Leclerc fastest in first Monaco Grand Prix practice after collision with Stroll
Charles Leclerc smashed into the back of Lance Stroll's Aston Martin before giving himself an early boost with the fastest lap for Ferrari in first practice for his home Monaco Grand Prix on Friday.
Last year's winner from pole position clocked the leading time of 1:11.964 seconds around the tight and twisty harbourside street circuit, 0.163 ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen on the soft tyres.
McLaren's Lando Norris was third fastest with championship-leading teammate Oscar Piastri fifth, on the slower mediums, and behind Williams' Alex Albon.
Leclerc's teammate and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was only ninth on the time sheets after going airborne over the kerbs at the swimming pool exit and possibly damaging his car's floor.
Mercedes' George Russell was sixth fastest with Williams' Carlos Sainz seventh and Alpine's Pierre Gasly eighth.

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TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Russell says Albon has more to pay after lobster dinner
George Russell says Alex Albon owes him because the tab for a lobster pasta dinner picked up by his friend and Formula One rival after the Monaco Grand Prix was not enough to make amends for the race. Mercedes driver Russell finished 11th last Sunday with Albon ninth and Williams teammate Carlos Sainz 10th, the pair using strategy to defend their scoring positions on an afternoon without overtaking. Russell, who had scored points in every round up to Monaco, said afterwards Albon would pay for dinner and the Thai obliged. "He ordered the most expensive thing on the menu," Albon told reporters hungry for more detail at the Spanish Grand Prix. "He did. It was the lobster pasta. Lobster pasta in Monaco is not cheap. On race weekends they bump up the prices everywhere." Albon said he chose a carbonara, admittedly with wagyu beef, and Russell skipped dessert. Asked whether it had been an expensive restaurant, Russell suggested Albon escaped lightly. "Not expensive enough. So, the bill is definitely not even yet," he said.


Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Snappy Norris denies change to title approach
BARCELONA - A snappy Lando Norris on Thursday claimed he has not changed his approach to racing despite receiving much praise for his cool and measured maiden Monaco triumph last Sunday. His win for McLaren lifted him to within three points of team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri and ended a six-race winless run since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. But when reminded that he could regain the leadership of the title race on Sunday, he stressed: "It's not something I look at." Speaking to reporters at the Circuit de Catalunya ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, Norris said: "I think you ask me this question every week, and it's the same answer. "Like I say always, it's a great feeling to be in the lead of the championship and to have more points than everyone, but again it's not something I look at. "It's not something that changes anything I do day to day. "It doesn't change how hard I work or what I try to achieve. I'll just try and win this weekend and I'll try and win in Montreal and then I'll try and win in Austria. "It's got nothing to do with what position I am." 'WHOLE GRID CAN WIN' His weary reply reflected some of the fatigue of the F1 circus as they gathered for the third and final event of a demanding European 'triple-header' of races in Italy, Monaco and Spain. It also extended to ridiculing one reporter's question that suggested the title race came down to his duel with Piastri and was effectively a 'two-horse' race. "Mathematically, the whole grid can still win the championship at the minute," he replied. "So if you think it's just out of me in Oscar, then I think you're a bit silly.' He went on to explain that other teams and drivers, including defending four-time champion Max Verstappen, remained strong contenders after only eight of this year's 24 races. "I think there are plenty of opportunities," he said. "Max can still win. Ferrari, I expect them to get better through the season. But, come on, we're racing Max every weekend. He's been on the podium several times. "He's won races, he beat us in Imola fair and square because he was quicker. So, I don't know what possibly makes you think that it's only out of me and Oscar." Norris may have appeared 'thin-skinned' knowing that McLaren could lose some performance this weekend with the introduction of strict tests of front wing flexibility for all cars – an area rivals believe has given the champion team an advantage. Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur suggested the new ruling could be a "game changer". Norris may also have recalled that Verstappen, who is seeking his fourth consecutive Spanish triumph on one of his favourite circuits, beat him last year when he wasted pole position.

TimesLIVE
5 hours ago
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McLaren not alone in F1 drivers' title fight, says Norris
Lando Norris can retake the Formula One championship lead from Oscar Piastri in Spain this weekend but both said Max Verstappen remained a threat and the battle was not just a duel between McLaren teammates. McLaren's top two are separated by three points in the standings after eight of 24 races and the champions have won six times this year — Piastri with four to Norris' two. Norris led for the first time after winning the season opener in Melbourne before ceding the advantage to Piastri in round five in Saudi Arabia but closed the gap again by winning in Monaco last Sunday. Red Bull's Verstappen, the four-time world champion, has won twice and is third, 25 points behind Piastri. 'Mathematically, probably the whole grid can win the championship. There's plenty of opportunities,' said Norris. 'Max can still win, I think Ferrari — I expect them to get better into the season. 'Max has been on the podium several times, he's won races, he beat us in Imola fair and square because he was quicker. I don't know what possibly makes you think it's only between us [McLaren drivers],' added Norris. Spain is a favourite track for Verstappen, the place where he won for the first time in 2016, and Piastri expects the Dutch driver to do well again on Sunday.