Piastri flags Ferrari danger in Monaco: 'They click there every year'

Oscar Piastri has put McLaren on alert ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix, warning that Ferrari's SF-26 is perfectly suited to the slow, twisty streets of Monte Carlo. The Australian driver notes that Ferrari “click there every year,” and this season's car characteristics—strong in corners but weak on straights—play directly into Monaco's unique demands.

Why it matters:

Monaco is a championship-defining circuit where qualifying position often decides the race. If Ferrari secures pole, their superior launch control could make them nearly impossible to pass, handing the Scuderia a critical advantage in the tight midfield battle.

The details:

• Ferrari has claimed pole in three of the last five Monaco Grands Prix, with Charles Leclerc leading the charge.
• The SF-26 is notably strong in low-speed corners, as seen in recent GPS data, but loses time on long straights—a weakness that vanishes in Monaco's short, corner-heavy layout.
• Piastri: “I think Monaco is going to be a good track for them. Hopefully it could be a good one for us as well.”
• Team principal Andrea Stella agrees: “We see Ferrari is definitely a competitive chassis in the corners. In Canada they lose time in the straights, but you don't have much of that in Monaco.”
• McLaren remains in contention but struggled with tire strategy in Canada, starting on intermediates and falling behind Mercedes.

What's next:

The paddock expects a tight qualifying session, with Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull all capable of challenging Mercedes' recent dominance. A Ferrari pole would set up a fascinating strategic battle, as their launch ability could lock in the lead from the first corner.