Maybe it's not all over for Gasly in FP1... (2024)

FOLLOW: live coverage of Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix right here

• TV/Stream: ESPN (US), Sky Sports (UK)

✉️ Get in touch: livebloguk@theathletic.com

Subscribe to The Athletic using our latest discount code

An update from Alpine: "The team is aiming to have Pierre out on track for the final minutes of the session".

The wastegate issue resolved, the Frenchman could be coming out of the garage shortly.

⏰ 55/60mins: Into the final stretch of FP1 we head, and it's notable the two Red Bulls currently sit P11 (Verstappen) and P12. In fact, Perez has just come into the pits with a puncture.

Looks like the Mexican had a barrier bump at some point.

It is only FP1, so we really cannot read too much into the times nor have we seen the Ferrari or Red Bull cars go for a quick run on the soft tires.

But that's a very encouraging start for Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton P1 ahead of George Russell in third, split by McLaren's Oscar Piastri.

Naturally we have zero idea about different fuel loads or engine modes, but it's an encouraging start for the Silver Arrows on a track where it expected to fare a little better than it has of late.

⏰ 50/60mins: The debris is swiftly cleared and the cars are allowed back on track, although there are a few spits of rain appearing now.

Just to keep everyone on their toes.

⏰ 46/60mins: The track action has stopped, although the clock keeps ticking down of course. Zhou clips the the barriers in his Sauber through Beau Rivage.

That leaves a puddle of carbon debris on track, which gets picked up by Charles Leclerc's Ferrari moments later. That brings out the red flags.

⏰ 39/60mins: Oscar Piastri's McLaren remains on top of the FP1 timings but the two Mercedes now back him up behind. The top five have all set their best times on the softs.

1. Piastri (MCL): 1:12.198
2. Russell (MER): 1:12.295
3. Hamilton (MER): 1:12.398

You can already see the super fine margins that the drivers are pushing toward around their hot laps, best shown with the footage of Charles Leclerc leaving only a sliver of daylight between his Ferrari and the barrier.

With each lap they complete, the drivers will be building up that confidence to push a little more and a little more without going over the limit.

It gives the drivers a rush that no other track, not even some of the higher-speed street circuits, can really offer. Valtteri Bottas said on Thursday:

💬 "You’re always close to the walls, even touching them. When you get a proper lap in qualifying, you get the shakes, which is nice. It’s a good feeling, just the adrenaline. It’s hard to find that elsewhere."

⏰ 31/60mins: Time is absolutely flying by here. We're already halfway through this first practice and we've got drivers switching onto softer compound tires now.

Worth noting that these cars have all brought Monaco-specific setups to increase downforce around what is a unique stop-off on the F1 calendar.

Some cars also went out carrying flow-vis paint to check how those setups are working.

Alpine has confirmed that a wastegate issue on Pierre Gasly's car means it is "likely Pierre will not be back out on track during FP1".

Not a great start to the team's weekend at all, 12 months on from Esteban Ocon's shock podium.

Which we all said when the team revealed it earlier this week. But seeing the homage to Ayrton Senna, 30 years after his death, on the track really amps up its impact.

It also confirms McLaren’s decision to go all out on the yellow (unlike Ferrari’s “blue” livery from Miami, which was really mostly red). As Luke reported, McLaren chief marketing officer Lou McEwen saw a total overhaul of the livery as “important for the authenticity of the campaign” saying:

💬 “It was always going to be a full wrap when we went into it, and that’s very much been part of that decision-making of how we go about it.”

The livery includes the retro McLaren logo from Senna’s time with McLaren, as well as some added Senna ‘S’ logos. The headrest is graced with Senna’s iconic line: “I have no idols. I admire work, dedication and competence.”

⏰ 16/60mins: There's no shortage of early pushing here, with Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc going so close to the barriers through sector 3.

Verstappen's Red Bull has a quickest trip of 1:13.974 so far. That's worth P6 and he's still out there now, while the Ferrari of Leclerc leads the FP1 times so far with a 1:13.132.

That's not the start to the session that Pierre Gasly and Alpine would have wanted.

Gasly is told to pit due to a power unit issue that the team needs to investigate.

Alpine's endured a slow start to the year, and hasn't had much luck so far in Monaco either: its hospitality unit was still being constructed through Thursday, putting it behind schedule.

⏰ 09/60mins: We've already had all 20 cars on the track, which may well be as a result of that increased chance of rain. Both McLarens are enjoying an early spell at the top of the timings.

Make sure you keep in touch with us through all the weekend action. We’d love to hear your comments — we may even publish the best in here.

You can also ask you burning questions and I’ll see if we can source an answer for you.

The email address you need: livebloguk@theathletic.com

Good day to you all from The Athletic HQ. This is Michael Bailey, here to steer us through the opening day of F1 track action at the 2024 Monaco Grand Prix.

Our correspondents are at the track and watching on to bring you all the color and angles you need, with free practice set to start in little more than 10 minutes.

I love this place, and I cannot wait to see what it has in store for us.

So buckle up. We’ve got you covered from here.

If this photo doesn't say 'It's Monaco Grand Prix weekend' then I'm not sure what does.

Where else would see a Bugatti Chiron, one of the world's most exclusive supercars, parked on the stern of a yacht?