Antonelli edges out Verstappen to snatch pole at Monaco Grand Prix

The margins were as tiny as ever beneath the looming walls of Monte Carlo but, with the verve and fearlessness of youth, Kimi Antonelli had the edge to claim pole for the Monaco Grand Prix. That in so doing the 19-year-old saw off concerted efforts by Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, with 11 titles between them, on the toughest single-lap challenge of the year only served to emphasise the talent of the tousled-haired teen.

In a gripping qualifying session, Antonelli had to be flawless to edge out the Red Bull of Verstappen into second and Hamilton’s Ferrari into third. With overtaking, as ever, all but impossible on the streets of the principality, Saturday is the key part of the weekend in Monaco and qualifying was pleasingly dramatic and intense.

Indeed it was more competitive than had been expected. Verstappen was ultimately beaten by 0.043sec, having been just one thousandth behind Antonelli on their first quick runs.

Antonelli said it had been an extraordinary experience. “Kind of shaking, to be fair. It’s just super-intense,” he said. “You have no margin of mistake and when it’s about polishing those last two, three tenths, it’s never easy. Especially when Max is so close and also the Ferrari. Lewis has been so strong the whole weekend, that is not easy.”

Verstappen and Hamilton both paid tribute to the young Italian, when asked if they could see him as a future champion.

Left to right: the fastest three drivers, Max Verstappen, Kimi Antonelli and Lewis Hamilton. Photograph: Philippe Magoni/AP

“Yeah, for sure,” said Verstappen. “You see a few guys grow up from younger categories that have something special and when they switch categories they’re immediately quick. That was quite clear with Kimi.

“When you get to Formula One, sometimes it’s not only talent, things have to come together, you need to become a more all-round driver and then, of course, you need to have the package to be able to do it. This year he’s showing that once he has a package that can do it, he’s delivering as a driver.”

It was high praise from the four-time champion but well-earned with the teenager who, in only his second season in F1, leads the world championship by 43 points from his Mercedes teammate George Russell. Antonelli was as confident and assured as ever to achieve his fourth pole from six races this season, once again demonstrating that he must be considered the favourite for the title.

Mercedes remain unbeaten this season in qualifying, somewhat against expectations. They had been off the pace, unable to match the Ferrari, which is well suited to the twisting, slow-speed corners that define the circuit. However, in final practice they found a step forward and Antonelli topped the time sheets, while Hamilton felt his car was lacking balance going into qualifying and he could extract no more from it.

The afternoon was another blow to Antonelli’s title rival and teammate Russell. Struggling with a lack of grip, the British driver could manage only sixth and faces a mountain to climb in the race and the very real possibility, if the usual Sunday procession occurs, that he will be left even further in arrears when the flag falls.

Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari and Isack Hadjar fifth for Red Bull, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris seventh and eighth for McLaren.

The action, tense and fiercely fought, suited the setting as the sun reflected on Monaco’s harbour and F1’s top talent shone on track. For the final runs in Q3 Piastri put together a striking opening as he threw his car at the lap, including a brush with the barriers, only to be slightly bettered by his teammate Norris. Hamilton had more, as did Antonelli, who was quickest with a 1min 12.375sec lap. Verstappen followed him and crossed the line one thousandth of a second back, barely a breath between them across the two-mile circuit.

Leclerc, who had aborted his first hot run, went out early for the final laps. He was immense in the middle and final sectors to take provisional pole and a roar from the his home crowd with a lap of 1:12.351. The track was still rubbering in, however, and Verstappen opened with a quick first sector and managed to pip the Ferrari. Hamilton pushed him hard but could not quite match the Dutchman. Yet it was not over, as Antonelli, in the last seconds, pulled together a stunning run to take pole with 1:12.051.

The day belonged to Antonelli, then, and if he converts on Sunday into a fifth consecutive victory, he will have added the crown of a victory in Monaco before he reaches his 20s.