The look on George Russell’s face said it all. Despair, anger, confusion. “It is beyond frustration now,” he admitted. “I am struggling to comprehend how on earth this season is panning out in the way it is.”
A few metres behind him in the Monaco mixed zone, Russell’s Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli was busy hugging a colleague who was congratulating him on his latest win. The Italian’s fifth in a row. His best yet.
This was a seriously impressive performance from Antonelli. In what was a chaotic race featuring six pit-lane speeding penalties, a number of race-ending crashes, two safety-car periods, and a red-flag stoppage because of the final corner of track breaking up like a British B road, the teenager kept his concentration throughout.
Antonelli nailed every restart, pulled away from the traffic with indecent haste whenever he had the chance to stretch his legs, and won at a canter from Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. This was after sticking his car on pole with one of the great qualifying laps on Saturday.
In claiming his fifth win out of six races this season, Antonelli became the youngest-ever winner of the Monaco Grand Prix at just 19. He also established a whopping 66-point lead in the drivers’ championship.
The fact that the driver in second place in the championship is no longer his team-mate was the flipside to this weekend from Mercedes’ perspective.
Russell, who fell two points behind Hamilton in the standings thanks to his second pointless race in succession, had an absolutely miserable weekend. He held his hands up to performing poorly in qualifying on Saturday. Sixth place is not where you want to start in Monaco if you are challenging for the title. And Russell paid the price for that lowly starting position when he got stuck behind Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar for his first stint, eventually falling so far behind Antonelli that he suffered the ignominy of being lapped by his team-mate on lap 54.
But it was hard not to feel some sympathy for what happened to the Briton thereafter. First, Russell copped a five-second penalty for “speeding in the pit lane”. It turned out he was one of five drivers to fall foul of what appears to have been a software-related issue.
Russell was then hit with a drive-through penalty for failing to serve his first penalty correctly during a safety-car period. Again, this was not really his fault as there was widespread confusion following a Lance Stroll crash and when he did come in, his pit crew did not wait five seconds before touching his car.
It was to prove a calamitous mistake. After a late red-flag period caused by the track breaking up at turn 19 – an issue which may have contributed to race-ending crashes involving Aston Martin driver Stroll and then Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc – the race restarted with 10 laps remaining. Russell served his drive-through during that period, dropping from third to 13th in the process, and out of the points. “That’s two weekends in a row... in which 40 points have gone down the drain,” he said sadly. “The whole season could look totally different.”
Russell is not wrong. Had he won in Canada two weeks ago, where his power unit failed when he was leading, and had he finished third here, the season would indeed look very different. But he did not and it does not, 66 points is a mountain to climb and he now finds himself third in an apparent two-horse race.
Moreover, Antonelli is growing with confidence every round. In fact, such is the Italian’s form it is increasingly difficult to see why Toto Wolff would bring in Max Verstappen next year, even if the Dutchman did want to trade teams. Why would he need him? Why risk destabilising his young superstar?
Verstappen was unfortunate here, retiring on lap one after his Red Bull experienced a power-unit issue on the formation lap, and denying us the chance to see him apply pressure to the Italian. But Antonelli was supreme after that, rendering the result a foregone conclusion but for those late safety cars and the red flag which bunched up the field again.
Wolff admitted he was in two minds about whether to go up on the podium with him to celebrate, given Russell’s despair. “I haven’t gone to a podium for 10 years,” he said. “Because it’s always difficult to balance between one side of the garage being happy, the other one not. This time I couldn’t avoid it because the board member that I wanted to go [Ola Källenius, the Mercedes-Benz chairman] said he had to catch a flight.
“But I was standing there with mixed feelings. The Montreal race was [Russell’s] to win. We let him down. Today probably we could have had a podium if not for the penalty mistake. But I’m not stressed at all for these performances, because we know he’s one of the best.”
Russell said he was having to remind himself of that. And he insisted he was still very much in the title race. “Yes, for sure. One hundred per cent,” he said. “When I look at things objectively, if things were balanced out a little bit more, it would still be very, very close. And we are not even 30 per cent of the way through the season. You look at Verstappen last year...
“[But] I am in a very weird state of mind. I have had low moments in my career where I have had two or three bad races on my own personal performance, but I have never had a run of bad luck like this. It is very painful, but there is a long way to go. I still very much believe in myself.”
