Max Verstappen drove the fastest time during the second practice session in Monaco. Verstappen was a hand thousandths faster than Charles Leclerc. Carlos Sainz followed in the second Ferrari on P3, but the Spaniard crashed, so they have a lot of repair work to do at Ferrari by tomorrow.
FP2 GREEN LIGHT
And away we go… 60 mins of practice coming up! #MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5Rze0KWTXK
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2023
After the drivers were able to push the limits of the car and the circuit during the first practice session, it was a matter of preparing as well as possible for the rest of the race weekend during the second practice session. The goal is to gain further confidence while driving as close to the crash barriers as possible without crashing. However, there is not much margin for error in the streets of Monaco.
Not much room for error is there?!
The view from Oscar Piastri’s helmet cam #MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/35GufvMwGq
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2023
Monaco is one of those circuits where the driver’s talent can somewhat outweigh the car’s competitiveness. At Aston Martin, they announced prior to the race weekend that they hope to be able to compete for victory in Monaco. Fernando Alonso seemed in his element in the streets of Monaco. The Spaniard was at the top.
A flying Ferdinand
Alonso goes fastest #MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/n2THmQDHzl
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2023
Gradually looking for the limits more and more but at the same time not going over it and not making any mistakes. That is exactly what Carlos Sainz did and the Spaniard crashed in the ‘swimming pool section’.
RED FLAG
Sainz hits the barriers exiting the swimming pool section#MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/wCe1bBAA28
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2023
Logically we got a red flag but just like during the first practice session the track marshals did an excellent job and the drivers were quickly back on track. Everyone except Carlos Sainz of course. Too bad for the Spaniard because Sainz drove the fastest time during the first practice session.
Carlos is out of the car
A busy evening awaits his mechanics #MonacoGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/e8drzOx45f
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 26, 2023
In the end, Max Verstappen was the fastest, followed by Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz. Leclerc was only a handful of thousandths slower than Verstappen. Red Bull and Ferrari evenly matched, that is promising for the rest of the race weekend. At Ferrari, however, they have a lot of ‘key work’ after the crash of Carlos Sainz.