This coming weekend will see Formula 1 race to what many consider its most iconic track, but already an unlikely favorite has emerged without anyone even getting started. According to McLaren’s driver Lando Norris, Ferrari will be the team most likely to clinch pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix that will take place in 2026. His statement has grabbed the attention of many people in the Formula 1 paddock, mainly because both McLaren and Mercedes teams had been dominating this year’s races. Nevertheless, the Monaco circuit is quite different in that it requires cars to navigate slow corners and narrow streets rather than long straights, which puts an emphasis on mechanical grip and cornering abilities.
According to Norris, Ferrari has been termed as favorites ahead of Monaco GP, as he said, “Honestly, I think the Ferrari will be on pole next weekend in Monaco, their low-speed performance is far better than everyone else.”
Norris explained that the reason behind his predictions was the superior performance of Ferrari at low speeds, and he believed that it would play a significant part in securing a pole position at Monaco. Nevertheless, despite his expectations that Ferrari would win pole position in the upcoming race, Norris was confident that McLaren could also compete well in light of last year’s success.
Monaco GP: Ferrari Backed by Norris, Piastri and Stella
Stella Agrees With Norris
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella backed Norris’ assessment after reviewing performance data. According to Stella, GPS comparisons show Ferrari remains highly competitive through corner sections, particularly in technical areas where chassis performance is critical.
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Stella considers Norris’s statement true, Ferrari are the favourites to claim pole position, as she said, “I think when we look at the overlay based on the GPS speed, we can see that Ferrari is definitely a competitive chassis in the corners. Like the first sector, they’ve been always very competitive. And it’s not only a low-speed sector, but it’s also a sector with kerbing.”
He highlighted Ferrari’s strength over kerbs and through corner sequences, traits that are regularly rewarded around Monaco. Stella also noted that Ferrari’s straight-line deficit, visible at circuits such as Canada, should have a much smaller impact in Monte Carlo. For that reason, he believes Norris is correct in identifying Ferrari as the leading candidate for pole position. Even so, Stella expects McLaren to remain firmly in contention after winning in Monaco last year.
Piastri Expects Ferrari to Shine in Monaco
Oscar Piastri holds a similar opinion. The McLaren racing car driver anticipates that Ferrari will be one of the quickest cars for the entire weekend in Monaco. This is because there have been instances spanning several seasons in which Ferrari has shown excellent performance within the streets of Monte Carlo.
Oscar Piastri opened up about his expectations about Monaco GP, as he said, “I think this year, with the kind of characteristics Ferrari have, looking very good in the corners and maybe struggling a bit more on the straights, I think Monaco is going to be a good track for them.”
Piastri argues that the attributes of the SF-26 are ideal for driving around Monaco. The Ferrari car had proven itself to be fast in corners throughout the season, but it tends to lag behind in straight stretches because of a lack of power. However, this deficiency is eliminated because the tracks in Monaco have fewer chances of driving in high gear. Hence, with an emphasis on grip and balance, Ferrari will be a serious competitor to reckon with.
Monaco Could Deliver More “Normal” Racing
Besides the struggle for pole position, Stella feels that Monaco might offer something unique for next year’s Formula 1 Grand Prix thanks to its regulations in 2026. Not only because there are no major restrictions regarding energy management at Monaco; but also because there is going to be less reliance on the new energy-hybrid system.
He felt that the drivers would have more accessible power than on some circuits this year, which means the situation is likely to feel more natural. At the same time, Stella pointed out that using the increased power on the narrow city streets of Monaco is not going to be an easy task. After all, such well-known turns as Casino can be driven above 150 km/h, Tabac around 170-180 km/h, while the Swimming Pool stretch would be over 200 km/h.