Toto Wolff speaking to Sky Sports
Link copied to clipboard
“One part of me feels so happy for Kimi [Antonelli] and the guys made me go the podium they said ‘this is your home place, you should go’ but I had a look at George [Russell] and he had a weekend which was not good. And I want to keep it balanced emotionally. Now it is about picking the team up, him up when we head to Barcelona.”
On Kimi Antonelli:
“It is unbelievable what he is able to deliver. Having control, he is at times 1.5 seconds quicker than anyone else. Then restarts, builds the gap, it is really unbelievable.”
On George Russell:
“We just need to keep going. This is a long championship. Last year everyone said it was [Oscar] Piastri’s, then it swung. Montreal was a drama because we let him down and that was a possible 25 points but it is a long championship.”
Provisional top ten
Link copied to clipboard
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)*
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
- Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Alex Albon (Williams)
- Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- Sergio Perez (Cadillac)*
*These are the provisional results as both Isack Hadjar and Sergio Perez are under investigation. If these results stand, Perez would earn Cadillac their first point in F1.
First six race results of the season
Link copied to clipboard
Australia: George Russell (Mercedes)
China: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
Japan: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
Miami: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
Canada: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
Monaco: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
Constructors’ standings
Link copied to clipboard
- Mercedes- 244pts
- Ferrari- 165pts
- McLaren- 118pts
- Red Bull- 72pts
- Alpine- 41pts
Top five in the drivers’ standings after six rounds
Link copied to clipboard
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)- 156pts
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)- 90pts
- George Russell (Mercedes)- 88pts
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)- 75pts
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)- 60pts
Race winner Kimi Antonelli
Link copied to clipboard
“It has been an incredible weekend, an incredible race. It was one of those days we had incredible pace. It was all so natural. The car was feeling incredible and giving me the confidence to push. It was a very enjoyable day. The job is not finished. It is still a long season. We have to keep pushing and raising the bar. The goal is to keep performing like this. The team has done an incredible job. They have given us an incredible car. I have got so much support from the team and my family, it is a really good moment.
“I was not super keen on restarting [near the end]! I did not really want to restart but once the notification came out I gathered my emotions, thoughts and started to focus again, looked at some data and tried to focus on restarting. I tried to get the tyres into the right temperature. Once I got away, I knew I would make it into the first corner and from that moment I enjoyed the last few laps.”
Lewis Hamilton, who finished second
Link copied to clipboard
“I have to start by congratulating Kimi [Antonelli] and to the Mercedes team, my old family, they have done it again, they have created an amazing car. And Kimi is doing an incredible job, just delivering weekend in, weekend out. It is great to see and I am really happy for them.
“On our side, I think we have been progressing over the past months, and cannot quite keep up with them just yet, and it is probably going to take a lot of work for us to get to their level. But to get another second place is such a great feeling, especially in Monaco under the trickiest conditions; it was the hardest conditions out there! I will definitely take it.”
Isack Hadjar, who has provisionally finished third
Link copied to clipboard
“We got off to a clean start. We were managing the race and within the first 10 to 15 laps I had massive driveability issues. If there is one track you do not want that, it is here. It was incredibly challenging having to cover 60 laps like that.
“Even towards the end I was still lacking power on the restart. I never had to send it that much in the corners. An outstanding weekend considering how it started in first practice [with a crash]. I had no confidence to get back up, but we did it.”
Provisional top five
Link copied to clipboard
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)*
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
Hadjar will go up to the podium in a few moments but that result may not stand as he is under investigation for a possible red-flag infringement.
Kimi Antonelli wins the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix
Link copied to clipboard
The young Italian makes it five race wins on the trot as he claims his first victory around the streets of Monaco. He extends his lead at the top of the championship. Hamilton comes home in second whilst Gasly crosses the line third, but will drop down the order with his two penalties. Hadjar, as it stands, takes the final podium place but that could change subject to the outcome of his red-flag infringement investigation.
Lap 78 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
As we start the final lap, Antonelli is five seconds clear of Hamilton. Gasly is third but he could drop down as far as eighth. Hadjar is set for a podium finish but he will be under investigation after the race.
Lap 77 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Antonelli and Hamilton have raced away from the rest. Antonelli deserves this race win; he has led every lap and has managed to stay out of trouble, when most of his rivals have fallen foul.
Just two laps remaining.
Lap 75 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Gasly is trying to get onto the podium. He is third right now but has two separate five-second penalties.
