Ferrari unexpectedly becomes the favorites in Monaco following Hamilton's rise.

      Ferrari has unexpectedly become a favored contender for the Monaco Grand Prix, despite a shaky beginning to the 2026 season. Rivals have begun to openly acknowledge that the Italian squad might possess the fastest car for the streets of Monte Carlo. This speculation gained traction after the Canadian Grand Prix, where Lewis Hamilton secured a solid second place, even with Ferrari's recognized disadvantage in straight-line speed.

      "Given that this is a circuit emphasizing straight-line speed and we managed to secure this result, it certainly raises my optimism for what's next," Hamilton stated. The seven-time world champion has consistently maintained that Ferrari's primary shortcoming lies with its power unit—a notion some insiders believe could aid the team's appeal for upcoming ADUO support from the FIA. "We have less power than our competitors," Hamilton expressed in Montreal. "Even with the ability to overtake, they still have superior speed on the straights."

      That vulnerability may be less significant in Monaco. Lando Norris caught many off guard by labeling Ferrari as the clear frontrunner for pole position next weekend. Andrea Stella concurred, saying, "Analyzing the GPS data, it's evident that Ferrari is highly competitive in the corners. We observed that in Montreal during the first sector."

      "It's also vital to navigate the curbs effectively. Ferrari tends to lose most of its time on the straights. However, there aren’t many of those in Monaco, which is why Lando is correct in viewing Ferrari as the top contender for pole."

      Monaco might also offer a more intuitive experience for drivers under Formula 1's debated 2026 regulations, especially given ongoing frustrations regarding energy management at circuits sensitive to power. "With numerous hard braking points, drivers will have no issues recharging their batteries there," Stella noted. "It will feel more natural to them again."

      "For the cars, however, it presents a completely new challenge." Stella further opined that McLaren itself should also perform well. "At its current development stage, the McLaren is more adept at slow corners than medium or high-speed ones," he acknowledged. "I view Ferrari as the favorite, but McLaren should also be strong."

      Meanwhile, Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur admitted he was taken aback by the team's performance in Montreal. "Honestly, we didn’t anticipate being in such good form," Vasseur commented. "McLaren and Mercedes introduced significant upgrades, and we expected to have some difficulties." He added, "But Hamilton had the pace to contend for the front row in both qualifying sessions. He pushed hard and caught Verstappen. We’re striving at the factory to keep improving."