Antonelli's Monaco Grand Prix Pole
Kimi Antonelli Claims Pole Position at Monaco Grand Prix, Edging Max Verstappen
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Nineteen-year-old Kimi Antonelli delivered what he called a "magic lap" to snatch pole position for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, beating Max Verstappen by just 0.043 seconds. The Mercedes driver clocked a 1m 12.051s on his final Q3 run, nudging ahead of Verstappen's 1m 12.094s in the closing moments of qualifying RacingNews365.
Lewis Hamilton qualified third for Ferrari, while Antonelli's title rival and Mercedes teammate George Russell could only manage sixth — 0.394 seconds off the pace. With overtaking nearly impossible on Monaco's narrow streets, Antonelli is now the strong favorite to claim a fifth straight grand prix win BBC Sport.
How Antonelli Pulled Off the Final-Lap Stunner
The session came down to the wire. On the initial Q3 runs, Antonelli led Verstappen by just 0.001 seconds Sports Illustrated. Verstappen then struck back, posting a 1m 12.094s to go provisional fastest. Charles Leclerc briefly threatened at the top before crashing into the wall at Tabac, ending Ferrari's hopes of a front-row start.
Antonelli responded with a clean, committed final lap. "I was able to put it all together," the 19-year-old said after the session RacingNews365. Analysts are already comparing the effort to legendary Monaco laps by Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher Total Motorsport.
Russell Struggles as Antonelli Extends Championship Lead
George Russell is having a tough weekend. He qualified sixth and admitted, "I just don't feel like I have got any grip" Warrington Guardian. The gap to Antonelli in the championship already stands at 43 points — 131 to 88. A Antonelli win on Sunday would push that lead to at least 50 points.
Russell's woes are not only on track. On Thursday, he was spotted pushing his broken-down classic Fiat Jolly through Monaco's famous tunnel Motorsport.com. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff publicly warned rivals to "never write off" Russell, but the pressure on the British driver is clearly growing.
Ferrari Fades After Topping Friday Practice
Ferrari arrived in Monaco as genuine contenders. Lewis Hamilton topped the second practice session on Friday, and Charles Leclerc — a Monaco native — looked sharp The Guardian. Ferrari's SF-26 car has shown clear strength through slow corners, exactly the kind of track Monaco demands.
But Saturday told a different story. Leclerc's late crash in Q3 may have caused gearbox damage, which could trigger a grid penalty if a replacement is needed The Race. Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur also missed the session after being hospitalized for medical reasons, adding uncertainty to the team's race-day preparations.
Antonelli Eyes a Feat Only Hamilton and Verstappen Have Managed
A win on Sunday would give Antonelli five consecutive grand prix victories. Among current drivers, only Hamilton and Verstappen have achieved that streak AP News. Antonelli has also converted each of his first three career pole positions into wins — a record no other F1 driver has matched.
Verstappen starts second and is not giving up. Red Bull called the front-row result a strong recovery from a poor Friday Total Motorsport. Hamilton in third gives Ferrari a genuine shot if strategy or safety cars shake up the race. But at Monaco, where pole position so often decides the winner, the edge firmly belongs to Antonelli.
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