Lap 73 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Russell comes in to serve his drive-through penalty which will drop him a long way down the order. Where will he come back out? The answer is 14th.
Hadjar has been noted for a red-flag infringement but has been cleared of a safety-car infringement.
Lap 71 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Antonelli has led every lap and gets off the line well to maintain the lead. Russell is backing up the pack to then give himself room to blast off before serving his penalty.
Meanwhile further back Bortoleto and Sainz have come to blows at the hairpin. Sainz hit the wall, then gets hit by Colapinto a few laps later and has had to retire.
Safety car restart
Link copied to clipboard
The 16 remaining drivers head back out still behind the safety car. Hadjar is complaining about a lack of power, which could explain why he was more than 10 car lengths behind Hamilton. We have news from the stewards that Hamilton has been cleared and will not receive a penalty for a safety car infringement.
We will have a standing start. Antonelli has just told his team that the track is broken up again at the final corner. Can we actually restart if that is the case?
Russell will have to serve his drive-through penalty within a few laps of the restart.
Nearly ready for restart
Link copied to clipboard
Field will reform in correct order under Safety Car for one or two laps followed by a standing start. Nine lapped cars to be released first.
Charles Leclerc on his crash
Link copied to clipboard
“Brakes. It does not help to have asphalt that is coming off but data speaks for itself. I do not know how much I can go into the detail. It is extremely frustrating. I have always been very honest, and no matter how many mistakes I do, I would hate to look at myself in the mirror and see myself finding excuses when I do a mistake. That is why I am always bluntly honest whenever I am in front of cameras, but I am not going to take any of it [responsibility for the crash] today.
“It is not even braking. I touch the brakes and there is just something with those brakes that on the front brakes, it just broke a lot more than what I thought, and in the rear brakes, it had no deceleration at all. It was like I had no rear brakes at all. That is what I am dealing with since two races now. We have had some differences of brakes between cars, but I do not think it has been a disadvantage for me at all, but here and in Montreal with cold tyre temperatures, the inconsistency and tyres being more sensitive because you are on the limit, have just been an absolute nightmare.
“And I am weighing my words. I do not have many words today. I look like an idiot. And when you look like an idiot for a mistake of yours, it is fine, but it is borderline dangerous. We do have the solution and I will go into Lewis’ direction from next race onwards, and that will solve the issues I deal with. Maybe Lewis’ configuration has other issues, but I just need consistency at that point, and that is it.”
So much still to sort
Link copied to clipboard
Currently, the only man not under investigation or with a penalty to his name is our race leader Antonelli. Still no word on whether it will be a standing or rolling start.
Restart time
Link copied to clipboard
We have news that we will get back under way at 4.12pm (5.12pm local time). So just 10 minutes until we restart.
Temporary repairs have been completed at Turn 19.
Another investigation
Link copied to clipboard
I am genuinely staggered. We have had about a million investigations and penalties and now have another investigation as Hamilton is being looked at for a possible safety car infringement.
Pleading his case
Link copied to clipboard
Russell has decided to use this time under the red flag to go and plead his case with the stewards, presumably regarding his drive-through penalty.
Currently, third-placed Hadjar is under investigation, fourth-placed Russell has a drive-through penalty and fifth-placed Gasly has two five-second penalties.
Meanwhile Leclerc has admitted in the media pen that he had problems with his brakes. He said the marbles did not help but his brakes were the problem.
News from the stewards
Link copied to clipboard
Russell already had a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane and now has a drive-through penalty for failing to serve that penalty correctly. There will be 11 laps to go as it stands and Russell will have a job on his hands just to finish in the points.
Could Hamilton win this race?
Link copied to clipboard
Spoke to a well-known paddock figure this morning who stuck £100 on Hamilton at 7/1. Reckon he’ll be getting pretty excited right now.
Resumption order
Link copied to clipboard
The news from race control is that we have a resumption order, suggesting we will get back going again. We are still awaiting news of possible penalties for Russell and Hadjar.
Will we resume?
Link copied to clipboard
The question now is can the FIA guarantee that those problems that affected Stroll and Leclerc will not happen again?
In the pit lane, Gasly is furious as he has received another five-second penalty for speeding again in the pit lane.
Meanwhile Hadjar is now under investigation for a possible safety car infringement. The stewards have been very busy today. I cannot remember a race with this many penalties.
