Formula 1 concluded Friday’s practice sessions in Monaco with Ferrari showing strength. Lewis Hamilton was the fastest driver of the day, leading FP2, narrowly beating his teammate Charles Leclerc by just over a tenth of a second.
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The Italian team’s performance reinforces the expectation of an intense battle for pole position at the traditional Monte Carlo circuit. Max Verstappen finished the session with the third best time, completing the group of the three fastest of the day.
Hamilton recorded his best lap in 1min13s026, while Leclerc clocked 1min13s137. Verstappen was right behind with 1min13s194. The three used Soft C5 tires to set their fastest laps, in a session marked by a large number of laps completed to increase driver confidence between the walls of the Principality.
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Pirelli’s analysis indicated a balance between the Medium C4 and Soft C5 compounds throughout the activities. According to Simone Berra, chief engineer of the Italian manufacturer, the long runs carried out showed no significant tire wear, and the graining observed on some cars had a limited impact on performance. He also highlighted that the Hard C3 compound should be little used during the race, which points to a one-stop strategy, provided there are no interventions such as safety cars or yellow flags.
Berra also emphasized that the times recorded this Friday were only three tenths above the teams’ projections, indicating potential for even faster marks in qualifying. “To achieve a good result in qualifying, it will be crucial to get the Soft tire into the correct operating window,” he stated. The official also warned that traffic management could be a decisive factor, especially with two extra cars on the grid this season.
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