F1 Monaco FP3: Ferrari wants pole, but Mercedes is in the fight too
The final practice session around the streets of Monte Carlo was always expected to provide the clearest indication yet of the pecking order ahead of qualifying. For Ferrari, FP3 represented the last opportunity to validate the overnight work carried out on the SF-26 and ensure both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton had the confidence needed to attack one of the most important qualifying sessions of the season.
In Monaco, outright performance is only part of the equation. Drivers need complete trust in their machinery to brush the barriers lap after lap, and much of Ferrari’s work overnight was focused on giving its drivers exactly that confidence.
Ferrari evaluates overnight setup changes on the SF-26
Just as they had done on Friday, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton wasted no time heading onto the circuit. Both Ferrari drivers were waiting in the pit lane before the green light and immediately began their programmes on the soft compound, which had proven particularly effective on the SF-26 during the opening day of running.
Early radio exchanges focused on power unit mapping and rotation-related settings, part of the standard preparation process before pushing for performance. After the usual tyre warm-up procedures, both drivers quickly began exploring the limits of the circuit.
The first signs were encouraging. Compared to Friday, Ferrari’s balance appeared largely unchanged, with the SF-26 once again demonstrating a very stable and responsive front end. The opening laps were primarily exploratory as the drivers assessed track conditions, but Ferrari immediately found itself near the top of the timesheets.
Lewis Hamilton received feedback from race engineer Riccardo Adami’s replacement Carlo Santi regarding improvements needed in the final sector, including suggestions to optimise brake balance. Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, did not receive similar comments, although there were signs that the Monegasque driver was still not entirely comfortable with the braking behaviour of his car.
On two separate occasions, Charles Leclerc ran slightly deep into corners, including one moment at the end of the tunnel. Lewis Hamilton continued to push hard and, despite making a couple of mistakes, produced a lap that was seven tenths faster than his teammate’s benchmark. Even so, the seven-time world champion reported not feeling fully comfortable through Turns 7 and 8.
Mercedes takes a step forward despite Ferrari’s strong handling
Charles Leclerc continued refining his performance, although outright lap time gains did not arrive immediately. Part of his programme involved gathering data on tyre behaviour and degradation, a key area for Ferrari throughout the weekend.
Eventually, the Ferrari driver returned to the top of the timesheets, while Lewis Hamilton switched focus to a series of race simulation laps with a heavier fuel load. During these runs, Ferrari identified a slight lack of rotation at Turn 7, prompting Santi to recommend the use of pre-programmed steering wheel settings to improve cornering performance.
Leclerc alternated between race pace work and qualifying simulations, gradually improving his lap times. One notable aspect of Ferrari’s programme was the continuous attention paid to cooling the car’s internal components. Despite relatively moderate ambient temperatures, managing heat remained crucial to maintaining optimal performance from both the power unit and the tyres.
After approximately 35 minutes, both Ferrari drivers returned to the garage for setup adjustments. Significant front-end changes followed, with Charles Leclerc’s SF-26 receiving four additional clicks of front wing, while Lewis Hamilton’s car received two.
Once back on track, Ferrari continued to look exceptionally composed. In terms of overall handling, the SF-26 arguably appeared to be the cleanest and most predictable car on the circuit. However, another story was beginning to emerge.
Mercedes had clearly made progress overnight.
Kimi Antonelli joins the pole position battle
The revised setup on the Mercedes W17 appeared to be working exactly as intended. Both Mercedes drivers looked significantly more comfortable than they had on Friday, particularly in the slower sections of the circuit.
Even so, Ferrari still seemed easier to drive and maintained an advantage in rotation through several corners. A perfect example came at Sainte Dévote, where the SF-26 was able to attack the kerbs more aggressively and get back on the throttle earlier than its rivals.
Analysing one of Charles Leclerc’s quicker laps revealed a small rear-end movement approaching the apex of Turn 1. Whether this was the result of experimentation or simply tyre wear remained unclear, although the latter appeared more likely.
As the session entered its final phase, the leading teams fitted fresh soft tyres and prepared for qualifying simulations. Charles Leclerc’s first attempt was compromised by traffic throughout the lap, culminating in a major interruption at Rascasse where he was forced to brake heavily to avoid slower cars.
Despite the frustration, the Ferrari driver remained composed and improved on his following run. However, by then he no longer had the maximum grip available from a fresh set of tyres.
Lewis Hamilton produced a very similar lap time, but the real surprise came from Kimi Antonelli. The Mercedes driver delivered an outstanding lap that looked very much like a qualifying simulation, immediately placing himself among the favourites for pole position.
Bearman’s crash limits the final preparations
Shortly afterwards, the session was interrupted by a red flag following Oliver Bearman’s accident at Massenet. The stoppage left teams with only a few minutes to complete their final preparations before qualifying.
When the session resumed, there was little opportunity for significant improvements. The overall picture remained largely unchanged.
Ferrari clearly possesses a highly competitive package and remains firmly in the battle for pole position. However, locking out the front row no longer appears to be a straightforward task. Mercedes, particularly with Kimi Antonelli’s impressive pace, has emerged as a genuine threat. Max Verstappen also cannot be ruled out, while McLaren continues to keep much of its true potential hidden.
With less than two and a half hours separating the teams from qualifying, the battle for pole position in Monaco remains wide open. Ferrari may still be among the favourites, but the competition is now much closer than Friday’s results suggested.
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