Charles Leclerc plays down F1 Monaco GP chances despite perfect Friday
Charles Leclerc believes it's "too early to feel positive" about a strong result at Formula 1's Monaco Grand Prix, despite the Ferrari driver topping both Friday practice sessions.
The Monegasque endured an early fright in FP1 when he clipped Lance Stroll's Aston Martin at the Grand Hotel Hairpin, as the Canadian failed to see the Ferrari and slowly moved back onto the racing line having let traffic already pass.
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But Leclerc soon got into his stride, and set the only FP1 laptime within the 1m11s - his 1m11.964s just under 0.2s faster than Max Verstappen.
He continued to find more time in FP2, setting a series of quick laps on soft tyres to eventually file a 1m11.355s; Oscar Piastri got close to that headliner, but ultimately fell short by 0.038s.
Leclerc, who had played down his chances before the weekend, was asked if he was still convinced Ferrari would struggle at the Monte Carlo circuit.
"Maybe a bit less convinced, but let's say I'm not convinced the other way either," Leclerc said.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
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"I think for now, a Friday in Monaco is always very special, very specific. I think everybody is taking a bit their reference.
"It's too early to feel very positive about the weekend, but let's say that Friday has been very positive for us. I've been feeling pretty good with the car.
"It hasn't started the way I wanted with the crash with Lance, but after that it's been pretty smooth and I'm happy overall with the car."
Leclerc agreed that capitalising on qualifying pace on Saturday was still going to be vital in the race, although the addition of a second mandatory stop may well open the door to more strategic plays for victory.
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He said that the Ferrari also felt good on all three of the compounds Pirelli had brought to the weekend, which could theoretically open the door to using the C5 medium in qualifying.
"Yes, the one-lap pace was strong," he added. "Whatever compound we were on, I was feeling quite comfortable and the lap time was coming pretty quickly, so that's always a good sign.
The Pirelli motorhome
The Pirelli motorhome
Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
"Qualifying is going to be fundamental around here and we've got to be starting in front if we want to hope for a good result."
Leclerc's Ferrari team-mate Lewis Hamilton was in high spirits following practice, particularly in his effusive praise of the Monaco circuit - which he branded "the best rollercoaster ride".
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The seven-time world champion stated that he was generally happy with the Ferrari package from the get-go, and that more changes were needed from his driving rather than any overnight set-up tinkering.
"I think in the time, I would say there's more to find in my driving in lines, in braking. I've got one tenth, for example, just in Turn 1," he said.
"But there's bits here and there throughout the lap. On the car there are subtle changes I think need to be made, but I will not be making many changes at all.
"We might change one small thing, like a quarter of a degree of camber or something like that, but maximum I think that would be it."
Photos from Monaco GP - Practice
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Clive Rose / Getty Images
Clive Rose / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Peter Fox / Getty Images
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes, Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Juan Pablo Montoya
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, Juan Pablo Montoya
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Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Peter Fox / Getty Images
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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Peter Fox / Getty Images
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
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Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
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Red Bull Content Pool
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber
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Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1 talks with Lawrence Stroll, Owner of Aston Martin F1 Team.
Flavio Briatore, Executive Advisor of Alpine F1 talks with Lawrence Stroll, Owner of Aston Martin F1 Team.
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Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Peter Fox / Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing
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Red Bull Content Pool
Laura Mueller, Race Engineer of Haas
Laura Mueller, Race Engineer of Haas
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Peter Fox / Getty Images
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Red Bull Racing front wing detail
Red Bull Racing front wing detail
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Red Bull Content Pool
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team
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Peter Fox / Getty Images
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
Pierre Gasly, Alpine
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Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
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Red Bull Content Pool
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing
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Red Bull Content Pool
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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A marshal looks down the pit lane
A marshal looks down the pit lane
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Peter Fox / Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Clive Rose / Getty Images
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber
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Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
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Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team
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Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
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Red Bull Content Pool
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Bryn Lennon - Getty Images
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls
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Red Bull Content Pool
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
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Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Red Bull Content Pool
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
George Russell, Mercedes
George Russell, Mercedes
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Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Red Bull Content Pool
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes
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Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Peter Fox / Getty Images
Peter Fox / Getty Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Red Bull Content Pool
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
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Red Bull Content Pool
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
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Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team
Kym Illman / Getty Images
Kym Illman / Getty Images
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
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Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
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Red Bull Content Pool
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team
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Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Content Pool
Red Bull Content Pool
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Alexander Albon, Williams
Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team, Alexander Albon, Williams
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Peter Fox / Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Oscar Piastri, McLaren
Peter Fox / Getty Images
Peter Fox / Getty Images
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing
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Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari
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Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Alexander Albon, Williams
Alexander Albon, Williams
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Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls
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Red Bull Content Pool
Lando Norris, McLaren
Lando Norris, McLaren
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Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
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Read Also:
Oscar Piastri: McLaren has pace for F1 Monaco GP despite "very messy" Friday
Oliver Bearman slapped with 10-place grid drop for F1 Monaco GP
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