An absolute mess
Link copied to clipboard
How can this happen in a Formula One race, especially at a prestigious race like Monaco? The pieces of tarmac have broken up, which has seemingly caused both of the crashes involving Stroll and Leclerc. The number of marbles that were on the track was ridiculous.
Red flag
Link copied to clipboard
The race is halted! All the drivers will return to the pits with just over 10 laps remaining. Is there a problem with the tarmac at the final corner, where both Stroll and Leclerc crashed? The FIA are going to take a look at that and that is the cause of this red flag. Will we even be able to restart if that issue is severe?
Red flag is for inspection of track break-up at Turn 19.
Lap 67 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
We now have six drivers out of this race; Verstappen, Bottas, Bearman, Norris, Stroll and Leclerc. The Monegasque man cannot believe it as he returns to the garage, which was a short walk away from where he crashed.
Russell is now formally under investigation for failing to serve his penalty correctly.
Safety car
Link copied to clipboard
Leclerc is out of his home race! Just as we were restarting he has put it into the wall in the same place as Stroll did at the last corner.
We will have another safety car.
Lap 65 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Hamilton and Piastri have served their penalties as they stopped. However, Russell clearly did not serve his when he stopped so that should be another slam-dunk penalty. Gasly has a five-second penalty but he did not stop so will serve that penalty at the end of the race.
The safety car is coming in at the end of this lap.
Lap 64 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Mercedes could be in strife here. Russell had a five-second penalty to serve when he next stopped, if he did, which he did, but did not serve it when he came in, which he is obliged to do. So a more severe penalty could be coming his way.
The lapped cars are allowed to unlap themselves so this will take a little of time to get back going again.
Lap 63 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Whilst we are still under safety car conditions, we can take a look at who changed tyres. The top three; Antonelli, Hamilton and Leclerc have all stopped. Hadjar in fourth did not change tyres but Russell in fifth did. Gasly has not changed tyres in sixth whereas Piastri in seventh did.
Lap 61 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
All cars have to come through the pit lane so Mercedes change Antonelli’s tyres. It was a slow stop but it is not costly for the young Italian.
Safety car
Link copied to clipboard
Stroll has crashed at the final corner and the safety car is brought out. Mercedes do not bring in Antonelli but surely Ferrari will? Why did Mercedes not pit Antonelli because it appeared they had just enough time to do so?
Ferrari bring in both Hamilton, who has to serve his five-second penalty, and Leclerc. McLaren bring in Piastri from sixth.
Lap 59 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Top five with gaps:
- Antonelli (Interval)
- Hamilton* +28.5
- Leclerc +3.2
- Russell* +49.0
- Hadjar +14.2
Hamilton and Russell both have five-second penalties. There are currently just three drives on the lead lap as Antonelli has even lapped his teammate Russell.
Lap 56 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
What on earth is going on? We now have a fifth driver to receive a penalty for speeding in the pit lane as Piastri is hit with a penalty. I cannot remember this many drivers being penalised for that all in the same race. To make it even more ridiculous, Piastri was specifically told just before he came into the pits about being careful of that as he came in.
Meanwhile Russell has escaped without a penalty for crossing the white line at the pit exit. He could have had three penalties in total but has just one.
Lap 54 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Another man has been caught speeding in the pit lane. Gasly is the fourth driver to receive a penalty for that.
Lap 53 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
It has been a while since we mentioned the race leader. Antonelli is over 20 seconds clear out in front of Hamilton, who also has a five-second penalty. The young Italian is well on course for a fifth straight victory and is set to extend his championship lead.
Lap 50 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
McLaren have finally brought Piastri in for his stop, dropping from fourth to sixth. It was quick stop from the McLaren mechanics.
Lap 49 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Gasly has pitted, which has freed up Russell. Piastri’s hopes of finishing fourth are now diminishing quickly.
Lap 46 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Norris’ power-unit issues have reared their had again and is told to peel into the pits to retire the car. That is now back-to-back retirements for Norris following his retirement in Canada last time out. The man who won around these streets last year will not see the chequered flag this year. A miserable weekend to forget comes to an end for Norris. McLaren will be extremely unhappy with this Mercedes engine right now and its lack of reliability.
Lap 45 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Russell thought about a move at the Nouvelle Chicane but there is no real opportunity to make the move on Norris. A reminder that Russell already has one five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane and has now been noted for crossing the pit-exit line. This is absolutely playing into Piastri’s hands, who could be eyeing up fourth place now.
