Kimi Antonelli wins Monaco Grand Prix, secures fifth straight victory
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) won the Monaco Grand Prix, his fifth consecutive victory of the 2026 season and the youngest driver ever to win the prestigious street race. Starting from pole, Antonelli led from the first lap, built a comfortable gap and finished 6.271 seconds ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), who claimed second place. Red‑Bull rookie Isack Hadjar completed the podium after a post‑race investigation cleared his position.
The race was marked by numerous incidents: Max Verstappen retired on lap 1 with an engine failure, Charles Leclerc crashed out after a safety‑car period, and several drivers (Lando Norris, Valtteri Bottas, Oliver Bearman, Lance Stroll) retired due to mechanical problems. Two safety‑car periods and a red‑flag restart added further chaos. Sergio Pérez (Cadillac) received a 10‑second penalty for an illegal grid position, dropping to tenth but still delivering the team its first point of the year. The result extends Antonelli’s championship lead to 66 points over Hamilton and 68 points over teammate George Russell, who finished outside the points after multiple penalties.
Overall, the event reinforced Antonelli’s dominance, highlighted the unpredictable nature of Monaco’s narrow streets, and shifted the drivers’ standings early in the championship.