FP1 in Monaco: Hamilton leads Verstappen by 0”059

The world championship leader dominates the first free session of the Monaco Grand Prix but the Dutchman's Red Bull finishes on his heels.

Published on 23/05/2019 à 12:44

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EL1 in Monaco: Hamilton leads Verstappen by 0”059

Mercedes-Red Bull : could this be the poster child for the Monaco weekend? At the end of the first free practice sessions in the Principality, marked by a few minor off-track excursions, 59 thousandths separate Lewis Hamilton, best time in 1’12”106, from his closest pursuer Max Verstappen.

The Top 3 is also held in a pocket handkerchief since Valtteri Bottas fails just 72 thousandths from the reference set by his teammate. On the second Red Bull, Pierre Gasly has not yet made it into the fight: the Frenchman is in 6th position, more than a second behind the leading time.

The pilots Ferrari were expecting another difficult weekend; we take the path since the highest ranked SF90, that of the local hero Charles Leclerc, is more than three tenths behind the best time in the leading Silver Arrow. His teammate Sebastian Vettel is pushed back to 0”717.

Disappointing since the start of the season, the team Renault takes up the gauntlet a little through Nico Hulkenberg. The German takes away the honorary place of “best of the rest” with the 7th time. Poleman and winner in the Principality 12 months earlier, his garage neighbor Daniel Ricciardo must for the moment be content with 11th position.

The team Haas experienced an unusual telemetry and radio problem which forced the FIA to intervene. The commissioners thus sent a black flag to Kevin Magnussen and his teammate Romain Grosjean at the start of the session, time to find an adequate solution.

Despite this setback, the two men managed to climb into the Top 10: the Dane finished 8th, two places ahead of the Frenchman. Between the VF-19s slips theAlfa Romeo of veteran Kimi Räikkönen, who is celebrating his 300th Grand Prix this weekend in Monaco.

In the second half of the table, discreet session for the Toro Rosso, the Racing Point, the McLaren - Carlos Sainz was only able to cover four laps due to an alert on his battery -, and the Williams, used to the back of the grid this season.