Ferrari approaches the Monaco Grand Prix with optimism. According to Frédéric Vasseur, the new regulations introduced this season could profoundly change the face of the weekend in the Principality and offer an unprecedented spectacle to both drivers and teams.
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The introduction of the new technical regulations has revolutionized the design of Formula 1 cars. Shorter, narrower, and lighter, the single-seaters now exhibit radically different behavior from that observed in recent years.
The wheelbase has been reduced, the width of the cars decreased, and the minimum weight lowered. Added to this is a new aerodynamic philosophy with the abandonment of certain concepts used until now.
On a track like Monaco, where agility and precision are essential, these changes could have a considerable impact on performance and driver feel.
Vasseur expects an unprecedented experience
The Scuderia director believes that drivers will discover a completely different face of the Monaco circuit this weekend.
“Monaco is always a unique weekend, and this year it will be particularly interesting with this new generation of cars which, for the drivers, should offer quite different sensations on this type of circuit,” explains Frédéric Vasseur.
The Frenchman also reminds us that certain historical characteristics of the track remain more important than ever.
“It’s a circuit where qualifying, confidence, and execution matter even more than usual, and where every detail can make the difference.”
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With cars more dependent on mechanical setup and tire management in slow corners, Ferrari hopes to be able to take advantage of the qualities displayed by the SF-26 since the start of the season.
A special context for Charles Leclerc
As every year, the Monaco event has a special dimension for Charles Leclerc. After several memorable disappointments at home, the Ferrari driver finally managed to put his name on the event’s roll of honor in 2024 before finishing second the following year.
Vasseur knows how important this race is for his driver.
“For Charles, it’s obviously a very special race in front of his home crowd. Ferrari always benefits from considerable support from the fans, and we know how much energy he draws when he’s in that environment.”
The unique atmosphere of Monaco could thus be an additional asset for the Monegasque, already presented as one of the favorites for the weekend.
Ferrari wants to stay focused
Despite the high expectations surrounding the Italian team, Vasseur refuses to give in to overconfidence. The Ferrari boss insists on the need to approach the weekend methodically.
“That being said, our approach doesn’t change: we must remain focused, build our weekend session after session, and ensure that both our drivers have the best possible conditions to extract the maximum from the car.”
While several observers, including Kimi Antonelli, consider Ferrari to be the team to beat in the streets of Monte-Carlo, the Scuderia has an ideal opportunity to confirm the progress seen in recent weeks and put an end to Mercedes’ dominance at the start of the season.
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