Lewis Hamilton’s chances of winning the Monaco GP receive boost as the FIA announce new changes

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Ferrari have been tipped to be the favourites at the Monaco Grand Prix due to the prowess of the SF-26’s aerodynamics package, and the FIA’s latest changes to the regulations for the upcoming race weekend have further bolstered their chances.

Following the clinching of his best result yet in Ferrari colours at the last round of racing in Montreal, Kimi Antonelli hinted at the possibility of Lewis Hamilton securing his first win for the Scuderia at the next round on the calendar: the Monaco Grand Prix.

Ferrari’s impressive chassis is understood to be the leading factor in why they have been so competitive this season, especially when considering the sub-optimal performance of their power unit.

The Circuit de Monaco is riddled with low-speed corners, and so the SF-26 is expected to come alive in the Principality, which also happens to be the home race of Hamilton’s highly ambitious teammate, Charles Leclerc.

Following a difficult race weekend in Canada for the Monegasque, Leclerc is expected to hit the ground running in Monte Carlo. He is a three-time pole-sitter at his home Grand Prix, and won the 2024 edition of the jewel in F1’s crown.

• READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton ‘shift’ at Ferrari spotted after ‘convincingly’ dominating Charles Leclerc

The FIA are enforcing further changes to limit top speed at the Monaco Grand Prix

In the lead-up to the current generation of cars’ first foray around the streets of Monaco, the FIA announced that the challengers would not be utilising active aerodynamics due to the tight and twisting nature of the circuit.

For safety reasons, officials are against the idea of using Straight Mode in areas where the tyres are not subjected to maximum lateral or traction loads, which rules the entirety of the 2.074-mile-long circuit out of use for it.

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According to a report by Motorsport Italia, the FIA has now introduced further limitations on the power curve of each team’s power unit to limit the top speeds of the 2026 cars, with the hope of achieving ‘two objectives’.

The sport’s governing body wants to limit the speed of F1 cars in certain areas, such as a climb up to the Casino, the tunnel section, and the main straight. On top of this, they want to stamp out any rapid approaches into areas that have a high risk of crashes, such as turn one.

For Ferrari, this is great news, as all of their superior rivals on the engine side of things will be hindered, while the Scuderia will be able to flex their prowess in the corners as normal.

Hamilton last stood on the top step of the podium in Monaco during his title-winning 2019 campaign with Mercedes, but a return could definitely be on the cards next weekend.

• READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton did something strange when presented with a Mercedes cap at the Monaco Grand Prix