Norris and Stella Tip Ferrari as Monaco Pole Favorites

Lando Norris and McLaren team principal Andrea Stella have singled out Ferrari as the team to beat in Monaco, citing the SF-26's exceptional low-speed cornering performance and the Principality's unique layout that minimizes the Scuderia's straight-line weakness. Norris, last year's winner in Monaco, admits he expects Ferrari to take pole, while Stella backs his driver's assessment with GPS data.

Why it matters:

Monaco is a circuit where track position is decisive, and qualifying often decides the race. If Ferrari indeed emerges as the pole favorite, it could upend the current competitive order and give Charles Leclerc a shot at a home win, while McLaren faces an uphill battle despite being a benchmark team.

The details:

• Norris's candid take: The reigning world champion highlighted Ferrari's low-speed performance as "far better than everyone else," predicting they will be on pole next weekend.
• Stella's data-backed view: Using GPS overlay, McLaren's team principal noted Ferrari's chassis is consistently competitive in cornering sections, especially in Monaco's flowing first sector.
• Monaco's unique factors: The lack of long straights masks Ferrari's weakness in straight-line speed, which cost them in Canada. Stella: "That is much less of a factor in Monaco."
• McLaren's cautious optimism: Norris admitted his team's known weaknesses prevent full confidence, despite his success there last year. "In the places we know we're struggling, it's not something that gives me confidence."

What's next:

Monaco qualifying will be the ultimate test. If Ferrari can secure pole, the race becomes theirs to lose. For McLaren, a top-three grid slot could still yield a podium, but overtaking is notoriously difficult. The weekend will reveal whether the data holds up on the streets of Monte Carlo.