Ferrari backed to challenge Antonelli in Monaco

MONACO: Ferrari are being widely tipped to halt Kimi Antonelli's winning streak at this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton seen as strong contenders on a circuit expected to suit the Italian team's car.

Antonelli, the Mercedes teenager who leads the championship, has won four races in a row, including his first Formula One victory, and took his advantage over team-mate George Russell to 43 points in Canada two weeks ago. But the young driver acknowledged that fortune had helped him at times and said Ferrari looked especially well placed for Monaco, where the tighter, more technical layout is expected to favour their package.

Speaking ahead of the race, Antonelli said Ferrari were likely to set the pace on the streets of the principality, where Mercedes have often struggled in recent years. Hamilton, now driving for Ferrari after leaving Mercedes last year, also sounded optimistic about his prospects at one of his favourite venues.

"It's the one track we go to where power is not king," he said. "It's definitely about the car performance and our car could be really strong there."

Antonelli was similarly clear in his assessment of Ferrari's chances.

"I think Ferrari is the team to beat in Monaco. It's going to be very interesting to see how we do there."

Ferrari eye long-awaited win

For Ferrari, the weekend offers an opportunity to secure a first victory since Carlos Sainz won in Mexico in 2024. Leclerc, who signed a contract extension with the team this week, won his home race last year and has taken pole position in Monaco three times over the past five seasons. However, in Montreal he was outpaced by Hamilton, who finished second.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff also warned that previous form would count for little in Monaco, describing it as a circuit unlike any other on the calendar. He noted that fine margins and the high-risk nature of the track could quickly change the picture for any team.

"Monaco is different to all the other circuits and a car that has been competitive elsewhere is not guaranteed anything here," he said. "The margins are small, the consequences are high.”

Mercedes last won in Monaco in 2019, when Hamilton took the third of his three victories there on the way to his sixth world title. Last year, Russell finished 11th and Antonelli was 18th, results the team will want to improve on as they try to protect their lead after five successive wins.

Qualifying expected to be decisive

Saturday's qualifying session is again expected to play a major role in deciding the outcome, although observers believe this year's racing could be less predictable because of the sport's new overtake mode. The system gives a driver running within one second of the car ahead an extra 0.5 MJ of electrical energy from the power unit, which is split evenly between engine and battery power.

Last year's Monaco race was dominated by world champion Lando Norris, who claimed pole position, victory and the fastest lap for McLaren. McLaren remain the most successful team in Monaco with 16 wins since entering Formula One there in 1966, and they will be hoping to mark their 60th anniversary and 1000th race start with another strong result.

Red Bull are also expected to be in the mix through Max Verstappen, a two-time winner in Monaco, and French driver Isack Hadjar. Hadjar started fifth on the grid for Racing Bulls last year and finished sixth in the race during an impressive rookie campaign.

The Monaco Grand Prix has been moved later in the season after traditionally being held on Ascension Day weekend. It is the first event in a sequence of six races over eight weeks, with teams heading straight to Barcelona afterwards. The weekend will also feature Cadillac's first race appearance at the event long known as the jewel in Formula One's crown, as the sport continues to grow its audience in the United States.