Flying teenager Kimi Antonelli has taken pole position at Monaco with a last-gasp “magic lap” but Oscar Piastri is resigned to being a bit player in F1’s most garlanded race after McLaren struggled in their 1000th grand prix .
The 19-year-old Mercedes ace Antonelli took pole by just 0.043sec, powering around the famed street circuit to edge out two all-time greats, Max Verstappen (1min 12.094sec) in his Red Bull, and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton (1:12.279).
Antonelli saved his inspired best for last to ensure Mercedes have taken pole for every grand prix this season, and the young championship leader couldn’t stop beaming.
“It was one of those laps that we call a magic lap. I was able to put it all together,” he smiled, having put on a particularly notable display considering teammate and title rival George Russell could only finish sixth.
