Antonelli secures fifth straight win in chaotic Monaco Grand Prix
The sport’s marquee event was defined by retirements, safety cars, and stewards’ investigations, yet Kimi Antonelli delivered a calculated performance to extend his winning streak.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli claimed his fifth consecutive Formula One victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, holding off Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in a race defined by administrative and on-track chaos. The win, secured from a standing restart on the final laps, extends Antonelli’s dominance in a season where the sport has struggled to generate overtaking opportunities despite regulatory changes.
The race began with immediate disruption when Max Verstappen retired after just one lap due to a mechanical failure of his RB22 car. What followed was a series of incidents that tested the resilience of the field, including Lance Stroll hitting the wall on Lap 60 and Charles Leclerc crashing at the restart, ending the home favourite’s race. A red flag was later issued due to track surface issues at Turn 19, forcing a pit lane stop and setting the stage for a complex final phase.
Stewards faced a heavy workload managing penalties and investigations throughout the event. George Russell received a drive-through penalty for failing to properly serve a five-second pit lane speeding penalty, effectively ending his podium hopes. Isack Hadjar and Lewis Hamilton both faced investigations for potential safety car infringements but were cleared before the final restart. Meanwhile, Pierre Gasly finished the race but had ten seconds added to his time for pit lane speeding, dropping him from third to seventh on the final classification.
F1 Race Director Rui Marque exercised his discretion to call for a standing restart rather than a rolling start, placing immediate pressure on Antonelli. Known for occasional struggles at the start, Antonelli held Hamilton at bay off the line. He then built a five-second gap over the Ferrari driver by Lap 76, securing the fastest lap of the race in the process.
The final classified order saw Isack Hadjar promoted to third after Gasly’s penalty, followed by Oscar Piastri, Liam Lawson, and Arvid Lindblad. Sergio Pérez was promoted to tenth after Nico Hulkenberg received a ten-second post-race penalty for a collision with Carlos Sainz Jr., who retired from the incident. The result marks Lewis Hamilton’s second consecutive second-place finish for Ferrari.
