Mercedes and McLaren tip Ferrari as favourites for Monaco Grand Prix
Mercedes and McLaren have tipped Ferrari to end their 33-race winless streak at this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix due to their superior low-speed cornering.
The championship-leading Silver Arrows arrive in the principality aiming to extend their flawless start to the 2026 Formula 1 season to six consecutive victories.
However, Kimi Antonelli, who has claimed the last four race wins for Mercedes, believes the unique street circuit will heavily favour the Italian marquee.
“I think Ferrari are going to be the team to beat in Monaco.”
Kimi Antonelli
Low-speed advantage gives Scuderia the edge
Ferrari have only managed two victories on the famous Monte Carlo streets in the last 24 years.
Despite this historical struggle, the SF-26 challenger has demonstrated exceptional mechanical grip and downforce through slow-speed sectors.
“It’s going to be very interesting how we do there but, for sure, Ferrari is the favourite. Also with that winglet they have on the back it’s giving them a lot of downforce at low speed.”
Kimi Antonelli
McLaren echo Mercedes predictions
Reigning world champion Lando Norris, who secured victory in the principality 12 months ago, shares a similar assessment of the upcoming weekend.
“Honestly, I think the Ferrari will be on pole in Monaco. Their low-speed performance is far better than everyone else.”
Lando Norris
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella confirmed that GPS speed overlays from recent races highlight the formidable chassis dynamics of the Scuderia.
“When we look at the overlay based on the GPS speed, we can see that Ferrari is definitely a competitive chassis in the corners.”
Andrea Stella
The Italian boss noted that while the red cars previously lost time on long straights, the tight confines of Monaco will completely mask that specific weakness.
With Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc hunting for glory, the sport’s most famous event could provide the first major shift in the early narrative of the new regulatory era.
