Lewis Hamilton was circumspect about Ferrari’s chances in the buildup to the Monaco Grand Prix but, on paper at least, this weekend is perhaps his best shot at a first victory for the Scuderia to end their drought that stretches back to the Mexican GP of 2024.
Mercedes have dominated the season thus far, with Kimi Antonelli leading the championship by 43 points from his teammate, George Russell, but the strengths of their car will be somewhat negated on the slow corners of the twisting street circuit in Monte Carlo, which should suit Ferrari’s SF26.
The car has repeatedly demonstrated how good it is in the slower corners but has struggled with drag on straights and in using a smaller turbocharger than their rivals. It has proved costly on traditional circuits this season where, even when competitive at the off, the Ferrari has been unable to match the Mercedes’ formidable race pace, or that of the upgraded McLaren.
Ferrari’s pace through the twists – Hamilton was quickest in the slow speed corners at the last round in Canada – and that smaller turbo will be vital in Monaco. Energy management should not be an issue with ample recharging, while the smaller turbo will enable it to remain spooled up to be most effective in punching quicker out of the corners.
The turbo has also played a key role in the enormously fast starts Ferrari have enjoyed this season, repeatedly propelling them into an early lead, if one they struggle to maintain. With overtaking in Monaco as nigh-on impossible as ever, if Hamilton or his teammate, Charles Leclerc, can occupy the front row they may be all but untouchable when the lights go out.
“I would say that probably this track was better for us than some of the others,” said Hamilton. “I don’t think power is going to be necessarily so much of an issue. And our car is good at low speed so I think we will be competitive.”
Leclerc, who looked absolutely nailed on from the off in first practice, will want to make his mark on his home race, which he has won once, in 2024, and where he has three pole positions from seven meetings, one more than Hamilton has claimed here. The Monegasque is fearsomely quick over the single lap and, with qualifying all in Monaco, if Ferrari do have an edge it may be a straight head-to-head between the two drivers.
Of course Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull will not be mere spectators in this contest and as ever in Monaco, confidence in the feel of the car and the ability to push it to the very edge will be key and potentially decisive. Verstappen certainly has been enjoying the performance of his Red Bull in Monaco, making, it must be hoped, for something of a gripping showdown on Saturday.
Leclerc and Hamilton topped the time sheets in first practice, two tenths between them but with half a second on Verstappen in third, while Antonelli and Russell were in fourth and fifth.
In second practice Ferrari were once more on top but this time Hamilton led Leclerc by one tenth, with Verstappen in third, a tenth and a half back, in front of Russell and Antonelli. Lando Norris managed only seven laps before stopping on track with what appeared to be a gearbox problem and his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, was in seventh place.
