Fernando Alonso said today that Mercedes is favourite to win in Monaco – but adds that he’ll accept that as long as he can finish ahead of his main title rivals.
“The feeling is good, the team is confident, as we saw we had a competitive package, getting both our cars onto the podium in Barcelona,” said Alonso . “However, Monaco is a unique track where you need a special set-up and confidence in your driving.
“We have had two podiums here in the last couple of years, so we should be competitive again and I hope to get a good result. We can expect Mercedes, who have been on pole for the last three races, to be very strong again and remember they were on pole position here last year with Michael [Schumacher], although he lost that place with a penalty.
“We know how difficult it is to overtake here, so maybe that makes them favourite here. But we must not forget our main target which is the championship, and in that battle, Vettel and Raikkonen are ahead of us, so if Mercedes has to win one race, maybe this is the one and we must just concentrate on finishing ahead of the others.”
Having said that he’d accept being beaten by Mercedes he added that Monaco does have a special meaning.
“Of course we want to win the championship, but Monaco is a special race, let’s say the most important race of the championship. Because everyone in the world has heard something about Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500 and Le Mans, the three races that everyone knows about even if they are not motorsport fans.
“Here we are in Monte Carlo and it’s been many years since Ferrari has managed to win here, and for me personally I could be the first man to win for three different teams and for sure that is a huge motivation to do it.”
Regarding what he needed to win, he said: “A good lap on Saturday finding a little something more than on the other laps, then a good start, while race pace and tyre degradation don’t count for much.
“You also want a clean strategy, which works well and hope that the Safety Car does not come out at the wrong time. Here the area where we have to up our performance more than at other races is qualifying, historically the point on which we have to work the most.”
Meanwhile Alonso has reserved judgement on the planned Pirelli changes.
“I have not formed an opinion on what effect that might have, because we are still waiting to find out what will be the final changes to the tyres. When we know exactly what their characteristics will be and probably we must wait until we have raced on them first, then we will be able to form an idea. From the Ferrari side, we are not taking too much notice of the tyres, as we have an important race to deal with this weekend and we know that the tyres are the same for everyone.”
Adam Cooper F1 
Mercedes’ good qualifying form will be a big plus at Monaco, and I think the tyres will be less of an issue than at other circuits. What isn’t in their favor is the way they tend to have everything well in hand and let it all slip away.