Practice 3 Report - Antonelli edges Ferrari in Monaco FP3

Charles Leclerc
© Ferrari

Kimi Antonelli delivered a statement lap ahead of qualifying by topping a frantic final practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix, ending Ferrari’s clean sweep of practice sessions and underlining Mercedes’ status as a genuine pole contender.

The Formula 1 championship leader posted a 1m12.720s on soft tyres to finish 0.327s clear of Charles Leclerc, with Lewis Hamilton just 0.004s further back as Ferrari settled for second and third after leading both Friday sessions.

Saturday morning began with Ferrari continuing where it left off on Friday. Leclerc initially led the way with a 1m15.184s before Hamilton became the first driver into the 1m14s with a 1m14.390s. However, improving track conditions soon brought the rest of the field into play.

Lando Norris briefly put McLaren on top after overnight repairs to his car following Friday’s stoppage and a subsequent curfew breach by the team. But attention quickly shifted to Mercedes and Ferrari as the battle for fastest lap intensified.

George Russell became the first driver below 1m14s with a 1m13.902s before Leclerc responded with a 1m13.748s. Antonelli then showed his pace with a 1m13.374s, and after a series of exchanges at the top of the timesheets, the Italian teenager produced the decisive lap of the session.

Having already lost time behind a slow Cadillac after setting two purple sectors on an earlier attempt, Antonelli finally put everything together with 19 minutes remaining. His 1m12.720s comfortably eclipsed Hamilton’s Friday benchmark and proved untouchable.

Leclerc improved to 1m13.047s but could not threaten the Mercedes, while Hamilton ended just 0.004s behind his team-mate on 1m13.051s. Russell was unable to maximise his final runs amid heavy traffic and finished fourth.

The session was interrupted by a red flag with 14 minutes remaining when Oliver Bearman crashed his Haas at Massenet, bringing the total number of red flags across the three practice sessions to four. Once running resumed, the final minutes saw all 21 remaining drivers flood onto the circuit, creating the usual Monaco traffic chaos.

Norris and Hamilton both voiced frustrations over traffic in the closing stages, but no significant improvements followed. Russell held fourth ahead of Max Verstappen, while Oscar Piastri was sixth. Gabriel Bortoleto impressed again in seventh for Audi, ahead of Isack Hadjar, Norris and Nico Hulkenberg.