P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Monaco Grand Prix practice offered strong evidence that this weekend could be Mercedes’ first defeat of the 2026 Formula 1 season
The Monaco Grand Prix practice sessions indicated a potential Mercedes defeat in the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Ferrari showing strong performance. Ferrari secured a 1-2 finish in both sessions, displaying clear pace advantage over Mercedes and McLaren, yet a less dominant edge over Red Bull.
McLaren faced setbacks with Lando Norris’s early halt in FP2 and Oscar Piastri’s lagging times, raising concerns for the team’s performance in Monaco. The previously successful McLaren in Miami now seems like a distant memory with their struggles in Canada, giving Ferrari a chance to extend their lead in the constructors’ battle.
Isack Hadjar, despite finishing 6th, faced challenges in Monaco after crashing in FP1, affecting his confidence and practice time. Hadjar acknowledged the need to regain confidence and improve his performance, especially to match his teammate Max Verstappen’s pace.
Max Verstappen emerged as a winner with an impressive performance in Monaco, securing third place in both practice sessions and positioning Red Bull competitively despite Monaco not being historically their strongest circuit. Verstappen’s strong Friday performance sets up Red Bull for a potential competitive weekend in Monaco.
