The Italian driver beat Max Verstappen by 0.043 seconds, while Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc followed on the second row.
Kimi Antonelli’s performance in Monaco pushed the young Mercedes driver to the centre of Formula 1’s agenda. The 19-year-old set a 1:12.051 lap in qualifying, securing pole position on a circuit where track position is often decisive.
Antonelli Edges Verstappen in Monaco Qualifying
Antonelli delivered his fastest lap at the end of Q3 and moved ahead of Verstappen by a narrow margin. Formula 1’s official report confirmed that the Mercedes driver will start the Monaco Grand Prix from pole.
Reuters also reported that Antonelli became the first Italian driver to take Monaco pole since Jarno Trulli in 2004.
Ferrari Starts From the Second Row
Lewis Hamilton qualified third for Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc took fourth after losing time late in the session. Leclerc had been among the leading contenders for pole but could not complete a clean final push lap.
The result placed Mercedes, Red Bull and Ferrari at the front of the grid for one of the most strategically sensitive races of the season.
Mercedes Allows Antonelli and Russell to Race Freely
Before the Monaco weekend, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli said Mercedes would allow them to race freely despite recent close battles between the team-mates. Sky Sports reported that the team had discussed the issue after Canada but did not impose a strict racing restriction.
Russell qualified sixth in Monaco, leaving Antonelli as Mercedes’ leading contender from the front of the grid.
Why F1 Monaco Became a Trend
The search interest around “F1 Monaco” and “Kimi Antonelli” rose because Monaco qualifying often carries unusually high importance. Overtaking is difficult on the narrow Monte Carlo street circuit, making pole position a major advantage.
Antonelli’s age, Mercedes’ pace and the narrow gap to Verstappen added further attention to the result.
Current Situation
As of the latest official updates, Antonelli started the Monaco Grand Prix from pole position. Formula 1 also published race-start footage showing Antonelli getting away from the front while Verstappen had trouble launching from second on the grid.
No final race result should be treated as confirmed until Formula 1 publishes the official classification.
