Monaco Grand Prix 2026: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are expected to come good and end Ferrari’s long winless streak when the Monaco Grand Prix gets underway on June 7, Sunday. In the process, it could also end Italian teenage prodigy Kimi Antonelli’s winning run as the 19-year-old became the first racer or driver to register for successive victories in his career.
“It’s the one track we go to where power is not king” – Kimi Antonelli
Leclerc, who this week agreed a contract extension with Ferrari, won his home race in 2024 and has claimed pole position three times in the last five years, but he was out-qualified and out-raced by a revived Hamilton, who finished second, in Montreal two weeks ago. In Canada, Mercedes’ precocious championship leader reeled off a fourth consecutive win, including his maiden F1 triumph, to open a 43-point gap ahead of team-mate George Russell.
But, Antonelli admitted, he had enjoyed some luck and recognised too that Ferrari’s more nimble car and power unit were likely to be better suited to the classic Mediterranean street circuit where Mercedes have often struggled. The Silver Arrows last won on the unforgiving barrier-lined streets of the principality in 2019 when Hamilton was on his way to his sixth title. It was his third Monaco win, the most by any current driver and he is relishing a return to one of his favourite circuits.
“It’s the one track we go to where power is not king. It’s definitely about the car performance and our car could be really strong there.”
Antonelli, the boy prodigy mentored by Hamilton in his final days at Mercedes before moving to Ferrari last year, admitted: “I think Ferrari is the team to beat in Monaco. It’s going to be very interesting to see how we do there.”
Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff has played down their prospects of continued success.
“Monaco is different to all the other circuits and a car that has been competitive elsewhere is not guaranteed anything here. The margins are small, the consequences are high.”
Last year, Russell finished 11th and Antonelli 18th, a result that Mercedes will seek to avoid repeating as it defends its championship lead after five straight wins.
Monaco Grand Prix: Qualifying round decisive
For Ferrari, it represents a chance to claim a first win since Carlos Sainz triumphed in Mexico in 2024 and to confirm their renaissance with a car well-conceived for the new hybrid era. As always, Saturday’s qualifying session is likely to be a decisive factor, but many observers believe the “yo-yo” characteristic of this year’s racing – created by the use of a new overtake mode can create more possible overtaking moves in the race.
It gives a driver, who is within a second of another car, an extra 0.5 MJ of electrical energy from the power unit, which has a 50-50 division of traditional engine and battery. Last year’s race saw world champion Lando Norris dominate with a classic hat-trick of pole position, victory and fastest lap for McLaren, the most successful team in Monaco with 16 wins since its F1 debut there in 1966.
(With inputs from AFP)
