Ferrari and Mercedes Dominate Monaco Grand Prix Practice Sessions
Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton topped both Friday practice sessions for the Monaco Grand Prix, establishing the team as favorites. However, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time in Saturday’s final practice, outpacing Leclerc by 0.327 seconds. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen remained close, while McLaren struggled over a second off the pace. Multiple red flags occurred due to crashes. Qualifying is set for Saturday, with the race on Sunday.
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Monaco GP: Nightmare Start for Max Verstappen as He Fails to Get Off the Line
During the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, reigning champion Max Verstappen suffered a disastrous start when his car failed to get off the grid at the race start. This allowed rookie Kimi Antonelli to take the lead. The incident occurred on June 7, 2026, and was reported by Sky Sports. The race, held on the streets of Monaco, saw Verstappen's title hopes take an early blow as Antonelli capitalized on the opportunity to lead the prestigious event.
SkySports | NewsFormula 1: Monaco Grand Prix Live Coverage
The article provides live coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix, the sixth stage of the Formula 1 World Championship, scheduled to start at 2pm local time. Key moments include Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) securing pole position, beating Max Verstappen (Red Bull) by 43 thousandths of a second, with Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) qualifying third. Antonelli, who leads the World Championship, will start from pole for the fourth time in his career, having previously done so in China, Japan, and Miami. The live blog format includes updates on the race start and driver positions.
RecordHamilton Eyes 'Best Ever Start' to Challenge for Monaco GP Victory
Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton says he will need 'the best start we've ever had' to have a realistic chance of challenging for victory in Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix. Hamilton qualified third behind world championship leader Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) and Red Bull's Max Verstappen. Monaco's tight street circuit makes overtaking extremely difficult, so the start is critical. However, new 2026 regulations have created greater variance in getaways. Ferrari has made consistently strong starts, while both Antonelli and Verstappen have struggled off the line this season. Hamilton senses a small opportunity on the short run to the first corner and plans to apply pressure. Antonelli has won four consecutive races and holds a 43-point championship lead over his Mercedes teammate George Russell.
SkySports | NewsKimi Antonelli Takes Monaco Grand Prix Pole with 'Magic Lap'
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, aged 19, secured his first-ever pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix during a thrilling qualifying session on June 6, 2026. He clocked a time of 1m 12.051s, beating Red Bull's Max Verstappen by just 0.043 seconds. Antonelli described the lap as 'magic,' marking Mercedes' first pole in Monaco since Lewis Hamilton in 2019. With overtaking nearly impossible on the tight street circuit, Antonelli has a strong chance to convert pole into a fifth consecutive race win, extending his 43-point championship lead over teammate George Russell. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) qualified third, followed by Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) in fourth. The full starting grid includes 22 drivers, with the race scheduled for 3 p.m. local time on June 7.
Forbes - BusinessKimi Antonelli Wins Pole Position for Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix
Italian driver Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) secured pole position for the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, the sixth race of the 2026 World Championship. Antonelli, who leads the Drivers' Championship, beat Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) by 43 thousandths of a second in the final qualifying attempt. British driver Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) qualified third, 0.168 seconds behind. This was Antonelli's fourth career pole position, all achieved in the 2026 season, meaning he has started first in two-thirds of the races so far. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), racing at his home circuit, initially showed promise but was overtaken by Hamilton and Verstappen before Antonelli's decisive lap. Antonelli leads the championship with 131 points, ahead of George Russell (Mercedes) with 88. The Monaco Grand Prix will take place on Sunday at 2 PM local time.
RecordHamilton hits back at critics, says he still has 'decent pace' after Monaco qualifying
Lewis Hamilton, driving for Ferrari, defended his performance after qualifying third at the Monaco Grand Prix, outqualifying teammate Charles Leclerc for the second consecutive race. Hamilton stated he is 'in a really good place' and that there is 'no lacking of pace' despite 'negative comments' from critics. Ferrari had dominated practice sessions but lost pace in qualifying, with Hamilton noting the car felt 'completely different' after minor setup changes. Leclerc, who crashed in Q3, said the incident was due to a 'combination of factors' beyond his driving. Kimi Antonelli took pole ahead of Max Verstappen.
