Max third in Monaco after Friday practice: 'Positive day'

Published on 05 June 2026 by Stefan Meens

After being third fastest in the opening practice session of the Monaco Grand Prix, Max Verstappen ended Friday practice in third yet again following a strong FP2. The Ferraris set the pace with Lewis Hamilton being marginally quicker than his Monegasque teammate Charles Leclerc.

“It was a positive day to be honest. I felt good in the car, and we made progress in FP2. It’s now a case of finetuning. I’m happy with the car, but you always want more. So let’s see what we can do tomorrow.”

Like FP1, every driver, apart from Max’s teammate Isack Hadjar, heads out on track to make the most of their practice time on the tight twists and turns of the Monte Carlo streets. The Red Bull Racing driver has to patiently wait until his mechanics have put together the RB22 following the Frenchman’s shunt in the morning practice session.

Meanwhile, Max hits the ground running and is quickest after the first quarter of the session. Max topping the timing sheets coincides with Lando Norris being forced to end his session early as the reigning champ’s McLaren grinds to a halt. After a brief virtual safety car, allowing the marshals to retrieve the stricken McLaren, the session resumes with Hamilton setting the fastest lap thus far.

With half an hour to go, more and more drivers head out on the soft Pirelli tyres, making the lap times go quicker as both grip levels and confidence go up. Max is enjoying the red side-walled tyres and clocks a 1:13.1. Only the Ferraris go quicker with Hamilton outpacing Leclerc.

In the closing stages, the lap times are no longer bettered as the teams have shifted their focus to long runs. Nevertheless, there is red flag right at the end of the session, with five minutes remaining; one of the brakes on Sergio Perez’s Cadillac has caught fire, forcing the Mexican to stop his car for the marshals to use their extinguishers.

The session is resumed with two minutes to go, allowing drivers another single timed lap before the chequered flag drops to signal the end of Friday practice.

Results second free practice Monaco: