Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc put on a commanding performance in Monte Carlo, topping all three practice sessions ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton ended his session in the barriers after a late crash.
Leclerc dominates in the principality
Charles Leclerc made a clear statement of intent on Saturday by completing a clean sweep of all three practice sessions ahead of the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix. Racing on home soil, the Monegasque driver clocked the fastest time of the weekend in the final session with a lap of 1:10.953, sending a buzz through the tight streets of Monte Carlo and reaffirming his status as a qualifying maestro at this famously unforgiving circuit.
The Ferrari driver has already taken pole position three times in the last four editions of his home race, and after winning in Monaco last year, he now looks poised to repeat the feat. With track position being everything in Monaco due to the limited overtaking opportunities, Leclerc’s form gives him a significant edge going into qualifying.
“It’s always special to be quick here,” Leclerc told reporters. “We’ve been strong since Friday, and while there’s still work to do, the car feels great. The challenge now is to translate this into pole and then manage the race from the front.”
Verstappen and McLarens trail behind
While Leclerc set the pace on soft tyres, Max Verstappen was not far behind, finishing second on the timesheets but notably running on the medium compound. The Red Bull driver’s 1:11.233 lap left him 0.280 seconds adrift, though his tyre strategy hints at hidden pace that could be revealed in qualifying.
Behind Verstappen, the McLaren pair of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri continued their strong form. Norris was just 0.294 seconds off Leclerc, while Piastri, who currently leads the drivers’ championship by 13 points over his teammate, finished fourth fastest with a 0.445-second gap to the Ferrari.
Both McLaren drivers have shown consistency and confidence on the streets of Monaco, and Piastri in particular has quietly established himself as a genuine title contender in 2025. The Australian has been quick to adapt to the demands of Formula One’s most technical circuit, and with seven rounds complete in a 24-race season, his steady points accumulation is proving crucial.
Hamilton crashes late in the session
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton endured a mixed session. The British driver looked competitive throughout and managed the fifth-fastest time. However, with just two minutes remaining, his session ended abruptly when he clipped the wall on the approach to Casino Square after being caught behind slower traffic.
“Damn, hit the wall. Sorry guys,” Hamilton said over the radio, a rare but honest moment from the three-time Monaco winner. The impact tore off his front-right tyre and left advertising material from a hoarding tangled around the rear of the car, leaving the Ferrari garage scrambling to assess and repair the damage before the all-important qualifying session.
The incident casts a cloud over Hamilton’s otherwise encouraging pace. With Ferrari desperate to capitalize on their strength here, the mechanics now face a race against time to get his SF-25 back in shape before the lights go green in qualifying.
Tight midfield battle shaping up
Just behind the top five, the final practice session offered a preview of a potentially intense midfield scrap in qualifying. Liam Lawson impressed once again for Racing Bulls, placing seventh and splitting the field with a composed drive that shows growing maturity from the young Kiwi.
Carlos Sainz, racing in his final months with Williams before joining Sauber-Audi, slotted into eighth position. He was followed closely by Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Mercedes junior Kimi Antonelli, both of whom are looking to make their mark in what could be a career-defining weekend.
Antonelli’s presence in the top ten is especially noteworthy. The 18-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance in his first full season in Formula One and looks increasingly comfortable in the big leagues. Monaco’s technical complexity and intense pressure have historically challenged rookies, but Antonelli appears to be thriving.
Pole position more crucial than ever
With qualifying set for 1400 GMT, the tension in the paddock is palpable. Monaco has always placed a premium on grid position, and this year, that importance is heightened further by the introduction of a second mandatory pit stop during the race—adding an extra layer of strategy to what is typically a track-position-dominated affair.
The narrow, twisting nature of the Monte Carlo circuit makes overtaking notoriously difficult, often turning the Grand Prix into a high-speed chess match. As such, Saturday’s qualifying session is expected to be one of the most intense and consequential of the season.
Charles Leclerc enters as the clear favorite for pole, but with the likes of Verstappen, Norris, and a motivated Piastri in close pursuit, nothing is guaranteed. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the Ferrari garage to see whether Hamilton’s car can be repaired in time—and whether the seven-time world champion can put himself back in contention on one of the sport’s most iconic stages.
