Leclerc downplays Monaco pole predictions despite rivals backing Ferrari

Charles Leclerc has pushed back on predictions from rivals that Ferrari will take pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix, warning that Mercedes remains the team to beat despite his own strong record on home streets. While reigning world champion Lando Norris and current championship leader Kimi Antonelli have both tipped the Scuderia to top qualifying in Monte Carlo, Leclerc insists Ferrari must keep its feet on the ground as it searches for a first pole of the 2026 season.

Why it matters:

Ferrari heads into round six without a single pole or race win through the opening five Grands Prix, a stark reminder of Mercedes' early-season dominance. The Scuderia trails the Silver Arrows by 72 points in the Constructors' Championship, making Monte Carlo a critical weekend if Ferrari intends to keep its title hopes alive. A strong result on the streets where Leclerc has historically excelled could also fend off McLaren, which has closed to within 41 points of Ferrari's second place.

The details:

• Reigning world champion Norris predicted Ferrari would secure pole next weekend, while championship leader Antonelli labeled the Scuderia "the team to beat" around Monaco's unforgiving barriers.
• Leclerc has claimed three home poles in six years (2021, 2022, 2024) but converted only one into victory, suffering a Q3 gearbox failure in 2021 and a botched strategy call in 2022 that forced him to double-stack behind Carlos Sainz.
• Despite Monaco's tight, slow-speed corners historically playing to Ferrari's strengths, Leclerc highlighted Mercedes' all-round excellence: "Whether it's in corners or on the straight," the W17 remains the benchmark.
• Ferrari has collected 147 points to hold second in the standings, but McLaren's 106 points mean the papaya outfit remains firmly in the hunt for the runner-up spot.

What's next:

Leclerc concedes that Monaco probably offers Ferrari its best shot at breaking Mercedes' qualifying stranglehold in 2026, though he is clearly wary of calling his team the favorite. With zero wins on the board and both championships drifting out of reach, converting Monte Carlo's unique demands into a front-row start on Saturday—and finally a clean Sunday victory—has become essential for a team still trying to find its footing this season.