Lap 43 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Norris is being asked to play the team game and hold up Russell to help out Piastri. As it stands, Piastri is just over 12 seconds clear of Russell so needs more time before pitting.
Lap 41 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Could Piastri benefit from the traffic that Russell is in? Russell is stuck behind both Gasly and Norris down in seventh so can Piastri take advantage of that? For a long time in the race Piastri was in a no-man’s land in sixth but looks like he might gain at least one position after he stops as he could be ahead of Hadjar and could be seeking a favour from his teammate Norris to hold up Russell.
Lap 39 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Russell has suffered the same fate as Hamilton as he is also hit by a five-second penalty for speeding in the pits.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has confirmed that Norris still has a power-unit issue that they are having to manage.
Lap 37 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Hamilton did indeed speed in the pit lane and has received a five-second penalty. Now his former teammate Russell is being investigated for the same offence.
Antonelli is brought in by Mercedes and is well on track to win this race.
Lap 36 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Hadjar is still reporting problems with his car and is told over team radio that they are still looking for a fix. Meanwhile McLaren may have found a fix to Norris’ power issues.
Ferrari have brought Leclerc in and comes back out in third.
Lap 34 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Norris is reporting some issues with the power unit. The defending world champion had to retire from the Canadian Grand Prix and had issues in practice on Friday. Could Norris be facing back-to-back retirements?
Lap 33 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Red Bull respond by bringing in Hadjar a lap after Mercedes pitted Russell. Has Russell managed to execute the undercut? Yes he has and the Briton’s frustrations are finally at an end.
Meanwhile Hamilton is under investigation for speeding in the pit lane.
Lap 32 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Mercedes tell Russell to “Box, box” and the Briton peels into the pits to put on the hard tyres as they attempt the undercut on Hadjar. Russell re-emerges in eighth in some clean air.
Lap 29 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Ferrari have brought Hamilton in to put on the hard tyres, which feels like the right call to try and put some pressure on Antonelli and Mercedes. Leclerc, who has not stopped, moves up into second and Hamilton is in plenty of clear air in third. Mercedes do not need to react immediately but could Ferrari use Leclerc as blockade?
Lap 28 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Hadjar has had plenty of problems at the Nouvelle Chicane and the latest example sees him go straight on at the corner. Unsurprisingly, Russell is straight onto the radio saying that Hadjar gained an unfair advantage. Piastri is now just a few seconds behind this pair.
Meanwhile at Ferrari...
Lap 27 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Max Verstappen has been speaking to Sky Sports in the media pen about his retirement from this race:
“Already the formation lap was not going very well and then, after that, the pre-start was terrible, there was no consistency, and then the engine just dropped dead. I only got a little bit of power back after the first corner and then the engine sounded really awful. I could not go full throttle so we brought it back [to the pits] and that was it.”
Lap 26 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Top five with gaps:
- Antonelli
- Hamilton +9.3
- Leclerc +4.9
- Hadjar +23.9
- Russell +0.5
Russell is trying everything to get past the Red Bull of Hadjar, who is losing so much time to those in front. This is also allowing Piastri in sixth to close up towards this pair.
Lap 23 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Russell is losing so much time behind Hadjar, who is told over team radio that there will be no fix. Russell is watching Antonelli’s lead in the drivers’ championship increasing before his very eyes, with Antonelli more than seven seconds clear of Hamilton out in front.
Lap 22 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Two British drivers are having a very frustrating afternoon. Russell is stuck behind Hadjar and is nearly 30 seconds down on his teammate Antonelli. Meanwhile, further back Norris is still stuck behind Gasly.
Hadjar’s frustration with his car is growing, saying he thinks “something is going to explode”.
Even with Hadjar’s tyre graining and his engine “about to explode”, and Russell estimating he would be going one second per lap faster in clean air, there’s no way past for the Mercedes. Monaco. Discuss.
Lap 20 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Hadjar has described his engine braking as a “joke” and feels like there is something wrong. He has Russell right behind him but is able to keep the place due to the problems of overtaking around the streets of Monaco.
Lap 18 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
We have our second retirement of the race as Cadillac tell Bottas to return to the pits to retire the car.
