A two-on-one showdown this weekend on the track of the 82nd Monaco Grand Prix

More than ever, it's time to set your gold watch, as this motorsport monument welcomes a top-tier title sponsor for the first time in its long and rich history.

At the fourth round, it will be exactly... time to negotiate a unique turn. The eighth of the 2025 F1 season, which includes no fewer than 24. That of the Tag Heuer Monaco Grand Prix.

Welcome to the sea and sky, where the stars of the track will once again be on the edge of the line, without a safety net. The three-step waltz, as traditional as it could be, of this 82nd edition, held in apnea, just after Imola and just before Barcelona, ​​is looming ahead: warm-up laps this Friday, the hunt for the sacred pole this Saturday, and the battle of the rails this Sunday.

Piastri as a favorite?

And now? Only a clever person can predict the outcome of the imminent street battle. The only near certainty: we're heading for another two-on-one showdown. Since hostilities began on March 16th, on the other side of the globe, in Australia, McLaren and Red Bull, the current dominant forces, have been sharing the cake, leaving only tiny crumbs for Mercedes (3 podiums) and Ferrari (1 sprint race victory + 1 podium).

Holders of the supreme constructors' title, announced as the overwhelming favorite at the start of the season, the Woking team, whose capital letter appears in fifteen copies on the Monaco tablets, currently holds the lead. But it's not Lando Norris, the son of the house, who is leading the way as the big boss, Zak Brown, imagined.

In the space of two months, Oscar Piastri has just racked up three pole positions and four triumphs. Enough to firmly wrest the championship lead from his teammate, who was unable to make a dent in his performance after his blistering start. He thus appears as a very serious contender for the crown.

Last Sunday, on the "old school" track of the Emilia-Romagna GP, the young Australian phenomenon had a clear horizon as the lights went out. A great opportunity to pull away by lining up a fourth consecutive victory, we thought... Wrong way! Surprised by an imperial Verstappen at the first braking point, then victim of his team's strategy which shortened the initial stint, he finished a little frustrated on the small step of the "box" (3rd).

Needless to say, his reaction will be closely scrutinized this weekend. How will he swallow the pill? Narrowly beaten by Charles Leclerc, who was finally master of his own house twelve months ago , will Oscar Piastri lead McLaren back to the top of the Rock 17 years after the last day of Monaco's glory, to date, signed Lewis Hamilton (2008)?

There's no doubt that the inconsistent Norris, now back to within 13 lengths, would love to take on the role. To that end, on the dizzying Monaco slide, which doesn't forgive the slightest slip-up, it would be best to avoid making any further mistakes. A nasty habit that costs dearly, mind you...

The Red Bull ogre, for his part, has long since banished the word "fault" from his vocabulary. Those predicting the end of the crowned king's reign in 2025 will have to be patient. There's no guarantee of winning the prize. Because whenever possible, the "Number 1" isn't shy about getting the most out of an RB21 that's just as complex to operate as its predecessor. Recent masterful performances at Suzuka and Imola attest to this.

Winner here in 2021 and 2023, Max Verstappen seems to prefer odd-numbered years in the Principality. Never two without three?

As usual, the first and foremost challenge will be to navigate the crucial turning point in qualifying this Saturday afternoon. From 16 to 17, the moment of truth will be worth its weight in gold.

Set your watches and place your bets!