Kimi Antonelli beat Max Verstappen by just 0.043 seconds to claim pole position for the 2026 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix as qualifying delivered one of the most thrilling and tightly contested battles in recent memory.
The 19-year-old Mercedes sensation reserved his finest performance for the final moments of Q3, producing a flawless lap of 1:12.051 that held off intense pressure from both Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, maintaining Mercedes’ remarkable streak of securing pole at every Grand Prix so far this season.
Q1 saw home favourite Charles Leclerc immediately take top spot ahead of Lando Norris and Kimi Antonelli, while Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar from Red Bull also pushed hard to establish provisional pace.
The middle-tier drivers began to make their mark, with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto, Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Williams’ Carlos Sainz all setting times that would prove crucial for their survival in the session.
With a few minutes remaining, Gabriel Bortoleto made contact with the barriers at the entrance to the Nouvelle chicane, damaging the front suspension of his Audi. Luckily, the Brazilian progressed to Q2 but he was unable to set another lap, settling for 16th.
When Q1 concluded, the elimination order was confirmed with Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll falling first, followed by Cadillac’s Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas, Haas’ Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon.
The second qualifying segment, Q2, saw Verstappen grab provisional pole with a time of 1:12.499s, followed by Antonelli, Hadjar, Leclerc and Hamilton.
When Q2 ended the elimination order was confirmed, with Williams’ Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz eliminated first, followed by Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, Racing Bulls’ Arvid Lindblad and Bortoleto.
Q3 began with immediate intensity, as all 10 drivers knew that only one perfect lap would determine their starting and finishing positions in Sunday’s race given the limited overtaking opportunities in Monaco.
Leclerc pushed first and posted a provisional fastest time of 1:12.351, however, Max Verstappen responded immediately with a stunning lap of 1:12.094 to claim the top spot.
Lewis Hamilton followed with a competitive lap of 1:12.279, slotting in just 0.185s behind Verstappen, as teammate Leclerc hit the barriers in the final sector leaving him at the mercies of his initial lap.
Antonelli executed a remarkable final run in the closing moments of Q3 and posted a 1:12.051 to seize pole position for the 2026 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix. Verstappen took second, followed by Hamilton, Leclerc and Hadjar in the second Red Bull.
Antonelli’s teammate George Russell suffered a disappointing qualifying in sixth, followed by the struggling McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in seventh and eighth, respectively, while Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson rounded out the top ten.
F1 Monaco Grand Prix 2026 schedule: Start time, how to watch
Full 2026 F1 Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying Results
| Pos | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:12.091 | |
| 2. | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:12.094 | +0.043 |
| 3. | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:12.279 | +0.228 |
| 4. | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:12.351 | +0.300 |
| 5. | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | 1:12.434 | +0.383 |
| 6. | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:12.445 | +0.394 |
| 7. | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:12.624 | +0.573 |
| 8. | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:12.765 | +0.714 |
| 9. | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:13.226 | +1.175 |
| 10 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:13.412 | +1.361 |
| 11. | Alex Albon | Williams | ||
| 12. | Carlos Sainz | Williams | ||
| 13. | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | ||
| 14 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | ||
| 15. | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | ||
| 16. | Gabriel Bortleto | Audi | ||
| 17. | Esteban Ocon | Haas | ||
| 18. | Sergio Perez | Cadillac | ||
| 19. | Oliver Bearman | Haas | ||
| 20. | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | ||
| 21. | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | ||
| 22. | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
