Why Ferrari Is the Team to Beat in Monaco Grand Prix

Highlights

  • Antonelli views Ferrari as Monaco Grand Prix frontrunner
  • Antonelli leads championship by 43 points over George Russell
  • Ferrari’s SF-26 offers superior cornering on Monaco’s streets
  • Monaco GP scheduled for June 7, 2026
  • Ferrari uses exhaust-blown winglet for low-speed downforce
  • Mercedes holds four consecutive wins this season

Kimi Antonelli identifies Ferrari as Monaco Grand Prix favourite in Monte Carlo, with the race set for June 7, 2026, per the schedule, despite Mercedes arriving on four consecutive wins.

He argues Ferrari’s SF-26 holds a decisive cornering edge, helped by a smaller turbo boost configuration tailored to low-speed sections that dominate Monaco’s tight, uneven streets.

Antonelli also highlights an exhaust-blown rear winglet that increases low-speed load and stability, an asset for traction zones and rapid direction changes through the swimming pool and hairpin complexes.

Aerial view of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari navigating the Monaco circuit
Image Credit: Sport Photo Gallery

Despite that assessment, Antonelli leads the championship by 43 points over George Russell, whose misfortunes have skewed the intra-team picture. Lando Norris’s Miami sprint win remains the only non-Mercedes victory.

Antonelli leads the standings by 43 points over George Russell.

Ferrari is poised for its first 2026 victory if qualifying delivers track position. Monaco rewards control and patience, and recent safety decisions amplify the premium on starting near the front.

Strategy windows are narrow, with undercuts muted and tyre warm-up critical. The circuit’s character, also seen in its Formula E guise, accentuates traction gains and punishes straight-line trade-offs.

Ferrari’s smaller turbo boost shapes deployment and energy-management maps, favouring driveability over peak output. At Monaco, the loss in top speed is less costly than the stability and rotation benefits.

Ferrari’s exhaust-blown winglet boosts low-speed downforce, ideal for Monaco’s slow corners.

Antonelli stresses he will maximise the weekend regardless of Ferrari’s apparent edge. His Monaco struggles last year, mirrored across Europe, add urgency as Ferrari’s Monaco prospects continue to build.

Behind the headline duel, McLaren and Red Bull aim to disrupt. Mechanical grip, kerb compliance, and error-free execution across practice could compress the pack and create qualifying jeopardy.

Mercedes enters Monaco on a four-race winning streak in 2026.

The season’s balance hinges on weekends like Monaco. If Ferrari converts its package here, the momentum swing could narrow Mercedes’ command and reshape the title narrative before Canada.

Visual Summary







Antonelli +43

pts


?️ Ferrari downforce edge


Ferrari’s Secret Weapon: Monaco Downforce
Antonelli leads the title race, but Ferrari’s new winglet gives them a golden grip on Monte Carlo’s slow corners.
Monaco: Where small margins redraw the championship.

2026 season: Mercedes dominance… until Monaco?



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All eyes on June 7: Mercedes vs. Ferrari in a battle of precision, strategy, and nerve.
Will Ferrari’s technical brilliance trigger Monaco’s turning point?
Daniel miller author image

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.

Daniel miller author image
Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.

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