Kimi Antonelli clinched pole position for the 2026 Monaco GP, narrowly beating Max Verstappen. Ferrari's hopes rest on Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, who start from the second row.
Monaco is often a wildcard in the Formula 1 calendar, and the 2026 qualifying session lived up to its reputation. Kimi Antonelli grabbed pole for Mercedes, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a whisker. The young Italian driver clocked in at 1:12.051, just ahead of Verstappen's 1:12.094, setting the stage for a potentially thrilling start.
Ferrari, despite being the pre-weekend favorites, had to settle for the second row. Lewis Hamilton will lead the charge for the Scuderia, with Charles Leclerc beside him. Leclerc's final qualifying lap was marred by a brush with the barriers, a typical hazard of his home track.
Row three features the second Red Bull of Isack Hadjar and George Russell in the Mercedes. The McLaren duo, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, occupy the fourth row. Rounding out the top ten are Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson for Racing Bulls.
The starting grid for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix is as follows:
| Pos. | Driver | Time | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Kimi Antonelli | 1:12.051 | | 2 | Max Verstappen | 1:12.094 | | 3 | Lewis Hamilton | 1:12.279 | | 4 | Charles Leclerc | 1:12.351 | | 5 | Isack Hadjar | 1:12.434 | | 6 | George Russell | 1:12.445 | | 7 | Oscar Piastri | 1:12.624 | | 8 | Lando Norris | 1:12.765 | | 9 | Pierre Gasly | 1:13.226 | | 10 | Liam Lawson | 1:13.412 |
The race kicks off at 1500 local time, with coverage starting an hour earlier. It's shaping up to be an exciting contest as the drivers navigate the iconic and unforgiving streets of Monte Carlo. Will Antonelli convert his pole into a victory, or will Verstappen manage to assert his dominance from the get-go? Stay tuned for what promises to be an intriguing race.