Red Bull is confirmed by Max Verstappen, Carlos Sainz is ruled out while Fernando Alonso worries in Monaco

Max Verstappen dispelled any doubts about Red Bull's performance in Monaco by setting the fastest time in the first free practice in Monte Carlo, with a time of 1:12.462. However, it is clear that Red Bull will face stiff competition.

Ferrari, despite Carlos Sainz's accident at the end of the session, demonstrated its great speed over one lap. Additionally, Aston Martin and Mercedes have also emerged as strong contenders. Each of these teams have shown strengths that should not be overlooked in this wildly unpredictable run of the season.

Fernando Alonso was fourth, but on his tenth lap and with traffic

Verstappen had a difficult start in his Red Bull, facing several problems during the first free practice. However, in the second session, he showed his dominance by recording the fastest time of the day on soft tyres. Sergio Pérez, on the other hand, finished seventh, raising doubts about Red Bull's performance at this circuit.

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F1 GP Monaco 2023 timetables: Dates, favorites and how to watch the race live on TV and online

At Ferrari, there have been positive and negative moments. The car seems very fast over one lap, which is crucial in Monaco, but the performance of the drivers raises questions. Sainz was in good form until his last-minute crash, and it remains to be seen how that will affect his confidence. For his part, Charles Leclerc recovered well at the last minute to climb to second place, but he seemed rather lost at the start of the session.

The difference between the second Ferrari, driven by Sainz and which was third, and Verstappen's car is only a tenth of a second. However, in Monaco there are several contenders for pole position, and Fernando Alonso must be considered among them. Not only did he finish fourth, just two tenths behind Verstappen, but the way he carried out his performance was also remarkable.

Alonso set his fastest lap on his tenth lap on soft tyres, meaning he never benefited from fresh tires or an empty fuel tank. In addition, he encountered a lot of traffic at the end of the lap, which certainly affected his time. Without these obstacles, he would probably have achieved a time similar to that of Verstappen.

It is important not to exclude Mercedes. Members of the Brackley team presented a new car with pontoons in Monaco, which gave them immediate best times, thanks in particular to Lewis Hamilton using medium and hard tires. They then improved their times with softer tyres. It is possible that this was a deliberate strategy by Mercedes, a situation they are used to.

The midfield also feels more competitive, with Lando Norris in fifth and the Alpine showing moments of brilliance, even though they eventually finished ninth and tenth. On the other hand, Lance Stroll and George Russell were disappointing, falling far behind their teammates throughout the day.

Results FP2 GP Monaco 2023