F1 Monaco GP live commentary and updates - FP2
Updates from the second free practice session at the Monaco Grand Prix
Live Commentary
By: Jake Boxall-Legge
With FP2 in the books, that's all from us for today!
Stay across Autosport for the latest features and analysis through the weekend, and Motorsport.com for your latest F1 updates and our own Race Center Live during qualifying and the race.
And, of course, we'll have coverage from F1's Monaco Grand Prix, MotoGP's British Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and NASCAR Cup's Coca-Cola 600. Stick with us through the weekend!
George Russell, Mercedes
Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
Ferrari and McLaren out front but, when the Racing Bulls isn't in a wall, it seems to be pretty speedy. Aston Martin and Williams seem to be in a decent spot too, if they can carry that on for tomorrow.
Monaco GP FP2 is complete, Leclerc fastest
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
It's a Friday clean sweep for Charles Leclerc, who finishes the day 0.038s clear of Oscar Piastri - which was last year's front row.
Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris, Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, Kimi Antonelli, and Max Verstappen complete the top 10.
Piastri's up to second now, 0.038s behind Leclerc. McLaren is still in the hunt here, but Leclerc's not done a lap in similar track conditions.
Top 19 separated by 1.2s, with Colapinto another 0.8s behind.
Verstappen's come to a stop on the entry of Mirabeau, and he's struggled to find reverse. He's got the car going again - Red Bull really struggling around here.
Both Racing Bulls are above the 'parent' team, as it stands.
Door left Hadjar for rookie errors
Hadjar's crabbing - he's knocked the Turn 1 barrier. His front left had some advertising hoarding stuck to it, but his car's rear left is just at a completely skewwhiff angle here.
He's not caused a red flag this time, so that's something...
Piastri's recovered from his earlier wobble to grab the third-fastest time, just 0.004s clear of Norris. The Ferraris are still way out in front at the moment.
Hamilton gets up to second, setting a 1m11.460s to sit just 0.1s off Leclerc. Any more for any more, or is that the hot-lappery over?
No takers so far to beat Leclerc's time - Norris gets to 0.322s off the Ferrari driver's benchmark.
For a brief period Leclerc was going even quicker, but his second and third sector on his most recent lap wasn't quite good enough to beat his previous best. Meanwhile, Lawson gets up to third.
Another one! Leclerc reels off a 1m11.355s to go even faster - he's got a nice spot on track and he's finding a little bit here, a little bit there.
Norris is second, 0.482s off Leclerc's times - Ferrari played down its chances here, but it's looking pretty handy!
Here's Leclerc, with a 1m11.414s to go fastest. That's a statement lap from the Ferrari driver - his team-mate gets a bit stuck behind Hadjar while trying to start his own lap.
The Briton gets a small lock-up at Mirabeau and backs out on his own attempt.
Alonso does a 1m12.087s on the softs, but that's beaten by Hamilton's used medium time of a 1m12.025s.
Earlier red flag producers Piastri and Hadjar are circulating having both got back to the garage.
With another run, Alonso finds even more time - a 1m11.890s as he gets into the 71-second bracket.
FP2 resumes after Piastri's barrier scuffle
We're going again, with the Mercs, the Williamses, the Haases, and Lawson on the road.
We also get a replay of Verstappen taking a dim view of traffic at the Swimming Pool - Tsunoda and Bortoleto weren't exactly looking speedy through there...
Just one more minute until we get going again, mainly just to sweep up debris and fluff up the barriers once more.
You don't often see Piastri making errors, like, ever. He just went too late on the brakes, locked up, and couldn't get the steering into the run-off.
Piastri posts a 1m12.548s as Verstappen's pre-red best falls. Antonelli posts a good lap to go just 0.039s behind, but Leclerc's on a flyer on the hard tyre - and it's a 1m12.103s.
Immediately after, Piastri then puts his car in the wall - going straight on at Sainte Devote! He's lost his front wing, and there's a red flag.
Verstappen is a very detail-oriented man, and he's currently debating the 'quality' of his helmet tear-off strips - he's already asked if his visor had been changed between sessions.
Alonso goes fourth with a 1m13.199s, but there's drivers turning up the wick now on the mediums.
Red flag, green flag
FP2 is back up and running after the Hadjar wall-bang. Hulkenberg is first to hit the road, with Bortoleto and Sainz also out onto the road.
Hadjar brings his car back to the pits - debris will be cleared up, and then we should be up and running again pretty quickly.
Hadjar hits the wall at Nouvelle Chicane
Racing Bulls' French rookie finds the limit of the wall - Hadjar clips the inside barrier into the chicane and knocks the tyre off his wheel rim. Red flag called, although he's able to get moving.
We said the turnarounds would be quick - the McLarens sweep to the top on low 1m13s, but that's still some way off of FP1's times.
Verstappen sets a 1m12.922s in the meantime to go fastest - although asks for a fix with his upshifts.
Lawson indeed opens the running with a 1m16.879s - but that's going to be beaten very quickly. Hamilton does a 1m14.962s as his sighter on mediums - Leclerc then goes a smidge quicker.
FP2 begins at Monaco
Liam Lawson is first to hit the road, follwed by Alex Albon and the two Haas drivers. Tentative exits from the pitlane, as every driver wants a bit of space.
The Saubers are trying to sneak out of the garage, but find short shrift from the other drivers.
Not long to go now until FP2 gets up and running - we're expecting some exploratory laps to kick off, before the C6s go on for some spins at a quali lap!
Portier: Then and now
Monaco's changed a lot in the past 20 years. Didn't that corner before the tunnel have sea next to it?
David Coulthard
Photo by: Red Bull Racing
Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
FP1 recap - Leclerc top despite Stroll skirmish
Charles Leclerc had quite the first hour of running on his home streets - he hit a dawdling Lance Stroll at the hairpin, later found his car was understeering in one direction and oversteering the other - but still came away with the fastest time - a 1m11.964s.
This put the Monegasque above Max Verstappen, Lando Norris, Alex Albon, and Oscar Piastri.
Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images via Getty Images
In other news, Stroll has copped a one-place grid penalty to be applied after qualifying, having been found to be at fault for the incident with Leclerc.
FP2 session at Monaco starts shortly
Welcome back to our live coverage of F1 events as they occur - FP2's the next cab off the rank, so hopefully we'll get a bit of a bead on Saturday with quali sims before the usual race runs occur on Sunday.
Top Comments
Trending
Latest news
Corey Lajoie regrets '12 fans' comment he made about lower NASCAR divisions
As three riders reach Q2, could KTM finally surprise in Aragon MotoGP race?
Sebastien Ogier leads WRC Rally Sardinia after Thierry Neuville crashes out
