Lewis Hamilton starts a new era with Mercedes in Monaco. © APA/afp / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

Refurbished: Mercedes is entering a new era

A Ferrari driver set the fastest time in the first training session for the Grand Prix in Monaco. But the number one topic of conversation in the principality was something else.

26 May 2023

From: dpa

Charles Leclerc didn't get past fifth place at the start of training for his Formula 1 home race in Monaco. The 25-year-old Ferrari driver was also beaten by his teammate. Scuderia driver Carlos Sainz turned the fastest lap on the 3,337 kilometer long circuit on the Côte d'Azur on Friday.

He relegated his Spanish compatriot Fernando Alonso to second place in the Aston Martin, followed by record world champion Lewis Hamilton and last year's winner Sergio Perez in the Red Bull. His teammate, world champion Max Verstappen, took sixth place behind Leclerc. After Nico Hülkenberg (20th) caused a red phase in the one-hour session in the Haas, Alexander Albon (10th) demolished his Williams shortly before the end.

Mercedes heavily revised

Mercedes sent Hamilton and his British teammate George Russell (15th) onto the track in the heavily revised car. The changes were actually planned for Imola a week ago. The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix was canceled due to storms and severe flooding.

Lewis Hamilton raced to third place in the first training session. © APA/afp / JEFF PACHOUD

“We had no other choice,” said Mercedes' chief race engineer Andrew Shovlin in an update on the unusual circuit in Monaco. Among other things, the Silver Arrow, which was painted black again this year, received a new front wheel suspension, as well as a new underbody and, above all, new side boxes. The concept practically without this turned out to be unsuccessful in a year and a half; a new solution has been worked on since the start of this season. The goal is medium to long-term improvement, said Shovlin. The Grand Prix in Barcelona next week should provide more clarity about the new package.

Before the race on Sunday (15.00 p.m./Sky) in the Principality, seven-time champion Hamilton is in fourth place in the rankings (56 points). The leader is the two-time world champion Verstappen (119) ahead of Perez (105) and Alonso (75).