(Motorsport-Total.com) – George Russell sees Ferrari as the clear favorite in Monaco after the free practice sessions: “Many people thought that was just talk,” explains the Mercedes driver. “But they are clearly the team to beat.”
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However, the competition from Milton Keynes should also be taken into account: “I think Red Bull was a bit of a surprise for us.” Russell further emphasizes: “We knew after the previous races that this one would be the biggest challenge for us.”
So far, Mercedes has won every Grand Prix of the 2026 Formula 1 season. But in Monaco, the two Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton have dominated the action so far.
Due to the smaller turbo and the performance of the SF-26 at low speeds, Ferrari was already considered one of the favorites for victory before the race weekend. Meanwhile, Verstappen was less than two tenths behind Hamilton’s best time at the end of FP2.
“It was a bit more challenging than we had hoped,” Russell explains about Mercedes’ pace. “But we made good progress from FP1 to FP2.”
“We have to repeat this step overnight, because I don’t think we got it perfectly right today. There is room for improvement, but Ferrari is certainly [the benchmark].”
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“Every car has its DNA,” Russell explains about the Scuderia’s performance. “And the DNA [of the Ferrari] works very well on street circuits, especially in the mechanical part of the car. Especially when the corners fall outwards.”
“We are doing everything possible and trying to make progress,” Russell summarizes. “But, as I said, I think if we can do that, then we can close the gap.”
Although Ferrari is considered the top favorite in the Principality, the Scuderia is trying to curb expectations as much as possible.
In addition, team principal Frederic Vasseur will not appear for qualifying due to health problems. The Saturday session in Monaco is considered the most important of the year due to the almost non-existent overtaking opportunities.
Read more Ferrari without team principal: Fred Vasseur not at qualifying in Monaco