(Monaco) Charles Leclerc set his pace in the first free practice session of the Monaco Grand Prix and the Ferrari driver is hoping the contested race at his local circuit will see him reclaim the reins of the Drivers’ World Championship.
Posted at 10:23 a.m.
The Monegasque lost the lead last week in Spain. Reigning world champion Max Verstappen won three straight races to dislodge Leclerc at the top of the standings.
Leclerc has never finished a race on the Principality circuit. He took the lead position last year, but suffered a technical problem in the race.
He edged Sergio Perez (Red Bull) by 0.04 seconds. Carlos Sainz Jr. finished third on the other Ferrari, ahead of Verstappen’s Red Bull.
Verstappen and Leclerc grabbed all six wins this season. Leclerc has two.
Mercedes did not have the session hoped for while George Russell clocked the eighth fastest time and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton the 10the. The new Mercedes suffers from ‘porpoising’ – an aerodynamic problem that causes bouncing on the track.
Canadian Lance Stroll finished 12the rank more than a second off the reference time while his teammate Sebastian Vettel offered himself 9e time.
A second session is scheduled for later in the day.