The seven-time world champion arrives in Monaco after securing his best result of the season so far for Ferrari, finishing second in Canada.
That result has strengthened confidence within the team that the SF-26 package can challenge at the front, particularly on circuits where outright engine power is less decisive.
Monaco’s tight and twisty layout is widely regarded as one of the few tracks on the calendar where chassis performance and mechanical grip matter more than power unit strength. Hamilton has suggested that this could play directly into Ferrari’s hands.
“I think that’s definitely more about car performance. Our car could be really strong there,” Hamilton said. “That’s the one track where power is not king.”
His comments come amid growing paddock belief that Ferrari could be the “team to beat” this weekend, with rivals pointing to the car’s strong chassis balance and efficient low-speed handling.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli also tipped Ferrari as a major threat, while former driver Jolyon Palmer described Monaco as a “golden chance” for the Italian team to secure a breakthrough win.
Despite the optimism, Hamilton also highlighted Ferrari’s ongoing weakness in straight-line speed, a concern that has followed them through the season. He admitted that while the car performs well through corners, it still struggles to match rivals on the straights, making overtaking and defence difficult at high-speed circuits.
“We can keep up in the corners, but on the straights they just pull away,” he explained. “Even when you get close, they still edge ahead. That’s the difference at the moment.”
Ferrari are expected to bring further development upgrades under their planned programme aimed at improving overall performance. Hamilton hopes those changes will help close the gap to the front-running cars over the remainder of the season.
