Antonelli takes Monaco pole by 0.043s from Verstappen, becomes youngest ever pole-sitter at Monte Carlo

The pole lap

Kimi Antonelli delivered a lap of 1:12.051 to claim pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix, his fourth of the season. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver edged out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by 0.043 seconds, with Lewis Hamilton third for Ferrari. Antonelli's time made him the youngest pole-sitter in the history of the Monte Carlo circuit, surpassing the previous record held by Charles Leclerc, who had taken pole at 23.

It was one of those laps where I managed to put everything together, I knew the last lap was good and I hoped it would be enough, today we managed to improve.

The session was intensely close. After the first runs in Q3, Antonelli and Verstappen were separated by just 0.001 seconds. Verstappen then set a 1:12.094 on his final attempt, a time that looked strong enough for pole until Antonelli crossed the line moments later.

Ferrari's mixed afternoon

Ferrari had looked quickest on Friday, topping both practice sessions, but the car's behaviour changed when qualifying began. Hamilton, who will start third, said the team needed to investigate the shift in performance.

We were looking so good in practice and then the car was drastically different in qualifying, so we have to take a look at that. But I was giving it everything.

Charles Leclerc qualified fourth, a disappointing result at his home race. The Monegasque driver had been fastest in Q1 and briefly held provisional pole in Q3 with a 1:12.351, but his final lap ended with a slide wide at Tabac, where he hit the wall and broke his rear suspension. After the session, Leclerc was blunt about his lack of confidence in the car, citing a specific problem he has carried since Canada.

I don't have confidence in this car at the moment. I was going well up to that point. I give it everything but when the confidence isn't there it's too risky right now.

Verstappen and the front row

Verstappen admitted he had not expected to fight for pole, given Red Bull's difficulties earlier in the weekend. Starting from the front row was a result he said he would have accepted before the session. The Dutchman's Red Bull-Ford appears increasingly competitive as the season progresses.

If you would have told me yesterday I would be on the front row, I would have taken it. So heading into qualifying and being up there was extremely positive.

Mercedes turnaround and Russell's struggles

Mercedes had looked off the pace on Friday, but Antonelli topped the third free practice session and carried that momentum into qualifying. His engineer, Peter Bonnington, celebrated over the radio as the pole time appeared on the monitors. The result extends a run of Mercedes dominance in qualifying this season: Antonelli has taken four poles (Shanghai, Suzuka, Miami, Monte Carlo) and teammate George Russell took the other two (Melbourne, Montreal).

Russell, however, struggled throughout the session and qualified 0.394 seconds behind Antonelli. He described being baffled by a recent drop in performance, noting that earlier in the year he was topping every session but has found the last three races much more difficult.

The grid and what comes next

Behind the top four, McLaren had a subdued session. Oscar Piastri qualified seventh and reigning world champion Lando Norris could manage only eighth. Antonelli, the championship leader, will start from pole for the fourth time in six races. The last Italian driver to take pole at Monaco was Jarno Trulli in 2004, who went on to win the race.

The Monaco Grand Prix takes place on Sunday on the streets of the Principality, where overtaking is notoriously difficult and qualifying position often dictates the race result.