Max Verstappen RAGES in Monaco Grand Prix practice as MASSIVE crash ends Free Practice 1

Monaco Grand Prix

6 reacties

Verstappen RAGES in Monaco GP practice as MASSIVE crash ends FP1

Max Verstappen was far from happy with his Red Bull during FP1 in Monaco

Matthew Hobkinson Lead Editor

F1 Editor & Journalist

Friday 26 May 2023 15:02 Updated: 16:53

Carlos Sainz set an early marker in Monaco after he finished fastest in Free Practice 1 for the Monaco Grand Prix in a disrupted session that left Max Verstappen frustrated in the Red Bull.

Sainz finished with a time of one-minute 13.372secs, ahead of Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton in second and third respectively.

Things were not looking good for Verstappen from the start. Having initially struggled with his clutch on the way to the track, the Dutchman then complained about how his car was “unbelievably difficult to drive”.

Article continues under video

The two-time world champion was sent back to the pits and despite spending a prolonged period in the garage, Verstappen was still not happy with the changes made.

Throwing his hands up in the car and shaking his head, the Red Bull driver finished in sixth as the second red flag of the session caused an early finish.

Alex Albon, who was running in P10 at the time, crashed at turn one in a nasty looking collision with the barriers that brought the session to an early end. Thankfully the Williams man confirmed on team radio that he was okay.

George Russell struggled in the Mercedes compared to Hamilton, as he ended 15th and a second behind his team-mate. Complaints over a lack of rear grip and tyre temperature will leave the Silver Arrows with plenty to do before FP2.

Last year's pole-sitter Charles Leclerc was set for a lap on par with Sainz prior to the red flag. The Monegasque would eventually settle for 5th fastest.

Zak Brown would have been relieved to see Lando Norris finish in seventh, yet will be hoping for an improved showing from Oscar Piastri, who ended the session down in 17th.

Haas did not have the best start to their 150th grand prix weekend, as Nico Hulkenberg caused an earlier red flag to be waved in the session after he span out at the chicane to leave debris on the track.

Teams will now have just a few hours to make any tweaks and changes ahead of FP2.