cars out of the crash barriers. The same happened to Kevin Magnussen and Sergio Pérez, among others.