F1 heads to the streets of Monte-Carlo next up for round eight of the 2025 season, the Monaco Grand Prix.
Max Verstappen claimed an impressive victory last time out in Imola, overtaking pole-sitter Oscar Piastri at the start and securing his second victory of the season. McLaren’s Lando Norris beat teammate Piastri to second. Yet after seven rounds, Piastri still has a 13-point lead in the world championship.
Lewis Hamilton salvaged a fourth-place finish for Ferrari after a disastrous qualifying in front of the Italian fans, while Charles Leclerc finished sixth. George Russell, who qualified third, endured a race to forget and came home second.
Last year, on the tight twists and turns of Monaco, Leclerc won his home race amid jubilant scenes in the principality. This year, a mandatory two-pit-stop rule should shake things up come raceday.
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F1 MONACO GRAND PRIX - LATEST UPDATES
- Qualifying in Monaco is at 3pm (BST) on Saturday
- Lewis Hamilton crashed at the end of FP3 for Ferrari
- Charles Leclerc was quickest in all three practice sessions
- PREVIEW: F1 rolls the dice with new Monaco GP rule - can it save the race?
- EXCLUSIVE - George Russell: ‘F1 is riding a wave – but it won’t take much for it to come crashing down’
Lewis Hamilton:
13:07
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Kieran Jackson
So the front-right tyre is off, with the front of the car damaged, but Hamilton’s car should be fine for qualifying.
Lunch might be cancelled in his garage though!
Monaco GP start times:
12:55
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Kieran Jackson
All times BST
Saturday 24 May
- Qualifying: 3pm
Sunday 25 May
- Race: 2pm
Charles Leclerc quickest in FP3!
12:45
Regardless of Hamilton’s crash, Leclerc was quickest again for Ferrari - a 1:10:953, two-tenths quicker than Max Verstappen in second!
3-10: Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, Albon, Lawson, Sainz, Tsunoda, Antonelli
Meanwhile, Franco Colapinto has been noted for a potential red flag infringement... has he done an Ollie Bearman and overtaken someone?!
VIDEO: Hamilton crash!
12:39
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Kieran Jackson
Hamilton hit the barriers at Massenet #F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/BVPeEmsjrn
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 24, 2025
Lewis Hamilton:
12:31
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Kieran Jackson
“F*** guys, I hit the wall. Damn, sorry guys.”
He hit the wall heading up the hill into Casino Square, just a slight error sending the car into the wall!
Hamilton is all OK, and will be walking back to the paddock.
Lewis Hamilton crashes in Casino Square!
12:29
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Kieran Jackson
Hamilton has stopped and is missing his front-right tyre!
RED FLAG! Session over.
Max Verstappen:
12:28
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Kieran Jackson
“F***ed turn 1 already, undriveable with these tyres.”
Charles Leclerc goes P1!
12:25
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Kieran Jackson
A smattering of applause in the grandstands as the local man goes quickest with a 1:11:179, 0.054 seconds quicker than Verstappen.
Can the Dutchman respond in the closing stages?!
Lando Norris stays P3!
12:22
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Kieran Jackson
Norris fell away towards the end of his lap, and remains P3.
Interestingly, Verstappen’s P1 time was set on the medium tyres! Can that be the solution for qualifying later?
10:00 to go in FP3...
1-10: Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, Hamilton, Piastri, Albon, Sainz, Tsunoda, Antonelli, Russell
Max Verstappen:
12:16
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Kieran Jackson
“A lot of sliding in turn 8 and the last corner.”
But he’s still in P1 by two-tenths to Leclerc!
Max Verstappen up to P1!
12:06
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Kieran Jackson
Top of the leaderboard changing all the time, with Max Verstappen now two-tenths clear at the top from Leclerc!
3-10: Norris, Hamilton, Albon, Tsundoa, Russell, Piastri, Antonelli, Sainz
A few blocking incidents again! It’s busy out there!
Charles Leclerc quickest after 20 minutes!
11:52
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Kieran Jackson
OK, now most cars are out on track and the times are tumbling!
Leclerc P1 for now with a 1:12:712, two-tenths quicker than a surprise name of Lance Stroll in second, on mediums!
Norris third, Verstappen fourth, Tsunoda fifth.
Nico Hulkenberg quickest so far!
11:46
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Kieran Jackson
Not many cars out on track at the start of the session, with the Sauber driver quickest out of the seven drivers to set a hot lap so far!
Hamilton: “The rear is sliding a lot.”
FP3 underway!
11:30
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Kieran Jackson
The sun is shining in Monte-Carlo and we’re underway with the third and final hour of practice here!
FP3 coming up!
11:28
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Kieran Jackson
We’re just a few minutes away from third practice - and the final hour of practice for the 20-driver grid ahead of a key qualifying session this afternoon!
Can Charles Leclerc make it 3/3 at the top in practice?
Lewis Hamilton, after going third-fastest in FP2:
11:26
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Kieran Jackson
“It was amazing, so cool. Coolest track to drive, every year is such a blast. It’s nice when you’re in a car which feels good and quick, it’s the best rollercoaster ride of the year.”
An upbeat Lewis!