Lap 17 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Russell has spotted that Hadjar has front left graining and predicts that the Frenchman might have to come in soon. Russell is then told to make sure he looks after his tyres to take advantage.
Lap 16 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Hamilton reports over team radio that the degradation is quite high and the rears are getting hot. He is just over three seconds behind Antonelli. The young Italian looked like he had checked out in front but Hamilton has stabilised the gap and has slightly reduced that gap. Is Antonelli managing his tyres or has Hamilton got more pace?
Lap 13 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Some fruity language from Verstappen as he retires his car, but perhaps that is understandable given the circumstances. “Well. Nice. Completely f***** guys. What the f*** man? Even at the formation lap, the engine is broken.” His starts have been awful this year. That one clearly a power unit-related issue. Shame for him after a brilliant qualifying session yesterday. He’s about to head to the mixed zone with the race only 10 laps old - F1’s equivalent of an early bath.
Lap 12 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
This is a disaster for Norris; having to back out of his attempted move on his teammate Piastri around the outside of turn one on lap one has proved so costly as Gasly got past him and is holding him up. Norris is stuck behind, with Gasly now more than six seconds behind Piastri, who is sixth. Norris cannot pit as he would get into traffic so has to just deal with this situation for now.
We were wondering whether with these new cars that overtaking at Monaco might be slightly easier but the answer so far is no.
Lap 10 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Top five with gaps:
- Antonelli (Interval)
- Hamilton +5.4
- Leclerc +4.3
- Hadjar +3.0
- Russell +1.7
Lap 6 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
It did look like Russell was out of position but the stewards have decided that no further action is needed. The Mercedes man is in a slight no-man’s land in fifth.
Lap 4 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Antonelli has checked out in front and is nearly four seconds clear already of Hamilton.
Lap 3 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Russell, who is in fifth, has been noted for potentially being out of position at the start. If he was out of position, that would be a pretty slam-dunk penalty.
Verstappen has retired reportedly due to power-unit issues.
Lap 2 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Bottas, Bearman and Bortoleto have all come into the pits, as has Verstappen, who has retired from the race.
Lap 1 of 78
Link copied to clipboard
Verstappen has stalled and does not get off the line. Once everyone passes him, he finally gets going properly but has gone from second to last in a matter of seconds. It appears he might have a problem. A dream start really for Antonelli.
Norris tried to go around the outside of his teammate Piastri at turn one but had to back out and has been passed by the Alpine of Gasly up the hill.
Go, go, go!
Link copied to clipboard
The lights go out and we are under way in the Monaco Grand Prix!
Formation lap
Link copied to clipboard
Most of the grid are on medium tyres, it is just the Cadillacs on the softs.
It is not a long run down to turn one but Antonelli will be nervous, considering some of his poor starts this season.
Nearly ready for action
Link copied to clipboard
On the face of it, this race would appear to be one stop so the question then comes as to which tyre you start on. Do you begin on a soft to get off the line well but then risk going into traffic when you stop? It might be a medium then hard race, or the other way around. You cannot predict when there might be a safety car but it is very likely that there will be one.
Michael McIntyre
Link copied to clipboard
Reminder of the starting top ten
Link copied to clipboard
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
Our man amongst the chaos
Link copied to clipboard
Always some surreal sights on the Monaco grid. I thought bodyguards were outlawed after the Megan Thee Stallion Martin Brundle incident but Donald Trump Jr definitely had a few. Olivier Giroud saying “Make way for the legend” as Sir Jackie Stewart tried to muscle his way through the throng to the anthems was a nice touch.
Donald Trump Jr.
Link copied to clipboard
Chaos on the grid
Link copied to clipboard
As you would expect, there are so many people on the Monaco grid ahead of the race. Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle is fighting his way up and down the grid, which is easier said than done. He tries to have a word with Kim and Khloe Kardashian but there was no response. Poor Martin! Do they not know the legend Martin is? British actress Karen Gillan did stop though to have a word.
Problems for Audi?
Link copied to clipboard
There is concern for Gabriel Bortoleto, as he has stopped having just left the pit lane and had to be wheeled back to his garage. He stalled so he should be fine to start the race.
We heard earlier that there were concerns down at Racing Bulls for Liam Lawson but he has made it out of the garage.
Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones
Link copied to clipboard
Last five Monaco GP winners
Link copied to clipboard
2025- Lando Norris (McLaren)
2024- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
2023- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
2022- Sergio Perez (Red Bull)
2021- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
Kim in the house
Link copied to clipboard
Her other half Lewis Hamilton starts third today and is well set for a podium. Considering Ferrari’s fast starts, could he even take the lead into the first corner? It is not a long run down to turn one though.
Constructors’ standings
Link copied to clipboard
- Mercedes- 219pts
- Ferrari- 147pts
- McLaren- 106pts
- Red Bull- 57pts
- Alpine- 35pts
Drivers’ standings coming into this race
Link copied to clipboard
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)- 131pts
- George Russell (Mercedes)- 88pts
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)- 75pts
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)- 72pts
- Lando Norris (McLaren)- 58pts
VIPs everywhere you look
Link copied to clipboard
Heading to the grid. I know it’s going to be busier and sweatier than the London Underground in a heatwave but it’s always good fun. Mechanics trying desperately to prepare their cars/drivers for the race while VIPs wander around trying to look cool but mainly looking lost in the crush of bodies. You never know who you might bump into. Anyone from Damon Hill to Kim Kardashian. Will report back.
Footballers in the paddock
Link copied to clipboard
Although maybe not as many as usual with the World Cup just a few days away.
Problems at Racing Bulls
Link copied to clipboard
Sky Sports’ Martin Brundle has just revealed that he has spoken to Liam Lawson, who has revealed there are gremlins with his car and he is not sure whether he will be able to even start this race. His car is currently being worked on and was supposed to start tenth but it is a race against time for the Racing Bulls mechanics to get Lawson onto the grid.
American skier Lindsey Vonn
Link copied to clipboard
Milestone day for McLaren
Link copied to clipboard
It will not be easy for the team, starting seventh and eighth respectively, considering the challenge of overtaking at Monaco.
Starting top ten
Link copied to clipboard
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
Will young Italian stallion extend his advantage in the championship?
Link copied to clipboard
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli starts on pole for today’s Monaco Grand Prix as the young Italian looks to extend his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings. A tightly-fought qualifying session yesterday saw multiple drivers hit the top of the timesheets in Q3, only for Antonelli to pip Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to the pole position, his first in Monaco.
“It was one of those laps that we call a magic lap,” Antonelli said after qualifying. “I was able to put it all together. It was such a close qualifying with Max [Verstappen]. The first run of Q3 there was just one millisecond between us. But I knew the last lap was good and I was just hoping that it would be enough. It was very close, and I am very happy with that. Massive thanks to the team because yesterday [Friday] we struggled a little bit and today we were able to improve massively.”
Verstappen has cut a very frustrated figure so far this season, with speculation swirling around his future at Red Bull and in the sport. However, he was in fine form yesterday and came so close to pole, only to be pipped by Antonelli by under half a tenth of a second.
“If you would have told me yesterday [Friday] to be on the front row, I would have definitely taken it,” Verstappen said. “This morning [Saturday] we had quite some difficulties with the car so heading into qualifying and being up there was extremely positive. So overall, of course, extremely happy with how qualifying went, how all the laps went even though you have to deal with all the traffic and also the walls. But I am happy to be on the front row and then, tomorrow [today], let’s see in the start. These cars are quite complicated to start. I have two cars behind me that start quite well but we will see. This was a good day and definitely enjoyed it in qualifying.”
Lewis Hamilton, who was won three times around the street of Monaco, will start from third today.
“It was tough for us,” Hamilton said. “We were looking so strong in practice, and we barely changed anything, but the car was drastically different once we got to qualifying for some reason, so we have to take a deep dive into that. I gave it absolutely everything. I was as close to the barriers as I could be, and what a privilege it is to be here, to be one of the 22 drivers in F1 getting to do this still. I love every second of it. I think it is definitely very close between us all. I thought we almost maybe nearly had it, and then Max put in a good time and then Kimi. I think it is great to see how close all the cars are. I think we lost something going into today, and that is what we need to try to figure out.”
Hometown boy Charles Leclerc, who hit the wall on his final flying lap in Q3, starts alongside his Ferrari teammate Hamilton on the second row. Isack Hadjar starts fifth whilst George Russell starts five places behind his Mercedes teammate Antonelli in sixth. It was a disappointing qualifying for McLaren, with Oscar Piastri and defending world champion Norris on the fourth row in the grid in seventh and eighth respectively. Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson rounds out the top ten.
The race gets under way at 2pm.