Kimi Antonelli says Ferrari will be the team to beat in Monaco Grand Prix

It has been clear that Mercedes are the team to beat in the 2026 Formula 1 season, as their W17 has been the pick of the field and the best package overall—power unit and chassis.

Mercedes have bagged five out of five Grand Prix wins so far this season—four for Antonelli and one for George Russell—with Lando Norris mugging them for the Sprint win in Miami.

But behind Mercedes, McLaren and Ferrari have been fighting for the best of the rest status with the advantage swaying between them. Ferrari bettered McLaren in Canada as the reigning F1 Constructors' Champions messed up their tyre strategy.

But is Ferrari that Antonelli is worried about in the upcoming Monaco Grand Prix, as Mercedes' power unit advantage will be pointless around the streets of the principality with the Red SF-26 expected to revel at the tight track with its low-speed nature.

Antonelli told Sky Sports F1: "I think ⁠Ferrari is going to be the team to beat in Monaco, and it's going to be very interesting how ​we do there.

"For sure Ferrari is the favorite because also with that winglet they have in the back, it's giving them a lot of downforce at low speeds," he added.

Lewis Hamilton, who was in high spirits following his second place in the Canadian Grand Prix, agreed with Antonelli and is fancying his chances in Monaco.

The seven-time F1 Champion said: "[Monaco] is the one track that power is not king. I ​think that’s definitely car performance. I think our car could be really strong there.

"If you ⁠take away the power deficit, we're in the fight with these guys [Mercedes]... Monaco should be fun," Hamilton concluded.