Spaniard Carlos Sainz set the fastest time during the first practice session for the GP of Monaco. In the Ferrari Sainz was more than three tenths faster than Fernando Alonso. Home driver Charles Leclerc had to settle for fifth place, just ahead of Max Verstappen on P6.
Hello Monaco
Who’s ready for some track action?! #MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/UsTbvzEwDb
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2023
After the cancellation of the Emilia-Romagna GP due to the storm that ravaged the region, many F1 teams traveled to Monaco earlier than planned. A less tight travel schedule was welcome, but at the same time for many F1 teams the introduction of new parts on the car almost literally fell into the water.
Arriving at the track in style #MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/wVjf31azJi
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2023
Given the specificities of the Monaco street circuit, some teams decided not to introduce their planned updates until next week in Barcelona on a track that is much more representative and has much more data. However, Mercedes is one of the teams that nevertheless introduced the planned updates for its car in Monaco. The Mercedes W14 therefore looks remarkably different.
it’s here
#MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/vcMSTX2KvX
— nik (@nik_mercedesf1) May 25, 2023
In addition to Mercedes, a lot of attention was also paid to McLaren. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri drive in Monaco with a special ‘Triple Crown livery’.
Lando Norris takes to the Monaco streets in McLaren’s special Triple Crown livery #MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/mAKv6ar8qu
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2023
In addition to beautiful pictures, for the drivers in Monaco, it is mainly a matter of gradually building confidence throughout the sessions and increasingly pushing the limits of the car and the circuit, knowing that the Monaco circuit punishes mercilessly. Nico Hulkenberg experienced that in the chicane. The German hit the crash barriers with his Haas F1 car.
RED FLAG
Hulkenberg has had a moment down at the Nouvelle Chicane
Contact with the barriers has pushed one of his tyres off the wheel rim #MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/bUjwQkdL22
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2023
We got a red flag but the track marshalls in Monaco are some of the best in the world so the circuit was cleared in no time. At the very end of the session, however, it was ‘price’ again.
RED FLAG
Alex Albon has crashed out of Sainte Devote. He reports he is okay over the radio
The session will not be resumed#MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/fauEr8qv2q
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2023
This time it was Alex Albon who crashed in the Williams F1 car close to the first corner. Not only was the British Thai’s session over, it also marked the end of the first practice session in Monaco. In the end it was Carlos Sainz who drove the fastest time in the Ferrari, followed by Fernando Alonso who again performed very well in the Aston Martin.