Pembalap Ferrari Lewis Hamilton menargetkan start optimal pada Grand Prix Monako untuk merebut kemenangan dari Kimi Antonelli dan Max Verstappen.
Ia mengamankan posisi start ketiga dalam sesi kualifikasi Sabtu, 6 Juni 2026.
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Lintasan jalan raya Monte Carlo dikenal sangat sulit untuk menyalip, sehingga posisi start menjadi krusial. Regulasi baru musim 2026 memicu variasi performa mobil saat start.
Ferrari menunjukkan konsistensi start kuat sepanjang musim, sementara pemimpin klasemen Kimi Antonelli kerap mengalami kendala start bersama Mercedes.
Peluang tipis di trek lurus pendek menuju tikungan pertama menjadi fokus Ferrari.
"Now all attention turns to tomorrow, see how we can get the best start we've ever had and see if we can apply the pressure to these guys," kata Hamilton kepada Sky Sports F1.
Hamilton menyadari tantangan besar di lintasan sempit ini. Ia berkomitmen menekan dua pembalap di depannya sejak awal.
"I mean, we know how these races go. It's very difficult.
I don't think there's overtaking," tambahnya dalam konferensi pers.
Ia berharap akselerasi maksimal begitu lampu start padam.
"I hope that we can get a really good start and maybe apply some pressure to the two," tuturnya.
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Persaingan baris depan dipastikan ketat. "It's going to be very hard to beat these two.
You've got two great drivers who are in quick cars and have been very quick all weekend," jelas Hamilton.
Mantan juara dunia itu menegaskan akan terus mengganggu lawan.
"I'm going to still give it absolutely everything and try and hassle them as much as I can and try and force them into not making certain corners," pungkasnya.
Antonelli dan Verstappen Waspada
Kimi Antonelli memimpin klasemen dengan keunggulan 43 poin dari rekan setim George Russell setelah empat kemenangan beruntun. Ia memperbaiki catatan start buruk di Kanada.
"Starting in Montreal, for the first time I didn't lose… well, I still lost a place on Sunday, but for the first time I didn't lose like six or seven places, so it was a step forward," ujar Antonelli.
Ia memilih pendekatan realistis.
"It's a pretty short run into Turn 1 in Monaco, so just need to get a clean start, don't try to do the magic start, and then we'll see from there," katanya.
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Bos Mercedes Toto Wolff memberi instruksi khusus.
"I hope we get it right with the clutch and he needs to make himself wide like a tourist bus around Monaco," tuturnya kepada Sky Sports F1.
Wolff mengingatkan kelengahan bisa fatal. "If you lose the start, or if you're not there, it's going to be really difficult," tegasnya.
Max Verstappen yang start kedua mengakui perlu keberuntungan. "We need a bit of luck to try to jump Kimi into Turn 1," ucapnya.
Ia bercanda memberi saran pada Antonelli. "So, when the lights go out, you (Antonelli) wait one second.
That's my advice!" guraunya.
Pengamat F1 Jenson Button memprediksi drama di tikungan pertama.
"The exciting thing is Turn 1 - neither of the first two have had a good start this year, and then Lewis is in third," ujarnya.
"It's so close. It's a short run to Turn 1.
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There's going to be some action," kata Button.
