Italian F1 driver Kimi Antonelli will be on pole for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Kimi Antonelli made a mockery of suggestions that the Monaco Grand Prix would stall his incredible start to the Formula One season by producing a magic qualifying lap to stick his Mercedes on pole position for Monday’s race (NZT).
The qualifying battle lived up to expectations, with provisional pole changing hands several times before the 19-year-old championship leader snatched it with his final lap.
He edged out Oracle Red Bull’s Max Verstappen by 0.043 seconds to become the first Italian since Jarno Trulli in 2004 to take pole position in the principality.
“It was one of those laps that we call a magic lap. I was able to put it all together. It was such a close qualifying with Max,” Antonelli, who clocked 1:12.051 seconds to claim his fourth pole in six races this season, said.
“I knew the last lap was good, I was just hoping that it would be enough but it was very close.”
Antonelli is the youngest driver to lead the championship, having won the last four races, but the unique nature of Monaco’s twisting circuit full of slow corners was supposed to take away the Mercedes’ power advantage.
Ferrari had been strongly tipped as race favourite but had to be content with the second row on the grid with Lewis Hamilton third quickest, 0.228 slower, and local favourite Charles Leclerc, winner of the race in 2024, fourth.
Antonelli finished 18th and last at the Monaco Grand Prix 12 months ago and he was expected to feel the pressure of leading the standings on his return.
But he now has a golden chance to continue his dream start to the season by emulating Trulli, who converted his pole into a victory in his Renault in 2004.
“I think this is one of the most intensive if not the most intense qualifying of the year and it takes a massive effort,” he said. “When it is about finding the last two tenths, it is not easy because the walls start coming closer.
“But I felt great this morning and I am happy that we could finish the job today.”
New Zealand’s Liam Lawson had one of his better qualifiying sessions of the year for his Racing Bulls team and will start from 10th position.
– Reuters