{"id":10622455,"date":"2026-06-04T17:40:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T15:40:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acm.mc\/les-favoris-a-lassaut-des-rues-de-la-principaute\/"},"modified":"2026-06-04T17:47:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T15:47:04","slug":"the-favorite-contenders-hit-the-streets-of-the-principality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acm.mc\/en\/the-favorite-contenders-hit-the-streets-of-the-principality\/","title":{"rendered":"The favorite contenders hit the streets of the Principality"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Grand Prix de Monaco 2026 kicks off this Friday. On the Principality\u2019s circuit, the battle promises to be intense between favorites Antonelli, Leclerc, and Norris. It\u2019s a formidable grid, which will also have to adapt to new technical regulations imposed by the FIA.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The action is about to begin ! The Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Grand Prix de Monaco 2026<\/strong> kicks off this Friday, June 5<\/strong>, for the top category. The day will be marked by the first two free practice sessions at 1:30 pm and 5:00 pm. It will be followed on Saturday by the EL3 (12:30 p.m.), the final session before qualifying.<\/p>\n

Even before the first laps of the weekend, the Stade Louis II saw drivers in action on Wednesday, June 3. As part of the Racing Stars Football Cup, Pierre Gasly<\/strong>, Isack Hadjar<\/strong>, and Carlos Sainz<\/strong> took on the Barbagiuans of Monaco : the drivers\u2019 team suffered a heavy 6-2 defeat. But it was a good warm-up for their first battles on the track.<\/p>\n

A must-see on the weekend : the qualifying session on Saturday, June 6<\/strong>, at 4 pm. Drivers will have to push themselves to the limit to stand out and secure a desired pole position in the Principality. This is the moment when drivers can really stand out. The race will take place, as usual, on Sunday<\/strong> at 3 pm.<\/p>\n

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Antonelli facing the Masters of the Principality<\/h3>\n

Undefeated since the Chinese Grand Prix, Kimi Antonelli<\/strong> has established himself as the undisputed leader so far this season. With four consecutive wins and a consistent presence on the podium since Melbourne, the statistics point to another top-tier performance for the Mercedes<\/strong> driver. Although he currently boasts the fastest pace behind the wheel of the most competitive car on the grid, the Italian will nevertheless have to contend with a mixed result in the Principality. In 2025, his weekend ended with an 18th<\/sup>-place finish in the race, three laps behind the leader. Despite this previous experience, Kimi Antonelli heads into the Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Grand Prix de Monaco 2026<\/strong> as the natural favourite.<\/p>\n

Local hero Charles Leclerc<\/strong> is also a clear contender for victory following his win in 2024 and his 2nd<\/sup> place finish last year. While the Scuderia Ferrari<\/strong> car lacks top speed on the straights, it excels in slow corners. On the twisty Monaco Circuit, this technical characteristic could tip the scales in favor of the Italian team. His confidence on the track is stronger now that he has just extended his contract with Scuderia Ferrari. Having already secured three pole positions on home ground, he knows that dominance on Saturday is the cornerstone of Sunday\u2019s success.<\/p>\n