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Antonelli claims Monaco GP pole as Verstappen lines up second for Mercedes

Kimi Antonelli secured pole position for the 2026 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen starting from second on the grid. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton complete the front two rows.

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Antonelli claims Monaco GP pole as Verstappen lines up second for Mercedes
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Kimi Antonelli claimed pole position for the 2026 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday, putting his Mercedes on the front row ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. The Italian teenager will lead the field into the first corner at one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.

Charles Leclerc lines up third for Ferrari on home soil in Monaco, with Lewis Hamilton slotting into fourth to complete the second row. The full starting grid has been confirmed following Saturday’s qualifying session.

Antonelli’s pole is a significant moment at a circuit where track position is everything — overtaking opportunities through the narrow streets of Monte Carlo are notoriously scarce, making Sunday’s start and the opening laps critical to the race outcome.

Verstappen, the reigning world champion, will be looking to convert his front-row berth into a race lead, while Leclerc — who has a deep personal connection to Monaco — will be eager to challenge from third on a circuit where he has come agonisingly close to victory in previous seasons.

Hamilton’s fourth-place start adds another layer of intrigue, with the seven-time world champion now racing for Ferrari and seeking his first win in the famous red at one of the sport’s most iconic venues.

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