Why Carlos Sainz and a Rising Red Bull Star Could Shine in the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix

The Monaco Grand Prix has long rewarded precision, patience, and confidence behind the wheel. Ayrton Senna, hailed as one of the greatest drivers of all time, described driving Monaco as “an out-of-body experience where he was no longer driving consciously.” Senna proved that, unlike many circuits on the Formula One calendar, outright pace is not always the deciding factor around the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. With qualifying expected to play a crucial role once again, drivers who can extract maximum performance over one lap could find themselves in contention for a strong result on Sunday. Among the twenty-two-man grid, I expect that proven veteran Carlos Sainz and a rising Red Bull star will be the ones to watch ahead of this race weekend, given recent race results and track history.

Carlos Sainz enters Monaco with valuable experience and an impeccable record. Since the 31-year-old’s Formula One debut in 2015, he’s scored points in 100% of Monaco Grand Prix races for five different teams. This makes him the only driver in Formula One history to do so, dating back almost 100 years. The Spanish driver has also recorded three podiums in Monaco, including P2 in 2021 and 2022, and P3 in 2024. The veteran Williams driver will look to secure a strong result this weekend on a track where racecraft and precision are often more important than outright speed. While Williams may not currently possess the pace of the front-running teams, the Spain native will look to build upon his back-to-back P9 finishes in the 2026 Miami Grand Prix and 2026 Canadian Grand Prix. If the Spaniard can maximize his qualifying performance on Saturday, look for him to deliver yet another strong point finish during Sunday’s race.

One emerging talent who could also make an impact this year is Isack Hadjar. While it may only be his second year in Formula One, the 21-year-old has undoubtedly proven why he deserves the second RedBull seat. Last year, the French driver had a standout 2025 rookie season, scoring 38 points and securing a stunning maiden podium at the 2025 Zandvoort Grand Prix. The Paris native also finished P6 at the 2025 Monaco Grand Prix, proving that he possessed the elite instinct, car control, and race pace required to conquer one of motorsport’s most dangerous and unforgiving street circuits. His impressive qualifying pace, podium finish, and multiple top-10 finishes earned him Rookie of the Year honors during his 2025 rookie campaign, proving the 21-year-old French racer deserved a promotion to Red Bull for the 2026 season.

This year, Hadjar has impressed throughout the 2026 season. Despite a season start riddled with mechanical issues, the Algerian driver secured his season-best P5 result last race weekend at the 2026 Canadian Grand Prix. Throughout the Montreal Race weekend, he’s showcased his best pace yet. During Q2, the young star topped the timesheet with a 1:12.975, leading Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris. This time, the five-foot-six driver led his teammate Max Verstappen by a whopping 0.5 seconds. Hadjar’s strong pace continued throughout the race, securing P5 despite collecting 20 seconds' worth of time penalties.

Monaco presents a unique challenge for younger drivers due to its unforgiving barriers and limited margin for error. That being said, Hadjar has shown that he can compete at the front of the grid so far this year. He has demonstrated the confidence necessary to succeed and a willingness to push the car to its limits. This could prove especially valuable during Saturday’s 2026 Monaco Grand Prix qualifying, where every tenth of a second counts.

Looking ahead to the weekend, both drivers could aim to build on their already impressive Monaco Grand Prix results. Sainz's experience and Hadjar's fearless approach could make them two of the most intriguing drivers to watch throughout the race weekend. Their performances could prove especially important as both Williams and Red Bull continue to search for stronger results after falling short of expectations in the early stages of the 2026 season. With Monaco rewarding precision, confidence, and qualifying pace more than almost any other circuit on the calendar, both Carlos Sainz and Isack Hadjar enter the weekend with legitimate reasons to deliver strong points finishes at the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix.