Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli strengthened his grip on the Formula One championship on Sunday with victory in a chaotic and delayed Monaco Grand Prix, claiming his fifth consecutive win of the season.
The 19-year-old Italian started from pole position and controlled the race on the streets of Monte Carlo, becoming the youngest driver to win the Monaco Grand Prix. His victory extended his championship lead, with Reuters reporting that he is now 66 points clear of Lewis Hamilton, who finished second.
Antonelli appeared on course for a comfortable win before late drama erased his advantage. The race was interrupted after Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed, damaging the track surface and forcing a red flag. After a delay of about 35 minutes, the race resumed with a standing restart, but Antonelli kept his composure and led the final laps to the chequered flag.
Hamilton took second place, securing another strong result and moving up the drivers’ standings. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar finished third after stewards cleared his team following a post-race review over a possible red-flag rules breach.
The race was marked by multiple setbacks for leading drivers. Max Verstappen retired early with a power-unit issue, while defending champion Lando Norris was forced out by electrical problems. Mercedes driver George Russell endured a difficult afternoon, finishing outside the points after penalties, a result that severely damaged his title hopes.
Antonelli’s win continued a remarkable run in his breakthrough season and underlined his growing status as the driver to beat. After holding off Hamilton through the restart pressure and late-race uncertainty, the Mercedes driver left Monaco with both a historic victory and a firmer hold on the championship lead.
