Monaco GP Drama: Leclerc Dominates Practice as Hamilton Crashes O….read more
Charles Leclerc capped off a commanding performance in Monte Carlo by securing a clean sweep of all three practice sessions ahead of qualifying for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix. The Ferrari driver, racing on home soil, looked in complete control as he delivered back-to-back flying laps on the soft compound tyres, with his best effort clocking in at 1:11.369 — a solid 0.280 seconds clear of Max Verstappen, who was running on the slower medium tyres.
However, the final practice session (FP3) ended prematurely, just minutes before the scheduled conclusion, when Lewis Hamilton suffered a crash at the high-speed Massenet corner. The seven-time World Champion, who had recently made a sensational switch to Ferrari, lost control and slammed into the barrier, sustaining damage to the front-right of his SF-25. The incident brought out a red flag and left the paddock speculating about the extent of the damage ahead of the all-important qualifying session.
FP3 began with anticipation and a flurry of strategy experimentation, especially concerning tyre choices. With just 60 minutes of running available before qualifying, drivers were eager to dial in their setups. Hamilton and Liam Lawson were among the first out, queuing at the end of the pit lane as Verstappen took a more relaxed approach, walking into the Red Bull garage. Kimi Antonelli, the youngest driver on the grid, also delayed his appearance, seen deep in conversation with his race engineer Pete Bonnington in the Mercedes garage.
Franco Colapinto set the early pace, albeit with a sluggish 1:15.8 — over four seconds slower than Leclerc’s best time from Friday. Action was sparse in the opening 10 minutes, with only a handful of drivers recording timed laps. Nico Hulkenberg briefly held the top spot with a 1:14.0, before the pace began to intensify.
Ferrari and McLaren lit up the timing screens as they emerged on the soft tyres. Hamilton initially topped the charts, followed closely by Lando Norris. But it was Leclerc who truly set the benchmark with a blistering 1:12.7, making a strong statement of intent heading into qualifying. Meanwhile, Mercedes drivers and Fernando Alonso were among the last to venture out, having waited for the track to rubber in before committing to their runs.
With qualifying looming, questions remain over tyre degradation and optimal compound strategies, especially after mixed runs across the field in FP3. But one thing is certain — Leclerc is the man to beat in Monaco, while Hamilton faces an uphill battle to recover from his late-session crash.
