Lando Norris: Ferrari's 'punishment' of engine weakness makes them Monaco favorites

Lando Norris has identified the very characteristic that hurts Ferrari on most circuits — their lack of top-end power — as the reason they enter the Monaco Grand Prix as favorites. The Scuderia's decision to run a smaller turbo and generate more downforce creates a penalty on power-hungry straights, but in Monaco, where corners dominate, that trade-off becomes a weapon.

Why it matters:

Ferrari's unique power unit philosophy has made them inconsistent this season, but Monaco’s unique layout could turn their biggest weakness into a decisive strength. A win here would be a major boost for Charles Leclerc chasing a second home victory and Lewis Hamilton aiming for a fourth in the principality.

The details:

• Ferrari’s chassis excels in low-speed corners, and the team intentionally opted for a smaller turbo that sacrifices straight-line speed for low-end torque and downforce.
• This “punishment,” as Norris put it, means Ferrari generates a lot of drag, making them vulnerable on long straights but giving them a clear edge on tight, twisty circuits like Monaco.
• McLaren arrives with optimism but acknowledges Ferrari and Mercedes have been stronger recently. Norris said: “We know where we stand … Ferrari is not the quickest on the straights. But that's because they have a lot of downforce and a lot of drag, so it's kind of their own punishment that they have given themselves, which gives them some advantages, and that advantage will definitely show this weekend.”

What's next:

The battle for pole will likely come down to Ferrari vs. McLaren, with Mercedes also in the mix. If Ferrari can avoid the strategic errors that have plagued them in recent races, Leclerc and Hamilton have a strong shot at locking out the front row. The rest of the grid will have to find a way to overcome the Scuderia's low-speed dominance.