Monaco GP 2026: Kimi Antonelli triumphs in chaotic Monaco Grand Prix, extends title advantage

Amid the late-race drama that unfolded on the streets of Monte Carlo, Kimi Antonelli kept his composure to claim victory at the Monaco Grand Prix and extend his lead in the Formula One Drivers’ Championship standings.

The Mercedes driver converted pole position into a commanding win, finishing ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar. Seven drivers failed to see the chequered flag in a chaotic race marked by crashes, mechanical issues and multiple retirements.

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Antonelli made a flawless start and comfortably held onto the lead when the lights went out. Meanwhile, reigning world champion Max Verstappen suffered an early setback as his Red Bull appeared to enter anti-stall mode, dropping him down the order before he eventually became the race’s first retirement.

Italian driver #KimiAntonelli kept his composure amid late-race drama and multiple retirements to clinch victory at the #MonacoGrandPrix, further extending his lead in the Formula One Drivers’ Championship. The Mercedes star converted his pole position into a commanding triumph… pic.twitter.com/1ztMi0LXly

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) June 7, 2026

With Verstappen out of contention, Antonelli gradually built a healthy advantage over Hamilton and local favourite Charles Leclerc, while several other drivers encountered reliability issues as the race unfolded.

The race looked likely to end without drama until the final stages when Lance Stroll crashed at the last corner of the Circuit de Monaco with about 20 laps to go. The Safety Car bunched up the cars and briefly threatened Antonelli’s comfortable lead. However, it also allowed several drivers to pit and serve time penalties with little impact on their positions.

The excitement ramped up after the restart when Leclerc crashed at the same corner as Stroll. Officials had to pause the race to check for damage and track issues at the crash site.

Leclerc’s retirement was crucial for the podium battle. Hadjar moved into third place, securing his first Formula One podium for Red Bull. Although Pierre Gasly finished ahead of him, two five-second penalties pushed Gasly down the order.

Oscar Piastri crossed the line in fourth, while Liam Lawson took fifth.

It was a good day for Racing Bulls, with rising star Arvid Lindblad finishing sixth. Gasly ended up in seventh, followed by Alex Albon in eighth and Esteban Ocon in ninth.

Cadillac celebrated as Sergio Perez scored their first Formula One points, though he remained under investigation for an alleged false start.

Just outside the points, Fernando Alonso finished ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto and a heavily penalized George Russell. The second Audi, driven by Nico Hulkenberg, was classified 14th. Franco Colapinto was the last driver to finish the race.

Monaco’s tough streets took out several notable drivers during the afternoon. Verstappen’s early retirement was followed by McLaren’s Lando Norris, whose power unit problems marked his first pointless race of the season.

Oliver Bearman, Valtteri Bottas, Stroll, Leclerc, and Carlos Sainz Jr. also did not finish. Bottas’ race ended due to recurring brake issues that plagued his team all weekend. Stroll and Leclerc both hit the barriers in the same spot on the circuit.

Sainz’s race fell apart after the restart when he collided with Hulkenberg and Colapinto, leaving Albon as the sole points scorer for Williams.

(With agency inputs)