Ferrari starts strongly in Monaco as Kimi Antonelli impresses and McLaren struggles in slow corners
The Monaco Grand Prix weekend begins with Ferrari showing a highly promising level of performance through the narrow streets of the Principality, although all early indications must still be treated with caution. With just one hour of running completed, the road to Q3 in qualifying remains long, but the opening data already offers some valuable insights into the competitive order.
Ferrari strong in the slowest sections, contrasting approaches from Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc
The SF-26 immediately appears comfortable around the tight and technical Monaco street layout. While there is still room for improvement, particularly in mechanical behaviour over bumps, kerbs and downhill transitions, the overall impression is that Ferrari’s preparation in Maranello has delivered a solid baseline setup that works effectively from the very first laps.
Initial data suggests Ferrari holds a significant advantage over its rivals in the slowest sections of the circuit, particularly in areas where mechanical grip is critical. One of the clearest examples is the downhill sequence from Mirabeau to Portier, where the SF-26 appears especially strong in traction and stability through low-speed corners.
There is also a notable difference in driving approach between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. As expected on his home circuit, Charles Leclerc immediately pushes from the opening laps and shows significantly faster pace in the three medium-to-high speed sections of the track, including Massenet-Casino, the Tabac corner and the entry to the Swimming Pool complex.
By contrast, Lewis Hamilton appears more cautious in the early stages, gradually building confidence and working towards optimal performance. Given that this is only the first practice session of the weekend, such an approach is entirely understandable as he continues to refine his feeling with the car in Monaco conditions.
However, in the slowest parts of the circuit such as Loews, Portier, Rascasse and the final corner at La Rascasse-Nouvelle Chicane zone, it is Lewis Hamilton who looks particularly strong, showing excellent traction and confidence in low-speed grip levels.
Overall, it is a positive start for the Ferrari driver pairing, but the path towards qualifying remains extremely long and highly competitive.
Mercedes steady, Max Verstappen experimenting, McLaren under pressure in low-speed sections
Behind Ferrari, the gaps remain tight, but early indications from the chasing pack are also revealing. Mercedes begins the weekend at a slight distance, although Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivers a particularly encouraging performance, appearing more comfortable than George Russell and showing strong traction and balance in slow-speed corners.
Max Verstappen, who sits ahead of Andrea Kimi Antonelli in the timing classification, appears to be taking a more unconventional approach to driving around Monaco. As is often the case at this circuit, Max Verstappen is experimenting with unusual lines in order to avoid bumps and kerbs, while also compensating for an unsettled suspension setup that continues to challenge the balance of his car.
While Max Verstappen’s raw potential remains extremely high, the inconsistency in suspension response is clearly not yet aligned with the demands of the circuit, and significant setup work will be required if Red Bull Racing hopes to optimise performance in the next sessions.
McLaren, meanwhile, presents a more complex picture. The car from Woking appears very responsive in direction changes at low speed, but struggles significantly when slow corners become longer and more loaded through the middle phase of the turn. Monaco features exactly this type of corner combination, with a heavy emphasis on extended low-speed rotation rather than short directional changes.
As a result, the McLaren driven by Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri shows clear limitations in these sections of the circuit. Even the updated front wing tested again during the session does not appear to have delivered the expected balance improvements, suggesting that a more substantial mechanical setup revision may be required in order to improve competitiveness through the middle sector of the lap.
More track action is expected shortly in second practice, where teams will look to refine their setups further and determine whether Ferrari can maintain its early advantage over the rest of the field.
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