Antonelli overjoyed with ‘magic’ Monaco pole as he thanks Mercedes for making ‘massive’ overnight gains

Kimi Antonelli could not hide his delight after building on a sensational start to the 2026 season with a hard-earned pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Antonelli ended the first day of running in Monte Carlo fifth on the timesheets, half a second off the pace set by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, and behind Mercedes team mate George Russell.

However, the Italian teenager made a clear step forward by topping Saturday’s third and final practice session, before doubling down on that performance in Qualifying – where he grabbed pole with a stunning final lap of Q3.

Antonelli will start Sunday’s Grand Prix just ahead of Red Bull rival Max Verstappen, Ferrari pair Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, Isack Hadjar in the second Red Bull, and Russell.

“It was one of those laps we call the magic lap – I was able to put [it] all together,” said Antonelli, having scored Mercedes’ first pole in Monaco since Hamilton back in 2019.

“It was such a close Qualifying with Max. I think in the first run of Q3 there was just one millisecond between us, but I knew the last lap was good, and was just hoping that it would be enough. It was very close and I’m very happy with that.

“Massive thanks to the team, because yesterday we struggled a little bit, and today we were able to improve massively.”

Asked if his lap felt like an out of body experience, as hero Ayrton Senna once described, Antonelli continued: “I think it’s one of the most intense, if not the most intense, Qualifying of the year, and it takes a massive effort.

“Also in practice, because you keep just trying to get close to the limit. When it’s about finding the last two-tenths, it’s not easy, because the walls start to come closer.

“It’s not easy to gain the confidence, but I have to be honest, I felt great this morning, and I’m happy that we could finish the job today.”

Antonelli is now focused on converting pole into what would be a fifth successive victory of the campaign, and extending his 43-point advantage over Russell at the top of the Drivers’ Championship.

“I’m just enjoying the driving, enjoying the car, enjoying the weekend,” he added. “That was a big step compared to last year, and it’s really nice to be able to enjoy the sessions. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”