Charles Leclerc is being tipped as the favourite for the Monaco GP by many experts – including Lando Norris and McLaren team boss Andrea Stella. The Ferrari driver is not only racing at home in the principality, but his SF-26 is also said to thrive particularly well on the street circuit. Leclerc admits that the Ferrari lends itself well to the twisty track, although he himself believes that championship leader Mercedes is still the team to beat.
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“If you had to bet on Ferrari in one race, I would have chosen Monaco too,” Leclerc admitted during the official FIA press conference. “But Mercedes and McLaren also look very strong,” he quickly added. “We still struggle on the straights, although that shouldn’t be such a problem here. As for our package, our aerodynamics and chassis look good. But if you ask me, Mercedes is still the team to beat.”
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Asked if he still hopes to make a bid for the championship this year, Leclerc did not write off his team. “It’s difficult to make a statement about the title now,” he replied. “It’s just too early. Especially with these new regulations, anything can happen. I know everyone within the team at the factory is very motivated to close the gap to Mercedes. There is still a lot of gain to be made in terms of engine, but plans are in place to remedy that.”
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