Hamilton fastest but Leclerc expects 'tight qualifying'

Article excerpt

Lewis Hamilton clocked the fastest time in Friday practice at Monaco, but Ferrari's Charles Leclerc expects the qualifying battle to be closely contested. Ferrari dominated the opening day of running on the tight Street Circuit, with both the Scuderia's drivers posting competitive times despite Hamilton's headline pace. The session's traditional Friday volatility, where teams dial in setups and fuel loads vary, leaves major questions about Saturday's qualifying order. Leclerc's cautious assessment suggests Ferrari believes it has genuine speed to challenge, even if the Mercedes driver's watch showed quickest on the day.