MONACO : Championship leader Kimi Antonelli topped the timesheets for Mercedes in the final practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix on Saturday, setting the fastest lap of the weekend ahead of Ferrari’s drivers.
The 19-year-old Italian clocked a best lap of one minute 12.720 seconds around the tight street circuit, finishing 0.327 seconds clear of hometown favourite Charles Leclerc. Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton was a further 0.004 seconds adrift in third.
Antonelli, who arrived in Monaco with a 43-point lead in the championship over Mercedes teammate George Russell after winning the previous four races, improved significantly on last year’s race in the principality, where he finished 18th.
With qualifying later on Saturday, the session offered a key indication of form on a circuit where overtaking opportunities are scarce and grid position is often decisive.
The fight for pole position appears set to involve the Mercedes pair, Ferrari’s two drivers and Max Verstappen of Red Bull, who had been fifth fastest in Friday’s second practice session.
The hour-long session was briefly interrupted when Oliver Bearman crashed at Massenet, losing control of his car and striking the barriers, causing substantial damage to the rear wing.
“I just totally lost it on the bump … so sorry,” the British driver said over team radio.
Meanwhile, reigning world champion Lando Norris returned to the track after an electrical issue curtailed his running in Friday’s second practice session. The McLaren driver finished ninth fastest.
McLaren carried out extensive overnight repairs, replacing the wiring harness and battery housing after breaking Formula One’s overnight curfew. Race organisers confirmed the team would not face sanctions because it was using the first of its four permitted curfew exemptions for the 2026 season.
