08 June,2026 06:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes (Pic: AFP)
Formula One championship leader Kimi Antonelli showed remarkable composure to navigate a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday, marking his fifth win of the 2026 season.
The 19-year-old Mercedes star had initially carved out a dominant 20-second lead from pole position. However, that advantage vanished following a safety car period and a subsequent red flag, after Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crashed into the barriers.
Following a 40-minute suspension for emergency repairs at La Rascasse, the race was restarted with a standing start. Antonelli remained unshakeable, delivering eight flawless final laps to cement his status as the youngest driver ever to win the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari secured the runner-up spot in his second consecutive podium finish, while Red Bull's Isack Hadjar claimed third place. Hadjar's second career podium was only confirmed late in the evening after stewards investigated and ultimately cleared his team of a technical infringement.
By matching the legendary Ayrton Senna's record of eight Monaco podiums, Hamilton climbed into second place in the world standings, currently trailing Antonelli by 66 points. It was a different day for Mercedes star George Russell, who plummeted in the standings after a drive-through penalty, leaving him without points for the second straight weekend.
Russell was part of a group of five drivers caught for pit lane speeding, including Alpine's Pierre Gasly. Although Gasly crossed the line in third, he was relegated to seventh place after receiving two separate five-second penalties.
"That's too many wins now, buddy!" Hamilton teased the teenager in the post-race cooling room. "He very much kind of reminds me of me when I was back in 2007," Hamilton said later.
Just twelve months after a last-place finish on his Monaco debut, Antonelli demonstrated veteran-like maturity to win the race. "It's been an incredible weekend and an incredible race," said the Italian, who became the first Italian to win in Monaco since Jarno Trulli's 2004 triumph.
"I wasn't exactly thrilled about the restart, but once the call was made, I settled my nerves and focused. Once I held the lead through the first corner, I was able to really appreciate those final laps." Antonelli said.
