Sergio Perez, the Red Bull Racing driver, declared Ferrari as "not reachable" for their Formula 1 rivals following the first day of running at the Monaco Grand Prix. Perez's comments come after Charles Leclerc, the hometown favorite, topped the timesheets during the second free practice session.

Leclerc showcased impressive pace, edging out Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton by less than 0.2 seconds at the Monte Carlo circuit. Notably, Leclerc was half a second faster than Max Verstappen, the nearest Red Bull driver who finished fourth in the session.

Red Bull had a challenging day, struggling to find performance from their RB20 car while navigating the bumpy Monaco circuit. In contrast, Ferrari appeared to be a more competitive force right from the outset of the event.

Perez observed that the Ferrari team had the ability to "put it on really easily" when preparing for a hot lap, giving them an advantage in the qualifying sessions where Monaco traditionally rewards strong performances. "Ferrari at the moment are just not reachable," expressed Perez. "They're looking very strong."

Mercedes, too, showed promise during the opening day, with George Russell describing the W15 car as giving him the best feeling he has ever had around Monaco. Russell even anticipated that the field in 2024 could break lap records at the iconic street circuit.

However, the British driver faced his own challenges, as he noted that his car was "shaking to bits" under braking. Recognizing Leclerc's advantage, Russell conceded that the Monegasque driver held a strong position heading into Saturday's sessions.

Despite the setbacks, Perez highlighted the overall positive performance of the Red Bull car during the day. He mentioned their P3 finish in the first practice session and Lewis Hamilton's P2 in the afternoon session. Perez acknowledged the development rate of all teams in Formula 1, emphasizing the significant improvement in lap times compared to the previous year.

Looking ahead to the remaining sessions, Perez hoped for favorable weather conditions and expressed confidence that Red Bull could potentially challenge the lap records. "It's feeling good, and we'll have to see what the weather does as well," added Perez.

As the Monaco Grand Prix continues, the competition intensifies, and it remains to be seen if any team can close the gap on the dominant Ferrari squad.