Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton says he will need "the best start we've ever had" to have a realistic chance of challenging for victory in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.
Hamilton qualified third, with world championship leader Kimi Antonelli taking pole for Mercedes ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen.
Monaco's qualifying session is seen as perhaps the most crucial of the season, with the difficulty of overtaking in normal conditions meaning the starting order - especially towards the front of the grid - is unlikely to change significantly following the first lap.
However, with new regulations introduced at the start of this season, variance in getaways has been far greater than at any other point in the sport's recent history.
Ferrari have made consistently strong starts, while Antonelli's struggles off the line have been the only notable blemish on the world championship leader's superb start to the season.
Given Verstappen has also struggled with starts in his Red Bull, Hamilton admitted he senses just a small opportunity on the short run to the first corner in Monaco.
Speaking after qualifying, Hamilton told Your Site F1: "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."
Asked in a separate press conference about his prospects of victory, Hamilton added: "I mean, we know how these races go. It's very difficult. I don't think there's overtaking.
"I hope that we can get a really good start and maybe apply some pressure to the two.
"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.
"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."
Antonelli has won four successive races to establish a 43-point lead over his team-mate George Russell at the top of the standings, with the margin a major surprise given the Brit's pre-season status as clear title favourite.
Antonelli has had to overcome being passed by at least one car behind him at every race this season, although his best effort came last time out in Canada when he retained second by passing Russell despite Lando Norris overtaking both Mercedes.
The Silver Arrows appear to have made progress with some of the issues that plagued their starts at the opening races, and Antonelli is optimistic he can hold the lead.
He said: "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.
"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."
Mercedes chief Toto Wolff accepted the importance of Sunday's start and urged Antonelli to make his car "wide like a tourist bus".
Wolff told Your Site F1: "I hope we get it right with the clutch and he needs to make himself wide like a tourist bus around Monaco.
"If you lose the start, or if you're not there, it's going to be really difficult."
Having uncharacteristically struggled with his own starts, Verstappen admitted that he "needs a bit of luck" to get past Antonelli at the first corner.
The four-time world champion was enthused by the unexpected competitiveness of his car and will be looking to use his experience to outsmart Antonelli off the line.
"We need a bit of luck to try to jump Kimi into Turn 1," Verstappen told Your Site F1. "We'll see."
Asked if he had any advice for Antonelli, Verstappen joked: "So, when the lights go out, you (Antonelli) wait one second. That's my advice!"
Former world champion and Your Site F1 pundit Jenson Button is expecting fireworks at the start given the advantage Ferrari have held so far in 2026.
Button said: "The exciting thing is Turn 1 - neither of the first two have had a good start this year, and then Lewis is in third.
"It's so close. It's a short run to Turn 1. There's going to be some action."
Sunday June 7
6.50am: F3 Feature Race
8.30am: F2 Feature Race
10.50am: Porsche Supercup
12.30pm: Monaco GP build-up: Grand Prix Sunday*
2pm: THE MONACO GRAND PRIX*
4pm: Monaco GP reaction: Chequered Flag*
*Also on Your Site Main Event
Watch the Monaco Grand Prix, the first of six races in eight weeks, live on Your Site F1 this weekend.
