Charles Leclerc set the pace from team-mate Lewis Hamilton in first practice as Ferrari strengthened their status as favourites for the Monaco Grand Prix weekend, with championship leaders Mercedes only fourth and fifth.

In the opening session around Formula 1's most-famous circuit on one of the sport's showpiece weekends, Ferrari's drivers were straight in a groove on a twisty track that had been tipped by rivals to particularly suit their 2026 car.

Monaco's own Leclerc - who earlier this week renewed his contract at the team - topped the session by 0.226s from Hamilton with a best lap of 1:13.978.

Mercedes have claimed every Grand Prix pole and race win so far this season but the feeling is that they will have their work cut out to extend those runs this weekend.

In addition to the flying Ferraris, Red Bull's Max Verstappen also outpaced the championship's top two - Kimi Antonelli and George Russell - to take third ahead of the two Silver Arrows, who finished 0.5s behind.

McLaren won last year's Monaco race with Lando Norris but finished the first session this time over one second behind Ferrari, with the reigning world champion sixth and Oscar Piastri eighth.

Two drivers crashed during the opening hour of running around the barrier-lined track.

Isack Hadjar lost control of his Red Bull exiting the higher-speed Swimming Pool section when the rear of his car got away from him, much to the Frenchman's surprise.

Two-time Monaco winner Fernando Alonso then hit the barriers in the session's closing minutes when braking for the harbourside chicane out of the tunnel, breaking his Aston Martin's front wing, although he was able to return to the pits.

Both incidents caused brief red flags in a session that saw numerous drivers find the run-off areas, including pacesetter Leclerc twice.

Friday June 5
2.05pm: F2 Qualifying
3pm: Team Bosses' Press Conference
3.30pm: Monaco GP Practice Two (session starts at 4pm)
5.15pm: The F1 Show

Saturday June 6
9.40am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Monaco GP Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Monaco GP Qualifying build-up
3pm: MONACO GP QUALIFYING*

Sunday June 7
6.50am: F3 Feature Race
8.30am: F2 Feature Race
10.50am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Monaco GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: THE MONACO GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Monaco GP reaction: Chequered Flag*

*Also on Sky Sports Main Event

Watch the Monaco Grand Prix, the first of six races in eight weeks, live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime