After a thrilling first race of the triple header in Imola, the paddock makes the relatively short drive along the Mediterranean coast to another of its most iconic locations. With just 22 points covering the top three drivers in the championship and new rules designed to add more variation to the racing, there’s plenty to get excited about ahead of Monaco…
1. Title fight closing up
You can be forgiven for seeing the Miami Grand Prix and believing it was certain to become a two-horse race between the McLaren pair for the drivers’ championship this year, such was the advantage that Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris had over the rest of the field.
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Fast-forward two weeks, and Imola totally changed that feeling once again. Max Verstappen continues to be a threat in qualifying, but this time he also had a car that was competitive in race trim on all kinds of tyre compounds. Once in the lead after his brilliant move on Piastri at Tamburello (see the clip below), he never looked troubled.
With Norris taking three points off Piastri himself, the top three drivers all closed up in the standings, with Piastri’s lead cut to 13 points ahead of his team mate, and Verstappen just 22 adrift. You don’t need me to tell you that’s less than a race victory, and any one of the three could leave Monaco in the lead.
Red Bull brought upgrades to the last two races, and while their form looks like it will still ebb and flow a little, with Verstappen so regularly picking up solid points he’s showing himself fully capable of remaining in the championship battle throughout.
%20(3).webp?ssl=1 "Isack Hadjar on Red Bull, the daunting second seat next to Max Verstappen and faith in his ability")
.webp?ssl=1 "The state of play at McLaren after three rounds of the 2026 season")
