F1 Monaco GP: Antonelli takes crucial pole by beating Verstappen as Leclerc crashes

Kimi Antonelli took pole position for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix after a tense qualifying battle that ended with Mercedes ahead of Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc crashing on his final Q3 lap.

Antonelli beat Verstappen by 0.043 seconds, according to FIA and Formula 1 reporting, in one of the standout qualifying sessions of the season. The result gives the Mercedes driver a major advantage going into Sunday’s race on the streets of Monte Carlo.

Leclerc, who had briefly gone quickest in Q3, looked set to fight for pole on home soil before hitting the wall at Tabac on his final lap. He was forced to settle for fourth on the grid.

The official FIA classification placed Antonelli on pole with Verstappen second. Formula 1’s qualifying report also confirmed that Leclerc’s final attempt ended after his crash, closing the door on a late challenge for first place.

The Monaco Grand Prix race follows on June 7, 2026, with the front of the grid now set after a session that reshaped the fight for pole in the closing minutes.