The risk of rain continues to haunt Formula 1. After the events at Imola that disrupted the regular running of the Made in Italy and Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, the sport arrives in the Principality of Monaco, which marks the first European race of the season. The weather forecasts do not rule out the possibility that the practice sessions or even the Saturday qualifying could be affected by rain.
The variability of the weather in coastal locations makes it difficult to make medium-term predictions, but Ferrari arrives in Monte Carlo with the ambition of making a breakthrough with the so far disappointing SF-23, hoping that the characteristics of the street circuit can enhance the qualities of a car that can extract its potential in qualifying laps but consistently loses it during the race.
Charles Leclerc, on his home streets, is tasked with pursuing pole position, knowing that starting at the front on a track where overtaking is challenging can be a great opportunity to resume the quest for victory that was interrupted last year after the Austrian Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring in July.
The Maranello team hopes to revive its fortunes in Monaco, aware that both Mercedes and Aston Martin will bring technical updates that were supposed to debut in Imola but will now be seen this weekend. However, the track enclosed by the barriers provides limited insights into the cars’ development.
The Silver Arrow is ready to definitively give up on the “zero-pod” philosophy: the W14 B will also have a new suspension, so Mercedes aims to make a significant leap in quality, and it’s safe to bet that both Lewis Hamilton and George Russell have entertained the idea of aiming for pole position.
Furthermore, Aston Martin will bring a new bodywork: the AMR23 is considered the car with the best traction in slow corners, so it should excel in the Principality if Fernando Alonso can interpret the qualifying lap to the best of his ability, even though it’s not exactly his strong suit.
Show your support for Scuderia Ferrari with official merchandise collection! Click here to enter the F1 online Store and shop securely! And also get your F1 tickets for every race with VIP hospitality and unparalleled insider access. Click here for the best offers to support Charles and Carlos from the track!
The Prancing Horse team, in other words, will have a tough challenge ahead, hoping to break the dominance of Red Bull, who have been dominating with the RB19 since the first race of the 2023 Formula 1 campaign, collecting one-two finishes with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez.
But what Ferrari will we see this weekend in Monaco? Especially if there are variable weather conditions, it’s hard to imagine that new solutions will be introduced. However, it is worth noting that with the equipment sent to Monte Carlo, all the updates that will finally be installed the following week in Barcelona are also included.
The supply of spare parts has been completed, so the modifications to the rear suspension, which could be a surprise card to play in Monaco, will be present in the inventory. In Miami, the Scuderia debuted the new floor and the performance outcome was not exciting, although the data collected in aerodynamic tests was positive.
It is said that Ferrari wants to play it safe this weekend without taking unnecessary risks, relying on Charles Leclerc’s ability to push the limits of the SF-23 in the qualifying lap. They are aware that on the bumpy city circuit, having a car that can run close to the ground (like the RB19) will matter much less, considering that tire degradation will be practically zero. In short, the flaws of the red car should be mitigated, showcasing the qualities of the Maranello single-seater. Will the status quo be enough to stay ahead of everyone, or in order to curb the progress of their rivals will it be necessary to anticipate something in terms of updates, perhaps the rear suspension?
Don’t expect any revolutionary changes in the setup, only evolutions in the design of the arms to redirect the airflow differently. The option is not planned on paper, but surprises cannot be ruled out beforehand, according to Motorsport Italy.
