Russell: Ferrari’s Monaco Practice Pace Confirms Favorite Status

Ferrari's practice dominance at the Monaco Grand Prix has only strengthened their standing as the pre-event favorite, according to Mercedes driver George Russell. The Italian team led both sessions, with Lewis Hamilton topping FP2 ahead of Charles Leclerc, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen was third. Russell finished fourth, acknowledging Ferrari's inherent mechanical DNA suits the street circuit.

Why it matters:

Ferrari’s excellent low-speed performance and torque delivery have made them the benchmark in Monaco. This weekend could mark a turning point for the Scuderia, which has struggled to consistently challenge Red Bull and Mercedes in recent seasons. A strong result here would silence critics and boost morale ahead of a demanding triple-header.

The details:

• Russell: “We expected Ferrari to be the guys to beat. A lot of people thought it was just chat, but clearly they are the team to beat.”
• Mercedes made improvements from FP1 to FP2, but still ended the day nearly four tenths off Hamilton’s pace.
• “We knew out of the races so far this was going to be our most challenging,” Russell added. “It’s probably been slightly more than we hoped, but we made good progress.”
• Red Bull also impressed Russell, who called them “a bit of a surprise.”
• Ferrari’s chassis works particularly well on circuits with “warp in the corners,” where mechanical grip is crucial.

What’s next:

Russell is optimistic Mercedes can close the gap overnight, but admits Ferrari’s DNA on this track type is hard to overcome. Qualifying in Monaco is almost everything, and Ferrari’s one-lap pace looked formidable on Friday. If they carry that form into Saturday, Hamilton and Leclerc could lock out the front row – and the win.