A rediscovered Lewis Hamilton set the best time in the first free practice session of the Monaco Grand Prix, eighth round of the 2024 Formula One World Championship. On the Monte Carlo track we experienced an indicative session that made us understand the levels of the various cars. Only one red flag, caused by Guanyu Zhou who, while exiting Sainte-Devote, collided with his front wing, covering the asphalt with debris. Charles Leclerc passed over these pieces of carbon, slightly damaging the bottom of his SF-24.
Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) who is trying to put the difficulties of this start to the championship behind him, he achieved an interesting 1:12.169 with soft tires (one second faster than FP1 a year ago), with a W15 that seems like the “queen of Friday” again. Second Oscar Piastri (McLaren) at 29 thousandths, once again at ease with the Woking car, therefore third position for George Russell (Mercedes) at 126, while he is fourth Lando Norris (McLaren) at 227.
He stops in fifth position Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) with a gap of 228 thousandths from his future teammate. The host showed off a completely different work from the opponents. In fact, the Monegasque started his session on the hard tyres, obtaining excellent results (also in terms of consistency) and then switched to the medium compound, confirming the excellent start to the weekend for the Maranello team.
Sixth time for Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 606 thousandths from the top, seventh for the Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) at 620, therefore the Japanese eighth Yuki Tsunoda (Visa Cash RB) at 706. Ninth time for Daniel Ricciardo (Visa Cash RB) at 732, while completing the top 10 Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), in turn with medium tyres, at 785.
We arrive, therefore, at the surprise of FP1. He doesn’t go beyond 11th position, 815 thousandths from the top, Max Verstappen (Red Bull)with an RB20 still not flawless on the streets of the Principality (the Dutchman crossed the Piscine chicane twice to avoid further trouble), who finished ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez (Red Bull) at 1,060.
