Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc are optimistic that this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix can produce an intriguing race regardless of its historically processional nature.
The well-known race across the streets of Monte-Carlo has confronted criticism for a number of years now. Because of its tight and twisty nature, Sunday races are sometimes boring affairs with overtaking at a premium.
This makes qualifying on Saturday one of the vital necessary and thrilling of the 12 months, however nonetheless, current makes an attempt to enhance the Sunday spectacle have fallen flat. Final 12 months’s two-stop regulation has been dropped this 12 months, after groups performed the system by forcing one driver to carry the pack up whereas the opposite driver pitted and got here out forward on the racetrack.
Nevertheless, given the lighter and smaller automobiles in 2026 and the give attention to vitality administration, F1 championship chief Antonelli believes it would as an alternative be an “fascinating” 78-lap race on Sunday afternoon.
“We may even see some overtaking as a result of automobiles are smaller,” Antonelli, who has a 43-point lead over George Russell in second, stated. “After all, you’ll nonetheless must commit massively to make the transfer stick, however I believe it isn’t going to be unattainable.
“I additionally suppose it is going to be extra enjoyable to drive the automotive across the observe. It will be fascinating with the smaller automobiles, with the battery.
“Clearly there have been talks with the FIA with closing speeds. I believe Monaco will not be going to be a difficulty [for that] as a result of it is tremendous simple for the battery as a result of you do not have lengthy straights, so we cannot face that problem in any respect on observe.”
Monegasque driver Leclerc, who gained his house race in 2024, additionally shared his optimism given the give attention to battery recharge.
“I believe Monaco is definitely going to be a type of races the place these automobiles is perhaps excellent,” Leclerc stated.
Kimi Antonelli leads the world championship after 5 rounds (Getty)
“We now have lighter automobiles, which I believe is an effective factor, we will positively really feel that and, for a observe like Monaco, this has its advantages.
“I believe the electrical aspect goes to be quite a bit much less huge in Monaco simply because we’ll be recharging fairly a bit with all of the corners that there are.
“So, I am fairly excited for Monaco, it must be an excellent observe for these automobiles.”
Ferrari driver Leclerc is at present third within the drivers’ standings, 13 factors behind Russell. Lewis Hamilton, a three-time winner in Monaco, is an additional three factors again in fourth.
