Kimi Antonelli is rapidly establishing his legacy in Formula 1.
“You’re catching up to me,” Lewis Hamilton, the all-time leader in race victories with 105, remarked to Antonelli after the 19-year-old Italian triumphed in a strange and long-delayed Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday.
Antonelli took Hamilton’s spot at Mercedes last year and secured his first win in March. He has now achieved five consecutive victories and holds a commanding 66-point advantage over Hamilton, who finished second on Sunday.
“He’s only 19, so just think about what lies ahead for him, but I will do my utmost to catch him for the remainder of the year,” Hamilton stated. “It’s truly a privilege to witness his progress.”
Antonelli noted that he needed to regain his concentration but maintained his composure when the race was halted, which briefly seemed like it would be canceled before restarting. This occurred on a narrow, winding circuit surrounded by metal barriers where any mistake can lead to a collision.
An uncertain restart
With 10 laps to go, Antonelli was poised for victory when the race was red-flagged due to damaged asphalt and two cars crashing in rapid succession, one of which was Charles Leclerc in third position.
Following a lengthy delay, officials announced that the race would continue from a standing start. When it resumed, Antonelli regained control to become the youngest F1 victor in Monaco, never truly threatened by any challengers.
“Thank you so much, everyone, the car was fantastic today,” he expressed to the Mercedes team.
Isack Hadjar secured third place for Red Bull after overcoming engine issues and fending off an investigation.
Antonelli’s teammate George Russell missed out on scoring points for the second consecutive race, falling outside the top 10 due to a penalty. This followed an engine failure while contending with Antonelli for the lead in last month’s Canadian Grand Prix.
Russell remarked on Thursday that the championship was Antonelli’s “to lose.” Now it certainly appears that way.
Max Verstappen, who started second for Red Bull, lost power at the beginning and dropped to the back, ultimately retiring the car at the end of the first lap. Like many F1 competitors, the four-time champion resides in Monaco and suggested he would watch the rest of the race from home.
Hamilton’s turnaround
Hamilton was in high spirits after finishing second, with Kim Kardashian in attendance. The seven-time champion acknowledged Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur for his contributions to improving Hamilton and the team’s performance.
“Fred has been incredible in his support. I believe last year was quite challenging for both of us,” Hamilton remarked, mentioning that he was “reaping the rewards” of the adjustments Vasseur made. Hamilton did not make it to the podium in any Grand Prix throughout 2025 during his first year with the team.
Vasseur returned to the circuit with Ferrari on Sunday after missing Saturday’s qualifying session. The team reported that he had been under observation at a medical facility, without providing further details about his condition.
Confusion continues after the finish
The damage to the track added an unexpectedly unglamorous element to one of F1’s most prestigious events as drivers waited in the pit lane, officials examined the damaged asphalt, and a street cleaner slowly moved along the circuit, clearing away debris. Antonelli admitted he had hoped the race would not restart at all.
Further confusion ensued as multiple drivers received time penalties or were under investigation, leaving the final results uncertain.
Hadjar was facing an investigation after the race due to a potential violation of red-flag regulations, as the FIA’s technical delegate indicated that Red Bull attempted to change engine components, which is against the rules, but ceased when confronted.
Hadjar retained his position, marking his first podium finish since joining Red Bull, after a hearing concluded that no penalty was necessary because no alterations were made.
Russell had been in second place in the standings before the race — that position now belongs to Hamilton. Russell crossed the finish line in 13th, later promoted to 12th, after incurring a substantial penalty for not properly serving an earlier infraction. He stated he didn’t comprehend what transpired.
The new team Cadillac could have secured its first F1 point when Sergio Perez finished 10th, but lost it due to a false start during the restart. This allowed Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso to claim 10th place, earning his team’s first point of a season that began with significant reliability issues.
Additional disputes were expected on Sunday evening as Alpine announced it would contest the series of penalties issued for pit lane speeding, one of which cost Gasly his third place. This is subject to the “right of review” process, where decisions typically take several days.