Ferrari is on everyone’s lips in Monte Carlo. Many see the Maranello Scuderia as the main candidate for victory in the streets of the Principality, and not only because of the lesser importance of engine power. Andrea Kimi Antonelli believes that the SF-26 has many qualities that combine well with the Monegasque track, warning however that being fast in qualifying will be a necessary condition, but not sufficient to take home the victory.
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Ferrari is the favorite
The world championship leader met the press in the Monaco paddock, without hesitation when asked which car would be the one to beat: “Ferrari will be strong, for sure. For me, they are the favorites for the weekend”. In the Principality, the superiority of the Mercedes power unit will be felt less, and the smaller turbo of the Prancing Horse’s engine could even prove to be an advantage when exiting the hairpins. The competition, however, also fears the chassis qualities of the SF-26.
“The Ferrari is a car that is strong in braking”, explains Antonelli. “The wing they have behind the exhaust, then, takes away power, but gives a bit more downforce in corners, especially in medium and slow ones. It is also a car that adapts well to the bumps on the track. Looking at the various generations of cars, Ferrari has always been strong here, even when it struggled a lot in other races. Usually, they always do well here”
Watch out for race pace
This year too, qualifying will be a crucial moment in Monte Carlo, on which the teams’ attention will be focused. Kimi, however, warns that neglecting race pace would be a mistake: “We’ve done simulations. Overtaking is still very difficult, even if someone deliberately drove 3 seconds slower. [What will count are] qualifying, the start, and strategy, as well as Safety Cars, if there are any, and the whims of the weather. Furthermore, you need to have good race pace, because on many tracks the undercut makes the difference, but here it can be the opposite, meaning the overcut. Warming up the tires is not easy; this year it’s much more difficult than last season. This weekend, moreover, we have a harder range of compounds compared to last year. So yes, it will be important to start and stay first, but you also need to have good pace to open up the gap when needed”.
Overall, Mercedes does not see itself as the favorite in the streets of Monaco, but nothing prevents them from dreaming of victory. Monte Carlo is a track that has consecrated many great drivers, whose footsteps Antonelli hopes to follow: “Obviously I would like to win them all, that’s out of the question. Monaco, however, has its charm, as does the home race. Winning is beautiful everywhere, but obviously there are those places where it’s a bit more special”.
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