Jenson Button on Ferrari's pace in Friday practice:
11:19
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Kieran Jackson
“It’s a massive surprise, even for the drivers. Still, Charles - he can wrangle it around here. You need a pointy front end to get it into the corners.”
Mercedes team representative Bradley Lord, speaking to Sky F1:
11:08
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Kieran Jackson
On Russell: “He’s definitely stepped up into that leader role - he’s like the big brother, Kimi is the little brother. He’s maximised what we’ve got, scoring podiums when available.
On Russell’s contract: “In no rush, we manage George’s career as well as being the team he drives for! There’s no pressure. At the right time, him and Toto will sit down, it won’t take them long to thrash it out.”
Here's the top-10 in FP2 last night:
10:45
P1) Leclerc
P2) Piastri +0.038
P3) Hamilton +0.105
P4) Norris +0.322
P5) Lawson +0.468
P6) Hadjar +0.487
P7) Alonso +0.535
P8) Albon +0.563
P9) Antonelli +0.647
P10) Verstappen +0.713
VIDEO: Verstappen reacts to win in Imola and first-lap overtake
09:00
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Kieran Jackson
Martin Brundle on Ferrari in Monaco:
03:00
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Kieran Jackson
“Charles has the historical experience with Ferrari, this year he has a car good in high speed, not low speed.
“The driver can make the difference here. Lewis is gun-ho, he’s mighty around this racetrack.”
Charles Leclerc insists Ferrari won't 'give up' on 2025 season
Saturday 24 May 2025 00:02
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Kieran Jackson
“No, we definitely don’t want to give up now” the Monegasque said ahead of his home race.
“I mean, we’re getting to mid-season soon, but we cannot afford to give up now. We’ve seen last year the situation changed a lot since when McLaren brought those upgrades.
“I believe that in Barcelona will be another very important point of the season with this new regulation on the front wings, and then we’ll see whether it benefits us or not.”
Lewis Hamilton nervous about reaction to new F1 film but planning more projects
Friday 23 May 2025 21:00
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Kieran Jackson
The grid’s stars were given an exclusive screening of the action movie, titled F1, on Wednesday at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco ahead of this weekend’s grand prix.
“All of a sudden, I’ve got all the drivers there, I was sat in the middle and I was nervous,” Hamilton said.
“I was like, ‘oh God everyone’s seeing it for the first time’. And it was great to look around and see some of the reactions. I really care what the drivers think and I wanted them to think highly of it.
“I think the great thing is the sound is great, the image is incredible. It’s something that’s never been done in Formula One before. So it’s something I’m really proud of.”
Stroll gets one-place grid drop!
Friday 23 May 2025 18:00
A reminder of news from earlier: Lance Stroll has been handed a one-place grid penalty for the collision with Charles Leclerc at Turn 6 during FP1 in Monaco.
Max Verstappen did not attend Monaco screening of F1 movie
Friday 23 May 2025 17:45
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Kieran Jackson
Verstappen did not attend the screening, opting to spend “private time” with his family including newborn daughter Lily.
"I wanted to spend more private time," he said. "There was the opportunity to watch it but if we watch it now or in three or four weeks its fine as well."
Oscar Piastri up to P2!
Friday 23 May 2025 16:54
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Kieran Jackson
Piastri back out on softs and a mere 0.038 secs off Leclerc in P1!
Isack Hadjar hits the wall!
Friday 23 May 2025 16:53
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Kieran Jackson
Hadjar hits the wall again, this time at turn 1!
He’s able to get the car round to the pits though, just a bit of bodywork damage!
Charles Leclerc quickest!
Friday 23 May 2025 16:40
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Kieran Jackson
Green flag conditions again and Leclerc is quickest, with a 1;11:355 - 0.322 secs quicker than Norris in second!
3-10: Hamilton, Alonso, Albon, Verstappen, Sainz, Piastri, Bearman
VIDEO: Here's Hadjar's crash!
Friday 23 May 2025 16:26
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Kieran Jackson
Here's the moment Hadjar hit the barriers #F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/U6AiCwX3aa
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 23, 2025
Oscar Piastri crashes!
Friday 23 May 2025 16:22
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Kieran Jackson
Piastri in the wall at Sainte-Devote!
He manages to reverse out and will make his way back to the pits without a front wing!
A big direct hit!
RED FLAG with 40 minutes left!
FP2 back underway!
Friday 23 May 2025 16:16
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Kieran Jackson
Hadjar makes his way to the pits without a tyre and, with the bits of debris all collected by the marshals, we’re back underway!
RED FLAG!
Friday 23 May 2025 16:10
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Kieran Jackson
Isack Hadjar has hit the tunnel at the chicane after the tunnel!
The RB has slid into the barrier, and his left-rear tyre has flown off!
Max Verstappen:
Friday 23 May 2025 16:07
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Kieran Jackson
“Please fix the upshifts.”
Verstappen has also enquired about his helmet and visor at the start of this session..
FP2 underway!
Friday 23 May 2025 16:00
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Kieran Jackson
Drivers will be doing their usual qualifying simulation laps this afternoon - with the similar track and time conditions to tomorrow - in this second hour of practice in Monaco!
A close shave for Lewis in FP1!
Friday 23 May 2025 15:46
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Kieran Jackson