Monaco Grand Prix: Charles Leclerc stood fastest in practice sessions

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari established a blistering pace to win Friday practice at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Leclerc finished 0.044 seconds faster than teammate Carlos Sainz, with Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen of Red Bull trailing by more than 0.3 seconds.

Mercedes’ George Russell finished sixth, while Lewis Hamilton finished 12th.

Daniel Ricciardo’s dismal season continued in the Swimming Pool with a big crash, while teammate Lando Norris was fifth fastest.

Ricciardo lost control entering the Swimming Pool portion at 150 mph left-right, struck the wall with his left rear tyre, and smashed into the barrier at the second segment.

Sebastian Vettel had just averted a similar disaster moments before, but he was able to collect his Aston Martin without it colliding with the wall.

It was the last thing Ricciardo needed as he battles the heavy pressure that comes with being in a high-profile position but being outperformed by his teammate.

Ferrari’s pace, with both cars in front and more than 0.3secs separating them from the Red Bulls, confirms their standing as pre-race favorites, on a weekend where Leclerc must overcome Verstappen, who has turned a 46-point deficit into a six-point lead in three races.

Mercedes, on the other hand, did not have such a nice day after leaving Spain last weekend optimistic that their car had turned a corner – a statement Russell himself used in a news conference in Monaco on Friday morning.

Russell was 0.7 seconds off the pace, and Hamilton was 0.9 seconds back. Hamilton complained about the “bouncing” that had plagued them until Spain returned for this race.

Pierre Gasly of Alpha Tauri was seventh fastest, ahead of Fernando Alonso of Alpine, Sebastian Vettel, and Yuki Tsunoda of the second Alpha Tauri.

Alfa Romeo was not having a good day. Valtteri Bottas missed the whole first session due to an engine problem and finished 15th in the second after receiving a new power unit.