Monaco Grand Prix Hot Lap Sets New Benchmark as Drivers Praise Circuit

Ahead of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, drivers praised the circuit’s singular difficulty as a fresh hot‑lap time set a new speed record for the street track. Charles Leclerc topped the first practice session, posting the quickest lap and showcasing his mastery of the tight corners.

Lewis Hamilton improved his time in the evening run, edging past the previous benchmark. Engineers are fine‑tuning aerodynamic packages to exploit the new lap data.

The results could influence team strategies heading into race day.