Ferrari's biggest weakness this season has been straight-line speed. In Monaco, that matters less than anywhere else on the calendar.
Instead, the focus shifts to chassis performance, cornering speed, kerb riding, traction, and driver confidence — areas where Ferrari have looked exceptionally strong. Lewis Hamilton in particular appeared comfortable attacking the limits of the car throughout Friday practice.
Add Ferrari's consistently strong starts this season, and the Scuderia look like the team to beat this weekend.
The biggest questions remain race pace on a heavy fuel load and whether front tyre locking could become an issue, particularly for Charles Leclerc.
One thing is certain: the battle between Hamilton and Leclerc could be one of the most fascinating stories of the Monaco Grand Prix.
1000 milliseconds off the pace in Race #1000 for McLaren?
With the shortest wheelbase on the 2026 grid, McLaren looked well placed to challenge at the front on the tight streets of Monaco.
Instead, Friday exposed a major weakness: kerb riding. While Ferrari attacked the kerbs with confidence, the McLarens appeared far less comfortable and often had to avoid them altogether.
An electrical issue also sidelined Lando Norris in FP2, costing the team valuable track time and crucial setup data ahead of qualifying.
After all the problems and disappointments of Race #999, Race #1000 was supposed to be a celebration. Instead, McLaren enter the business end of the weekend with more questions than answers.
What is CDS?
N stands for Neutral and marks the location of a safety button used by race marshals to safely recover a car after an accident.
The N (Neutral) button and CDS (Clutch Disengagement System) are designed specifically for race marshals.
After an accident or technical failure, these controls allow a race car to be placed in neutral and safely recovered from the track, even if the driver is unable to operate the vehicle. Every modern F1, F2, F3, and F4 car is equipped with these mandatory safety systems.
The system attracted attention two weeks ago when it failed to operate correctly on Liam Lawson's car, requiring additional intervention from marshals. It was back in the spotlight on Friday in Monaco, where McLaren were fined €30,000 after tape placed over the Neutral button forced marshals to use tools to access it during a safety inspection.
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