The Formula 1 paddock visits the Montmeló circuit to compete in the sixth round of the world championship, although it has the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix in its sights, one of the dates that everyone marks in red on the calendar.
The Principality is one of the places with the most history within the category, for a reason it is part of what is known as the ‘Triple Crown’, which consists of winning the aforementioned race through the streets of the country of the Côte d’Azur, the 500 Miles Indianapolis and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Winning in Monaco is quite a feat, and this season, both Ferrari and Red Bull are running as almost the only candidates for victory, although there are those who think that a third party in contention can join the fight.
McLaren driver Lando Norris, despite Mercedes yet to prove they have a car to match the favorites in 2022, thinks the Silver Arrows can spring an upset in Monaco.
The German team has managed to add two podiums at the beginning of the year, but if you look at it with perspective, they are unreal, because in Bahrain, if it were not for the withdrawals of Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, Lewis Hamilton would not have been third, like than in Australia, with George Russell in the same situation with the withdrawal of the reigning world champion.
In Miami they seemed to show signs of improvement by even leading in free practice, but their level faded in qualifying, where they fell in Q2 with the young Briton and were barely sixth with the seven-time champion. Already in the race, they managed to advance to being ‘the best of the rest’, although still very far from Red Bull and Ferrari, 20 seconds behind the winner in just ten laps after the resumption of the safety car.
However, Norris is wary of them and believes that they will be ahead sooner or later: “Was Mercedes’ improvement in Miami surprising? proved from day one that they have one of the best cars on the grid in these sections.”
“I think the weekend in Miami they managed to maximize the potential of their car,” said the Englishman. “But that’s what has been happening in Formula 1 for years, there are circuits that are better suited to a car, and others are less so.”
“They could finish up front in Monaco,” added Lando Norris, who is seventh overall with 35 drivers, much of which came from his performance at Imola, where he finished on the podium.
Mercedes, for its part, faces the European tour from third place in the constructors’ world championship with 95 units , 62 behind Ferrari, which leads the table, so they should not be misled if the improvement of the silver arrows is real.
