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Hamilton leads Ferrari one-two in Monaco practice
Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap of the day during Friday practice at the Monaco Grand Prix, outpacing Ferrari's Charles Leclerc in a dominant display by the Italian team.
Session highlights and reversals
Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, finished 0.111 seconds ahead of Leclerc in the second practice session, reversing their positions from the morning. Leclerc had initially led Hamilton by 0.266 seconds in the first session.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen remained consistent, securing third place in both sessions. Mercedes drivers followed, with George Russell finishing fourth, 0.124 seconds quicker than championship leader Kimi Antonelli.
Challenges and incidents
Antonelli, who holds a 43-point lead over Russell after the Briton's retirement in Canada, reported handling issues in the middle sector of the track, particularly between Mirabeau and Tabac.
Red Bull's Isack Hadjar recovered from a crash in the first session to post the sixth-fastest time, ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri. Piastri's teammate, Lando Norris, suffered a technical issue early in the session, leaving him 19th overall after stopping on track.
A late red flag disrupted the second session when Sergio Perez's Cadillac caught fire at Casino Square. The incident, along with Norris's stoppage, limited opportunities to assess race pace on longer runs.
Notable performances and struggles
Audi drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto led the midfield, while Haas's Oliver Bearman rounded out the top ten. Aston Martin faced difficulties, with Fernando Alonso finishing 20th and Lance Stroll at the bottom of the timesheets, 0.880 seconds behind the pace.
Alonso narrowly avoided a high-speed crash at the harbour-front chicane after losing control over a crest. Despite damaging the car's front wing, he managed to steer clear of the barriers.
Team perspectives and outlook
George Russell suggested that the championship is Antonelli's to lose, emphasizing the Italian's strong position. Meanwhile, teams focused on qualifying performance due to Monaco's limited overtaking opportunities.
"The car felt unpredictable in the middle sector," Antonelli said, describing his struggles during practice.
What's next
Teams will refine their setups ahead of Saturday's qualifying, where track position will be critical in determining Sunday's race outcome.
