Ferrari have laid down an early marker ahead at the Monaco Grand Prix with Charles Leclerc going quickest in the first practice session just ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton.
Oscar Piastri was only eighth in Friday's first session in his McLaren, clocking a 1min 15.565sec lap, well down on home favourite Leclerc's pacesetting 1:13.978.
After five rounds of Mercedes dominance, the return to Europe on the twisty principality street circuit has been tipped as an opportunity for rival teams to level the playing field.
The early signs were encouraging as local favourite Leclerc, winner in 2024 and runner-up last year, delighted the home fans.
Three-times Monaco winner Hamilton, still hunting his first victory since joining Ferrari before the start of last season, embraced the glamour of the Monaco race with a dazzling sparkly pink helmet and went second, 0.226 seconds behind.
