A significant storyline after the primary hour of follow on the Monaco Grand Prix?
Visitors.
The mixture of large System 1 automobiles and tight Monte Carlo streets has made overtaking tough on race day and labored to frustrate a number of drivers throughout FP1 on Friday morning.
Together with the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton.
Leclerc, the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix winner, was concerned in two early incidents, the second of which introduced out the crimson flag. First Leclerc drove off the racing line at Mirabeau, which required a difficult flip to get again on the observe:
However the larger incident for Leclerc got here moments later, on the hairpin. Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll, who was in entrance of Leclerc, jumped again into the racing line after letting a automobile by him, and Leclerc couldn’t cease in time:
Leclerc’s SF-25 suffered front-end injury, necessitating a visit to the pits to alter the entrance wing. The particles additionally introduced out the crimson flag, stopping the session momentarily.
Finally, FP1 would resume, and that’s when Hamilton began coping with visitors points. The primary incident got here on the fast Massenet nook when he needed to bail on a flying lap as a result of slower visitors in entrance of him. However essentially the most notable incident for Hamilton got here by the swimming pool when the Ferrari driver got here up on Kimi Antonelli in entrance of him.
Hamilton swerved to keep away from the Mercedes, turning onerous into the apex curb. That maneuver despatched him and his Ferrari airborne:
Nonetheless, Leclerc was capable of shrug off the 2 incidents, as he topped the timing sheets in FP1. Max Verstappen and Lando Norris rounded out the highest three.
As for Hamilton, he completed in P9.
Apply resumes later at present with FP2, forward of the third hour of follow on Saturday. Tomorrow additionally brings the all-important qualifying session, aarguably an important qualifying session of the season.
