Leclerc fastest but cautious about Monaco chances

Monaco Grand Prix

Venue: Monte Carlo Dates: 23-25 May Race start: 14:00 BST connected Sunday

Coverage: Live commentary of believe and qualifying connected BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 pinch title connected BBC Radio 5 Live; unrecorded matter updates connected BBC Sport website and app

Charles Leclerc said he remained unconvinced that Ferrari would beryllium competitory astatine nan Monaco Grand Prix contempt heading some Friday believe sessions.

Leclerc ended nan time conscionable 0.038 seconds quicker than McLaren's Oscar Piastri, nan world title leader, pinch Lewis Hamilton 3rd fastest successful nan 2nd Ferrari.

Before believe started, he said his chances of repeating his triumph successful his location title past twelvemonth were "low".

And moreover aft a beardown showing connected track, he said: "Maybe a spot little convinced (it will beryllium difficult) but I americium not convinced nan different measurement either, for now.

"It is excessively early to consciousness very affirmative astir nan play but nan Friday has been very affirmative for us."

British Haas driver Oliver Bearman has been fixed a 10-place grid punishment for Sunday's title for overtaking nan Williams of Carlos Sainz nether a reddish flag, pursuing a clang for Piastri.

The 20-year-old was besides fixed 2 punishment points.

Leclerc started nan time by moving into nan backmost of Lance Stroll's Aston Martin, aft nan Canadian veered into nan Ferrari's way while connected a slow lap.

That damaged nan Ferrari's beforehand wing, but Leclerc was capable to continue. Stroll, though, took nary further portion successful nan convention because of rear suspension harm and nan request to alteration his gearbox.

The Canadian was fixed a one-place grid punishment for his deficiency of awareness.

Leclerc said: "I person been emotion beautiful bully pinch nan car. It hasn't started nan measurement I wanted pinch nan clang pinch Lance, but aft that it has been beautiful soft and I americium happy wide pinch nan car.

"The one-lap gait was strong. Whatever compound we were on, I was emotion rather comfortable and nan thigh clip was coming beautiful quickly. This is ever a bully sign.

"Qualifying is going to beryllium basal and we person to beryllium starting successful beforehand if we want to person a bully result."

Piastri ended up 2nd contempt his clang early successful nan session, erstwhile he went nose-first into nan obstruction astatine nan first corner, Sainte Devote, but escaped pinch conscionable a surgery beforehand wing.

Hamilton was 0.105secs disconnected Leclerc connected an encouraging time for nan Italian team.

Piastri said: "The full time has been a spot up and down. When we get everything together nan gait is rather good, conscionable not proving that easy to do astatine nan moment. Some things to look at.

"Especially for myself it has been a messy day. Reset for tomorrow because nan gait successful nan car is there.

"Ferrari are looking a batch stronger present than they person done. Today it has been much connected my broadside that's been rather messy. Plenty to study and I deliberation tomorrow will beryllium an absorbing day."

Hamilton said: "The coolest way ever to drive. The astir fun. Every twelvemonth it is specified a blast. It doesn't matter what car you're in.

"Of people it helps erstwhile you're successful a car that feels bully and is quick. But pinch nan grip, nan speeds, it's narrow, it's fast, it's nan champion rollercoaster thrust of nan twelvemonth and it's specified a privilege.

"This greeting I texted Ellen, who has been my adjunct for 20 years, and said I can't judge I americium still truthful fortunate to beryllium capable to do this each twelvemonth and I was truthful excited for nan day.

"It went smoothly. P1 was a small spot of a challenge, postulation and everything. P2 was overmuch better. Got a small spot of clip to find, Charles is very quick, but different a bully session."

McLaren's Lando Norris was 4th fastest, 0.322secs disconnected nan pace, up of Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, who had 2 crashes during nan 2nd session.

Hadjar's first incident saw him deed nan wrong wall astatine nan apex of nan Nouvelle Chicane. He survived that pinch a puncture and damaged wheel.

But later successful nan convention he slid wide aft an oversteer infinitesimal astatine Sainte Devote and collapsed his near rear suspension.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was seventh fastest arsenic managing method partner Adrian Newey made his first sojourn to a expansive prix for his caller team, up of Williams' Alex Albon, Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull's Max Verstappen.

The victor of nan Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix past Sunday had a troubled session. Verstappen ended up 0.713secs disconnected nan gait and moreover had a travel down nan flight roadworthy astatine Mirabeau precocious successful nan session.

Verstappen said: "P1 was rather affirmative but past we made immoderate changes for P2 to spot really acold we could push nan equilibrium and we overdid it a small bit.

"So past I conscionable couldn't really onslaught nan corners immoderate much really I would for illustration and past you are shadowing a batch of gait and nan thigh clip was not coming retired of it.

"I don't expect america to beryllium nan quickest. But we want to beryllium a batch person than successful P2. I americium besides rather assured we tin beryllium a batch closer.

"But Ferrari again looks very, very fast. The McLarens were rather adjacent but Ferrari took a large measurement guardant here."

Verstappen was 2nd fastest successful nan first convention up of Norris.