Kimi Antonelli won the Monaco Grand Prix after a race he controlled for much of the race, before it became chaotic in the closing laps. The Mercedes driver secured his first career victory in Monaco on the streets of the Principality, ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Isack Hadjar, who finished third but was still facing a penalty after the race. This win, his fifth consecutive, allows Antonelli to further extend his lead in the championship. His Mercedes teammate, George Russell, finished outside the points after a race marred by penalties.
Antonelli alone in front after Verstappen's breakdown
The race turned on its head right from the start. Max Verstappen, starting on the front row alongside Antonelli, suffered an immediate mechanical problem. The Red Bull driver had to pit after the first lap, leaving Antonelli alone in the lead. The Italian was never truly challenged after that. With a good start, a clean pace, and solid acceleration, he controlled the race until a much more eventful end.
Red flag on lap 68, second standing start
The Grand Prix was red-flagged on lap 68 due to an asphalt problem in the final corner. The safety car period led to a second standing start with nine laps remaining. Antonelli held onto the lead during the most challenging moment of the afternoon. Despite the pressure of the restart, the Mercedes driver resisted and cruised to a prestigious victory on one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.
Hamilton second, Ferrari misses out on a double podium
Behind Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton took second place in his Ferrari. The Scuderia could have hoped to place two cars on the podium, but Charles Leclerc retired after making a mistake in the final corner. The Monegasque driver, suffering from brake problems, ended up in the wall during a restart. This incident followed a safety car period triggered by Lance Stroll's accident in the same section.
Hadjar third, but not yet fully decided
Isack Hadjar crossed the finish line in third place, securing a podium finish. However, the Frenchman remained under threat of a penalty for an infraction committed under red flag conditions. The end of the race was marked by a series of penalties, notably for speeding at pit entry. These penalties significantly altered the order within the field.
Gasly seventh, Ocon tenth
Pierre Gasly finished seventh with Alpine, despite two five-second penalties. Esteban Ocon, driving his Haas, took advantage of the general chaos to snatch the final point with a tenth-place finish. George Russell, however, dropped out of the points zone towards the end of the race. The Briton was penalized for speeding and failed to properly serve his penalty during his next pit stop. He then had to serve a drive-through penalty, which dropped him to fourteenth place.
Monaco crowns Antonelli, the race leaves some issues unresolved
Antonelli leaves Monaco with a prestigious victory and an enhanced lead in the championship. Mercedes secured an important win, but the race left several points unresolved, particularly regarding the penalties handed out at the end of the event and Isack Hadjar's situation after the finish.
