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Riccardo Ceccarelli suspects that Ferrari may face “a bit of internal fighting” between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton for supremacy at the 2026 F1 Monaco Grand Prix.
The travelling circus of Formula 1 heads to the streets of the Principality this weekend, and a lot of the paddock believes Ferrari are the favourites to win the Monaco GP. While the SF-26 is not the best car this term, the roads of Monte Carlo are expected to suit their chassis well.
It is even said that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff is on edge about Ferrari ahead of the Monaco GP, as he fears the Scuderia will be able to end the Silver Arrows’ unbeaten start to 2026. The slow corners in Monte Carlo are likely to prove restrictive for the Mercedes W17.
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Ferrari contending for pole in Monaco could see ‘fighting’ between Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton
Leclerc is also a specialist around his home track, with the Ferrari star scoring pole position for the Monaco GP in 2021, 2022 and 2024. Also, Leclerc secured an emotional Monaco GP win in 2024, and the 28-year-old is now many people’s favourite ahead of this year’s event.
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But Hamilton also heads to the Monaco GP on the back of his best result with Ferrari so far, after finishing second in Canada. So, Ceccarelli – who has worked as Leclerc’s mental coach since the Monegasque was 11 years old – is intrigued to see how Ferrari approach the race.
“It will be interesting to see Lewis’ approach,” Ceccarelli told Motorsport.com. “And it will be intriguing to see how Ferrari tackle this race – especially as all eyes will be on the team, as they aim for their first win of the season.”
He added: “They are both professional drivers and tend to be fairly measured in what they say, aside from some heated comments. But they’ve always smoothed things over between themselves. Well, in Monaco, a bit of internal fighting could break out.
“When the two Ferrari drivers find themselves battling for pole position, and maybe even the win, as has been the case so far, a battle could break out.
“Monte Carlo does not give you the opportunity to attempt an outside overtake because, unfortunately, once the train has formed, unless there are significant differences in tyres or a kamikaze-style attack, it is very difficult to overtake.
“The rivalry will certainly be on full display in qualifying. Then, if both Ferraris start from the front row, it’s obvious we could see a fierce start, because whoever heads into the first corner in the lead takes home a big match point.”
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Leclerc will be desperate to lead Ferrari’s hopes at the Monaco GP this weekend, given that it is his home race but also after enduring what he called potentially the “worst weekend of my career” in Canada. He sealed P4 in Montreal, but came home 33.383s behind Hamilton.
Hamilton also out-qualified Leclerc to start the Canadian GP from P5 and P8, respectively, as well as out-qualifying the Monegasque for the Sprint in Montreal. And qualifying in Monaco is always one of the most important sessions on the entire F1 calendar given the tight track.
It has already been suggested since the Canadian GP that the atmosphere on Hamilton and Leclerc’s sides of the Ferrari garage is diametrically opposed now, too, after the former had his best weekend in red to date amid the latter’s misery in Montreal. So, Leclerc has every reason to want to respond in Monaco, and Hamilton will hope to enhance his momentum.
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