Monaco – EL2: The pass of 5 for Leclerc, Red Bull behind

Mr. Free Trials. This is the nickname that we could start using to evoke Charles Leclerc. Fastest man in this 2^e session of the day in Monaco, the Monegasque signed a great performance with a 5^e best consecutive test time after his hat-trick in Barcelona and the mark established earlier this Friday.

In a session where the drivers finally put on the soft tires after having left them aside during EL1 for the majority of them, times have improved considerably. On a smoother bitumen, the times were quick to be beaten like those of Charles Leclerc. Starting from a good start, the local of the weekend improved his personal mark by almost 2 seconds, going from 1'14″531 to 1'12″656. A trick that allowed him to gain the upper hand over his teammate Carlos Sainz (0″044) this time since Sergio Pérez, 2nd in FP1, finished in 3rd position almost 4 tenths from the reference.

Verstappen discreet, Ricciardo in the wall

New leader of the championship after the retirement of Charles Leclerc in Spain less than a week ago, Max Verstappen did not show too much this Friday afternoon on the side of the Principality. Fourth at the end of FP1, the Batavian ended his day in the same position. However, he saw the gap with the Monegasque widen since he finished 0″447 behind the driver Ferrari against 0″181 previously. Lando Norris completed the Top 5 at 0″6 from Leclerc.

In difficulty since the start of the season and remaining on a mediocre record for Catalonia, Daniel Ricciardo didn't get off to an ideal start to his princely weekend. Although he was in the Top 10 in the first session, the winner of the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix was not in great spirits during FP2 where he was unable to record a single time.

Looking for confidence behind the wheel of an MCL36 which he still cannot control, “The Honey Badger” (the honey badger, his nickname) is not about to find any after his new misadventures. So in a flying lap, the Australian lost the back of his car at the Swimming Pool and ended up in the wall causing major damage to the latter. Proof of the current misunderstandings between the pilot and his team, the low wall McLaren was first concerned about the state of his car before even hearing from his driver who was able to get out and return to his garage without difficulty. This is definitely not his period.

The crash of @danielricciardo as if you were driving the McLaren #MonacoGP ???????? #F1

▶ https://t.co/7plkVVV12v pic.twitter.com/rg8EU2RVoD

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) May 27, 2022

On the side of Mercedes, this session was like the 1st: far from the leading group. Although constantly progressing, the Silver Arrows were unable to stand out on the Rock. If George Russell gained two places from 8th to 6th place during FP2, Lewis Hamilton had a little more difficulty and fell from 10th to 12th position. The British Boys finished respectively 7 tenths and 1″611 behind Charles Leclerc.

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