There are pilots who they go into a trance when faced with street layouts. And none of them have the depth and mystique of the one that takes place between the walls of Monte-Carlo. Being able to emerge from that battle unscathed will be essential to defeat the Monaco Grand Prix after the most important classification of the course. The one that determines everything. And one to which Ferrari arrives with strength after dominating on Friday in the Principality. It’s more than a warning after the show Lewis Hamilton (1:13.026) andthe fight of Charles Leclerc (to one tenth).
Leclerc takes a curve.
Although in Monaco It’s not just about being the fastest. There is much more. The traffic, always infernal, plays its role. Also avoid problems, such as stroke Hadjar in the Pool or the kiss to the wall of Alonso (which seems like the umpteenth driveability problem) of Libre 1, the barbecue of Czech Perez in front of Hotel Paris or the blackout of the Lando Norris’s McLaren in Free Practice 2. The British was knocked out on Friday and a battle that he leads begins behind Ferrari and Antonelli stays glued to Russell.
Favorite Ferrari
Ferrari He is in the lead and that is already important. If it were Monza there would be covers. But it’s more real than ever. The SF-26 was born to go fast on Mediterranean streets and the FIA technical guidelines also come together. and the battle between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton exists, with the Monegasque very reinforced by leading in the morning, being fast with the medium and improving on a soft that still needs to be understood. Nobody is able to find the performance window at the first.
Something that was perceived in the best attacks on the clock. While Verstappen I suffered to close a decent turn, Ferrari I ended up taking it out sooner or later. and hamilton is plugged in, improving to a Leclerc who left Friday without closing a lap with three perfect sectors.
Antonelli, in action.
This reality also opens space for alternatives. Drivers must nail their turn and understand the complicated compounds. Therefore, a Verstappen active and plugged in is extremely dangerous or the Mercedes after its worst day of the course. Russell, of course, will calm down after improving Antonelli on the overall day. McLaren, on the other hand, is somewhat further behind and with doubts about Norris’s problem.
Sainz: Q3 goal
In a different battle he is Carlos Sainz. His Williams is not the reference of the middle zone, because Audi has found something in Monaco, Alpine grows during all the Grand Prix and until bearman could sneak in there. But the Spaniard remains solid, he does not make mistakes and closed Friday with improvement after each attempt. Both with the race rubber and the classification rubber. The ceiling will be in fighting for Q3 after a 12th finish, he improves his teammate Alex Albon and will try to take advantage of the poisoned gifts that always leaves Monaco.
The man from Madrid, yes, will face one of the historical fears of the Williams. Trying to find the right lap with a tire that has always cost them put in its moment of performance, but for now the base is good. And his big leap is yet to come.
Aston Martin sinks
Alonso, in action.
Much further away is Aston Martin. If there was hope, it disappeared except for a miracle. Their fight is once again that of the Cadillac or Ocon, seeing a Fernando Alonso who suffers with a difficult car. In addition, he loses a lot in the very few straight areas and the times are still more than two seconds away. So it is difficult to opt for anything.
It is also extracted that the AMR26 It has almost insurmountable gaps. The Honda engine has some problems that everyone knows about and adds a chassis that is not up to fighting on the circuits where it can work best. Monaco is one of them and Monaco is proving that only a miracle could help Fernando Alonso.
