Leclerc fastest, Hamilton third as Ferrari set impressive Monaco pace

Charles Leclerc finished fastest and Lewis Hamilton was third as Ferrari set an eye-catching pace in Practice Two to cap an impressive Friday at the Monaco Grand Prix.

Despite Leclerc having stressed on Thursday that Ferrari's 2025 car was unlikely to be as suited to the low-speed twists and turns of Monaco as last year's, when he claimed pole and won his home race, the Monegasque still topped both of Friday's practice sessions.

Leclerc set a best lap of 1:11.355 in the second session to narrowly finish ahead of McLaren's championship-leading Oscar Piastri and Ferrari team-mate Hamilton at the head of the timesheet.

• Monaco GP: Schedule and how to watch on Sky
• How will Monaco's new extra-pit stop rule impact the race?
• F1 2025 schedule | F1 championship standings
• Got Sky? Watch F1 races LIVE on your phone!
• Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW

"Ferrari are the big story," said Sky Sports F1's Karun Chandhok.

"This is a very impressive day considering the expectations coming in."

A late fast lap saw Piastri split the Ferraris, the Australian recovering well after a rare mistake saw him run straight into the barriers at Ste Devote, the iconic track's opening corner.

The impact broke the front wing on Piastri's car but he was able to make it back to the pit lane and, following repairs, steadily moved his way back up the timesheet to eventually finish just 0.038s behind Leclerc.

Hamilton, a three-time winner in Monaco, was 0.105s behind Ferrari team-mate Leclerc in third.

Lando Norris finished fourth in the second McLaren, ahead of the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar who both finished in the top six. Hadjar was sixth despite twice hitting Monaco's omnipresent barriers.

But the senior Red Bull team, meanwhile, experienced another difficult Friday with world championship and Imola victor Max Verstappen only 10th, just one place and one tenth ahead of team-mate Yuki Tsunoda.

Mercedes also appeared to struggle, finishing ninth and 12th with Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, respectively.

More to follow…

Sky Sports F1's Monaco GP schedule

Saturday May 24
9.40am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Monaco GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.10pm: Monaco GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: MONACO GP QUALIFYING
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday May 25
6.55am: F3 Feature Race
8.35am: F2 Feature Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Monaco GP build-up*
2pm: The MONACO GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Chequered Flag: Monaco GP reaction
5pm: Ted's Notebook
5.30pm: The Indy 500

*also live on Sky Sports Main Event

Next up in F1's European triple-header is the 'Jewel in the Crown', the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend, with coverage starting on Friday live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime