Monaco. The name alone sends shivers down the spine of every F1 fan, and today’s FP3 was a full-on emotional rollercoaster. If you thought you could just sip your espresso and watch a calm Saturday morning session, you were so, so wrong. From Charles Leclerc’s home heroics to rookie carnage and a Red Bull wobble, the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix FP3 was pure, unfiltered Formula 1 drama. Buckle up, because this is the story you’ll be telling your friends (and your dog, if you’re like me) for years.
The Streets Are Alive: Leclerc Lights Up Monaco
Let’s start with the obvious: Charles Leclerc is on another planet this weekend. The Monegasque driver, already a local legend after his 2024 win, absolutely owned FP3. The Ferrari looked glued to the track, and Leclerc’s confidence was off the charts. He topped the timesheets with a blistering 1:10.953, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and making every Ferrari fan (and even a few Red Bull diehards like me) stand up and cheer.
Monaco is always very special, not just to me but to anyone driving on this track. On Fridays, everyone is taking their reference points. It’s still too early to feel very confident for the weekend, but it has been a positive first day on track for us. Our one-lap pace was strong and I felt comfortable in the car, no matter which compound we were running on.
Charles Leclerc
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Leclerc had a wild moment in FP1, running wide and even colliding with Lance Stroll, damaging his front wing. But like a true champion, he bounced back, and by FP3 he was untouchable. The Ferrari’s pace is the talk of the paddock, and for once, it’s not just hype.
McLaren’s Messy Masterclass: Piastri and Norris Bring the Drama
If you’re an Oscar Piastri fan, you probably aged five years in the last hour. The Aussie was rapid, finishing just 0.038s behind Leclerc, but his session was anything but clean. Piastri slid into the barriers at Sainte Devote, breaking his front wing and bringing out the red flags. The McLaren crew worked overtime to get him back out, and he repaid them with a lap that put him right on Leclerc’s heels.
A trickier day. We come away from it feeling quite good, but it’s been one of the tougher Fridays. We’ve got some things to still go over and try to improve, but I think we’re in decent shape. Thanks to the team for the quick turnaround to get me back on track.
Oscar Piastri
Lando Norris, meanwhile, was quietly consistent, ending up P4. He struggled with traffic (because, Monaco), but the McLaren looks like a genuine threat for pole. If you missed the chaos, check out the full session breakdown here: F1 Monaco 2025 Grand Prix practice results – The Race
Rookie Mayhem: Bearman’s Penalty and the Bulls’ Wild Ride
Monaco is brutal on rookies, and FP3 was a masterclass in why. Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) both kissed the barriers—twice. The session was interrupted by two red flags, and the rookie nerves were on full display. But the biggest drama? Ollie Bearman (Haas) got slapped with a 10-place grid penalty for overtaking under red flag conditions. Ouch.
We made a good step with the car and I am happy with the balance. There were some good signs from today so let’s try and build on them.
Ollie Bearman
Bearman’s penalty is a killer at Monaco, where overtaking is basically a myth. The Haas looked decent, but starting at the back is a death sentence here. Meanwhile, the Racing Bulls were shockingly quick—Lawson and Hadjar finished P5 and P6, ahead of some big names. If you want to see the full rookie carnage, check out the session highlights: Surprise leader as Piastri crashes in ‘very messy day’, Max fumes at …
Red Bull’s Reality Check: Verstappen and Tsunoda Struggle
Okay, Red Bull fans, let’s talk. This wasn’t the session we wanted. Max Verstappen, usually the king of street circuits, was only P10 in FP2 and struggled with traffic and setup. The RB21 just didn’t look comfortable, and Verstappen was fuming on the radio about dangerous driving and impeding. Yuki Tsunoda was right behind him, but neither looked like a threat for pole.
Monaco is always quite tricky with traffic. I think there were moments where it was quite dangerous, which isn’t ideal. I know it is practice but it could have been worse if you don’t back out of it quickly and don’t read the situation. In terms of how we are looking for the weekend, I think FP1 was quite positive but then we made some changes for FP2. We looked at how far we could push the balance and I think we just overdid it a little bit and I couldn’t attack the corners as much as I would have liked to. We were shedding a lot of pace and lap time. I don’t expect us to be the quickest, but we of course want to be a lot closer similar to what we were like in FP2. We could be a lot closer but the Ferraris again were looking fast and the McLarens were close behind. If you see over the whole season the pace, Ferrari has taken a big step forward here.
Max Verstappen
It’s a rare sight to see Red Bull on the back foot, but Monaco has a way of humbling even the best. The team will need a miracle in qualifying to get back in the fight.
Ferrari’s Double Threat: Hamilton Bounces Back
Let’s not forget Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time champ is loving life in red, and he was right up there in P3. Hamilton had his own wild moments—clipping the barriers and even launching his car over the sausage kerbs at the Swimming Pool—but he kept it together when it mattered. Ferrari suddenly looks like the team to beat, and the vibe in the garage is electric.
It’s been a positive day. This track is always a challenge but in the best way, and experiencing it in a Ferrari makes it even more special. We completed our programme and gathered a lot of useful data which we’ll continue working through tomorrow. The pace felt promising overall; however, there’s still time to find. I’m getting a good feeling from the car and the balance is not bad, so I’m looking forward to building on this as the weekend goes on.
Lewis Hamilton
Engineering Corner: Why Monaco Eats Rookies for Breakfast
Let’s get nerdy for a second. Monaco is the ultimate test of precision. The circuit is only 3.337 km long, but it packs 19 corners, zero run-off, and more bumps than my dog Vettel’s tail after a Red Bull win. The cars run maximum downforce, ultra-soft suspension, and the steering racks are custom-built for the hairpins. One millimeter off-line and you’re in the wall.
Historically, Monaco’s practice sessions are chaos magnets. Remember Sergio Pérez’s monster crash in 2011? Or Michael Schumacher’s infamous “Rascasse stop” in 2006? Even legends get bitten here. Today’s rookie carnage is just the latest chapter in a long, brutal tradition.
The Human Drama: Pressure, Home Heroes, and the Weight of History
What makes Monaco so emotional isn’t just the glitz and glamour—it’s the pressure. For Leclerc, racing at home is a double-edged sword. The crowd expects magic, and every mistake is magnified. For rookies, it’s a baptism by fire. For veterans like Hamilton and Alonso, it’s a chance to remind everyone why they’re legends.
And for the fans? It’s pure adrenaline. Every lap, every brush with the wall, every radio meltdown—it’s why we love this sport. If you want to relive the best moments, check out the highlights and analysis here: What the teams said – Friday at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix – F1
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Want more Monaco madness? Dive into these must-see links:
- F1 Monaco 2025 Grand Prix practice results – The Race
- Surprise leader as Piastri crashes in ‘very messy day’, Max fumes at …
- 2025 F1 Monaco Grand Prix – Free Practice 2 results
- Monaco GP: Charles Leclerc fastest from Max Verstappen despite …
