– Ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix (Formula 1 live ticker), the focus in Formula 1 is on a track that, on paper, could represent the first real chance for the competition to break Mercedes’ dominance. After five consecutive victories, the team travels to the Principality as the clear benchmark, but the special demands of the street circuit could at least partially alter the balance of power.
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The Monte Carlo circuit is traditionally considered a track where engine power plays a lesser role than on many other racetracks. The short straights and numerous slow corners primarily benefit vehicles that can leverage their strengths in the chassis area.
However, championship leader Kimi Antonelli warns against reducing Mercedes solely to the performance of its powertrain. The Italian emphasizes that the W17 is among the strongest cars in the field even beyond its engine.
Mercedes: Strong in corners and gentle on tires
“From our side, the team is doing a really great job,” Antonelli explained at a press conference during the Trofeo Bandini last weekend. “Unfortunately, many people only talk about the potential of our engine, but I have to say that our chassis also works extremely well. We are strong in the corners and are very gentle on the tires. From a chassis perspective, we are also in a very good position.”
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The Monaco weekend will also provide information on which engine manufacturers are entitled to support under the ADUO program (how it works) and in what form this will be provided. The basis for this is the percentage gap to the current reference in the field, which is currently set by Mercedes.
Antonelli assumes that Ferrari, in particular, could benefit from this regulation. The SF-26 has already made a competitive impression since winter testing. Should the Maranello team succeed in further improving the performance of its hybrid V6, the balance of power could change after the introduction of a revised power unit.
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Why Ferrari could close the gap
“We will see which teams receive ADUO support. Ferrari seems to be one of them. If these teams can make optimal use of the opportunity, they will certainly close the gap. Ferrari is also in a strong position with its chassis,” said Antonelli.
Photo gallery: Formula 1 teams with at least five wins at the start of the season
At the same time, the Mercedes driver still sees weaknesses in the Scuderia’s race trim. Ferrari currently loses some ground, especially with increasing tire wear.
“At the moment, Ferrari seems to have slightly greater difficulties in races, especially when tire degradation plays a role. But if they bring an upgraded engine, they will definitely get closer. I don’t think it will be easy, because extracting additional performance from an engine is never straightforward,” said Antonelli.
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Nevertheless, Antonelli considers the Italians a serious opponent in the long term. “Nevertheless, I believe they can get significantly closer if they put all the pieces of the puzzle together. They could become a real threat to us. But at the moment, I have great confidence in my team’s work, and that gives me a lot of motivation.”
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