Monaco GP 2026
JUNE 6, 2026
Qualifying Report - Antonelli storms to Monaco pole
© Mercedes
Kimi Antonelli claimed a sensational Monaco Grand Prix pole position after edging Max Verstappen in a dramatic late qualifying battle.
The Mercedes driver produced a 1m12.051s on his final Q3 run, beating Verstappen by just 0.043s as he strengthened his grip on the championship lead and put himself in prime position for Sunday’s race.
Lewis Hamilton qualified third for Ferrari with a 1m12.279s, 0.228s off pole, while team-mate Charles Leclerc was fourth on a 1m12.351s after clipping the barriers in the final sector at the end of qualifying.
Antonelli had already looked strong after topping FP3, but Ferrari entered Saturday as the expected benchmark after taking 1-2 finishes in both Friday practice sessions. Instead, Mercedes and Red Bull found more when it mattered.
Antonelli initially grabbed provisional pole with a 1m12.375s, just 0.001s quicker than Verstappen, while Hamilton sat third. Leclerc, meanwhile, had to abandon his first Q3 attempt after a moment at Massenet, then backed off again before finally completing a representative lap.
Leclerc briefly moved ahead by 0.024s, but Verstappen then delivered a 1m12.094s before Antonelli answered with the decisive lap. Hamilton improved to third, leaving Ferrari to settle for the second row.
Isack Hadjar completed a strong Red Bull showing in fifth with a 1m12.434s, ahead of George Russell, who struggled to sixth in the second Mercedes on a 1m12.445s.
McLaren filled the fourth row, Oscar Piastri seventh with a 1m12.624s and Lando Norris eighth on a 1m12.765s. Pierre Gasly was ninth for Alpine with a 1m13.226s, while Liam Lawson completed the top 10 for Racing Bulls on a 1m13.412s.
Alex Albon narrowly missed Q3 in 11th, just 0.002s behind Gasly in Q2, and will start alongside Williams team-mate Carlos Sainz. Nico Hulkenberg took 13th for Audi, ahead of Franco Colapinto, Arvid Lindblad and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Bortoleto failed to set a Q2 lap after crashing at the Nouvelle Chicane late in Q1, which brought out a red flag and created a frantic finish.
Esteban Ocon was knocked out in 17th, ahead of Sergio Perez, Oliver Bearman, Valtteri Bottas, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.