Piastri laments 'messy' Monaco practice running as Norris feels he needs 'to progress more in some areas'

Oscar Piastri has described his Friday running ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix as "messy" having hit the barrier, while McLaren team mate Lando Norris believes he needs "to progress more in some areas".

Piastri leads the Drivers' Championship arriving at Monte Carlo and finished the day second in FP2, less than half a tenth behind pacesetter Charles Leclerc, but only after finding the barrier and bringing out the red flags.

WATCH: Piastri brings out the red flags during FP2 in Monaco after finding the wall at Sainte Devote

Having hit the tyre wall head-on at Sainte Devote, Piastri was able to reverse and recover back to the pits before completing the rest of the session after only damaging his front wing in the incident.

"I think just the whole day's been a bit up and down," said Piastri, who finished FP1 in fifth.

"I think when we get everything together the pace is quite good, it's just not proving that easy to do at the moment.

"Some things to look at, I think especially for myself, it's been a very messy day. Just try and rest a bit tomorrow, but I think the pace in the car is there."

Norris echoed the comments made by his team mate that McLaren's MCL39 had been difficult to tame when at the limit, especially on the streets of the Principality with margin for error so little.

READ MORE: Bearman handed 10-place Monaco GP grid penalty after red flag violation in practice

"We're talking small things. It's not huge but when you're talking about hundredths here and there, it's a lot of small things that add up," said Norris.

"Too difficult to get the braking right, to get the cornering right, to get the tyres, the grip, the feeling, all in the perfect window... it's many different things."

Neither McLaren driver has won at Monaco before, with Norris having not stood on the top step of the podium since the opening round back in March.

The Briton, who trails Piastri by 13 points in the standings, believes that although he generally felt comfortable, there was work to be done ahead of the most important Qualifying session of the season.

READ MORE: Stroll hit with grid penalty after Leclerc clash in opening Monaco GP practice

"It's always stressful [driving at Monaco] but good fun," he said.

"Just difficult to get some clean laps and things at times. But I think a nice feeling, I felt comfortable from the beginning but need to progress more in some areas."