SkySports | NewsAntonelli Takes Pole Position in Monaco Grand Prix Qualifying
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, aged 19, secured pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix qualifying session, clocking 1:12.051 minutes and edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 0.04 seconds. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, the pre-qualifying favorite, finished third. Antonelli, the World Championship leader, expressed surprise at his performance, calling his lap 'magical.' The qualifying was disappointing for German driver Nico Hülkenberg of Audi, who will start from 13th place despite strong practice sessions. Overtaking is notoriously difficult on Monaco's narrow street circuit, making Hülkenberg's grid position a significant setback. The full starting grid includes 22 drivers, with Antonelli aiming for his fourth consecutive Grand Prix victory in Sunday's race.
BILD - SportAntonelli fastest as Mercedes dislodge Ferrari before Monaco qualifying
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli set the fastest time in final practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, outpacing Ferrari's Charles Leclerc by 0.327 seconds. Mercedes improved their W17 setup overnight after trailing Ferrari on Friday. Lewis Hamilton was third, 0.004s behind Leclerc, while George Russell was fourth. Max Verstappen finished 0.9s off the pace, and McLaren struggled, with Oscar Piastri sixth and Lando Norris ninth. Oliver Bearman caused a red flag after crashing into the barriers at Massenet. Franco Colapinto also damaged his Alpine in a spin. Qualifying is scheduled for 3pm on Saturday, with the race on Sunday.
SkySports | NewsFerrari dominates first practice sessions in Monaco
Ferrari dominated the first day of practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, with Charles Leclerc fastest in the first session and Lewis Hamilton topping the second. Hamilton set the fastest time of the day at 1:13.026, edging Leclerc by 0.111 seconds. Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, 0.168 seconds off the pace. Mercedes drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli finished fourth and fifth respectively. Notable performances included Audi placing both drivers in the top 10 (Nico Hulkenberg 8th, Gabriel Bortoleto 9th), while McLaren's Lando Norris struggled to 19th after early problems. The results suggest Ferrari may challenge Mercedes' early-season dominance at the Monaco circuit.
RecordHamilton fastest as Ferrari dominate Monaco GP Friday practice
Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets in second practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, leading Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc by 0.111 seconds in a one-two finish. Max Verstappen was third for Red Bull, just 0.168s off the pace. Ferrari's strong performance on the twisty Monaco circuit, which suits their car characteristics, positions them as favorites for victory, aiming for their first Grand Prix win since October 2024. Mercedes, winners of all five races this season, struggled with George Russell 0.379s behind and championship leader Kimi Antonelli half a second adrift. Lando Norris lost 45 minutes of track time due to a potential battery problem. The session was briefly red-flagged when Sergio Perez's Cadillac suffered brake fires. Final practice and qualifying are scheduled for Saturday.
SkySports | NewsFerrari Favorites for Tight Monaco Pole Fight After Dominant Practice
Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc topped both Friday practice sessions for the Monaco Grand Prix, establishing the team as favorites for pole position. Hamilton set the fastest time in FP2, a tenth ahead of Leclerc, with Red Bull's Max Verstappen within two tenths. Championship leaders Mercedes trailed by 0.3 seconds, while McLaren struggled a full second off the pace. Leclerc reported brake issues but remained confident, predicting a 'very tight' qualifying battle. Hamilton praised the car's performance. The session sets up a highly anticipated qualifying showdown on Saturday, with Ferrari seeking their first pole and win of the 2026 season.
SkySports | NewsLeclerc leads Hamilton as Ferrari dominate Monaco GP first practice
Charles Leclerc set the fastest lap in first practice for the Monaco Grand Prix, leading teammate Lewis Hamilton by 0.226 seconds as Ferrari confirmed their pre-weekend favorite status. Championship leaders Mercedes struggled, finishing fourth (Kimi Antonelli) and fifth (George Russell), half a second behind. Red Bull's Max Verstappen took third. Two red flags occurred: Isack Hadjar crashed at the Swimming Pool section, and Fernando Alonso hit the barriers at the harbourside chicane. McLaren, last year's winner, finished over a second behind. The session saw multiple drivers finding run-off areas, including Leclerc twice. Second practice is scheduled for later Friday, with qualifying on Saturday.
SkySports | News