Leclerc sets pace in final Monaco Grand Prix practice, Hamilton hits wall

Charles Leclerc went fastest for Ferrari as team mate Lewis Hamilton crashed in final Monaco Grand Prix practice on Saturday.

Leclerc, who has taken pole position in three of the last four Monaco Grands Prix and won last year, led both Friday sessions around his home circuit and completed the sweep with a lap of 1:10.953 seconds.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen was second, 0.280 slower but on the medium tyres compared to Leclerc's softs, followed by the McLarens of Lando Norris (+0.294) and Formula One championship leader Oscar Piastri (+0.445).

Australian Piastri leads Norris by 13 points after seven of 24 races.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton was fifth fastest but hit the wall on the approach to Casino Square, after coming up fast behind traffic, with two minutes remaining and the session then red-flagged.

“Damn, hit the wall. Sorry guys,” said the three-time Monaco winner over the radio.

The car was missing a front-right tyre, and had the wrap from an advertising hoarding wrapped around the right rear, with Ferrari mechanics facing a race against the clock to fix the damage before qualifying.

Liam Lawson was seventh for Racing Bulls ahead of Williams's Carlos Sainz, Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda and Mercedes's Kimi Antonelli.

Qualifying was due to start at 1400 GMT, with pole crucial at a circuit where overtaking has been extremely difficult and an extra, second mandatory stop has been introduced this year.