Ferrari and Leclerc look to win the Monaco GP Once Again

The streets of Monte Carlo are alive with anticipation as Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc showcased his mastery in both free practice sessions for the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, setting the stage for a potential hometown triumph. Leclerc, the Monegasque star, topped the timesheets in FP1 with a 1:11.355, fending off McLaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, despite an early incident with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll that briefly halted the session. His blistering pace continued in FP2, where he posted a 1:11.414, maintaining a commanding gap of nearly half a second over Norris. Ferrari’s SF-25, though struggling with pace on other tracks this season, seems to have found its sweet spot on Monaco’s low-speed, twisty layout, which Leclerc believes mitigates the car’s weaknesses. With qualifying being the critical battleground in Monaco due to limited overtaking opportunities, Leclerc’s precision and confidence on his home circuit—where he famously ended his “Monaco curse” with a 2024 victory—position him as the favorite for pole. The team’s data from Friday’s sessions suggests a stable setup, giving Leclerc a strong foundation to chase his second Monaco win and delight the Tifosi.

However, the road to victory is fraught with challenges, and Ferrari must execute flawlessly to convert their practice dominance into race-day success. Leclerc’s history in Monaco is a tale of brilliance and heartbreak—pole positions in 2021 and 2022 were squandered by mechanical issues and strategic missteps, respectively. This year, the new mandatory two-pit-stop rule adds a strategic twist, potentially disrupting the traditional Monaco procession and requiring Ferrari to adapt their game plan. Leclerc’s teammate, Lewis Hamilton, also showed promise in practice, slotting into P3 in FP2, which hints at Ferrari’s overall competitiveness. Yet, Leclerc’s concerns about the SF-25’s underlying performance issues linger, as he noted the car’s struggles on similar tracks in 2025. Red Bull’s Verstappen, despite trailing in practice and grappling with a nervous car on Monaco’s kerbs, remains a formidable threat, and McLaren’s consistent pace could capitalize on any Ferrari slip-up. If Leclerc can secure pole in Saturday’s crucial qualifying and Ferrari nails their strategy, the dream of a Monegasque hero hoisting the trophy on Sunday is tantalizingly within reach, promising an emotional repeat of his 2024 triumph.