Kimi Antonelli Wins Monaco Grand Prix, Stresses The Job Isn’t Finished

Kimi Antonelli strengthened control of the Formula One title race with victory at the Monaco Grand Prix, yet insisted the championship remains far from decided. The Mercedes driver dominated on 7 June 2026, finishing more than six seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, and moved further clear in the standings after handling late drama in Monte-Carlo with composed race management.

The 19-year-old produced a commanding drive on the streets of Monaco and became the youngest winner of the famous event. Antonelli’s performance underlined the speed of the 2026 Mercedes package, while also highlighting growing maturity after setbacks during the 2025 European rounds, where pressure and inconsistency damaged the title challenge across the mid-season run.

Antonelli’s latest success extended the championship advantage over Hamilton to 66 points, after registering a fifth straight victory in Formula One. That streak placed Antonelli as only the second Italian driver to take five consecutive wins, matching a feat previously achieved by Alberto Ascari, who claimed seven successive victories between Belgium 1952 and Argentina 1953.

By joining Ascari, Antonelli also became just the 10th driver in F1 history to record at least five wins in a row. This run leaves Antonelli in a strong position to secure a first world title, although the season still contains many races across Europe and beyond, where reliability, strategy and circuit characteristics can quickly change the picture.

The race began with major drama when Max Verstappen stalled on the grid and retired on lap one, allowing Antonelli to surge clear. Before the late stoppage, Antonelli had built a margin of more than 20 seconds over the field. Seven cars dropped out in total, including Charles Leclerc, who crashed at Turn 19 after hitting asphalt on the track.

The incident involving Leclerc brought out a red flag with 10 laps remaining, resetting the field for a standing restart. Antonelli admitted frustration at losing such a large cushion but stayed calm under pressure from Hamilton and the remaining runners. The restart phase demanded a fresh launch, tyre management and focus, with barriers close and track grip changing.

Describing the performance and Mercedes’ car, Antonelli paid tribute to the team for delivering a competitive package while stressing that long-term objectives remain. "It’s been an incredible weekend, an incredible race. It was one of those days when we had incredible pace. It was just coming all so natural, Antonelli said. The car was feeling incredible and was just giving me the confidence to push. It was a very enjoyable day. The job isn’t finished. It’s still a long season. We are going to keep pushing and keep raising the bar. The goal is to keep performing like this. The team has done an incredible job. They have given us an incredible car. I’ve got so much support from the team and my family, it’s a really good moment."

Antonelli also reflected on handling the late restart pressure, comparing the situation with struggles during the previous season’s European leg. "I tried to embrace the pressure as much as possible because I don’t want to let the pressure destroy me like it did last year in the European season, Antonelli added. So, of course, I try to embrace the pressure, the challenge, and I try to enjoy it as much as possible without worrying about anything else other than just driving. It was a good testbecause, with the red flag, I’m not going to lie. I was a bit annoyed because getting the mindset back into making a full start was not easy."

The Formula One schedule now moves into its European phase, starting with the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, the first of nine races across the continent over the next three months. That stretch proved difficult for Antonelli in 2025, when points came from only three events and four retirements hurt momentum, offering a clear reference point for progress in 2026.