In Pictures: Monaco 2026
THE JEWEL OF FORMULA 1: HISTORY AND GLAMOUR AT THE MONACO GRAND PRIX
The Formula 1 World Championship returned to the streets of the Principality for one of the most iconic and prestigious events of the season.
The Monaco GP presented drivers and teams with a unique challenge, best illustrated by the fact that in 1996, only four cars took the checkered flag. One would be hard-pressed to find a labyrinth of streets less suited to modern Formula 1 cars. But the appeal of the Principality is unique, and winning this race ranks alongside capturing the world championship title.
The Monaco Grand Prix is not just a sporting event, but also a social highlight that brings together history and glamour. The circuit, which has hosted racing since 1929, winds its way through the streets of the Principality. It measures 3.337 kilometers and features 19 corners, some of them characterized by extremely tight angles.
The roadway, which essentially coincides with the two lanes of normal urban traffic, is extremely narrow and almost entirely lacking run-off areas. Safety barriers line the entire track and are often brushed by the drivers, who try to gain even a few inches by following the ideal racing line.
The average speed over the 78-lap race is the lowest on the Formula 1 calendar: in some sections the cars slow to around 31 mph (50 km/h). From a technical point of view, the Monaco weekend is among the most complex for the teams, who are required to set up their cars with maximum aerodynamic downforce and to focus everything on qualifying in order to secure a good grid position, given that overtaking opportunities are extremely limited.
The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the longest-standing events in Formula 1 history. The 2026 edition marked the 72nd World Championship race held in the Principality. The most successful driver remains Ayrton Senna with six victories, one more than Graham Hill and Michael Schumacher, who each won the race five times.
FRIDAY
Lewis Hamilton was the quickest driver in Friday's second free practice session in Monte Carlo. On the street circuit, the seven-time world champion set a lap time more than a tenth of a second quicker than his teammate Charles Leclerc. Behind the Ferrari pair, Max Verstappen recorded the third-fastest time. All three drivers set their best lap on the C5 compound.
In FP2, all drivers, with the exception of Lando Norris and the two Aston Martin cars, ran both the C4 and C5 compounds. Norris was forced to stop his car after just seven laps on the Medium compound, while the Aston Martin drivers completed the entire session using only the Soft tires.
Hamilton stopped the clocks at 1:13.026, Leclerc at 1:13.137 and Verstappen at 1:13.194. As is tradition on Fridays at the Monte Carlo street circuit, the drivers completed a large number of laps to build confidence with the track. Hamilton and Leclerc, for example, both covered 34 laps, while Verstappen completed 33 laps in the second session.
SATURDAY
Qualifying at Monaco is always special, and this time it certainly lived up to expectations. The session was intense and closely contested, with several drivers in contention for pole position until the final moments. In the end, it was championship leader Kimi Antonelli who came out on top. The Italian stopped the clocks at 1:12.051, just 0.043 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, who qualified second with a 1:12.094. Third fastest was Lewis Hamilton, who finished with a 1:12.279. This was Antonelli's fourth pole position.
Qualifying took place in perfect conditions, with clear skies and ambient temperatures of around 73°F (23°C). All drivers ran the C5 compound, exploiting it to the maximum. In Q1, some were able to complete multiple flying laps on the same set of tires. In Q3, the top three all carried out an out-lap followed by a fast preparation lap before their decisive attempt.
Earlier, in the third free practice session, the drivers also ran exclusively on Soft tires. Track temperatures reached 118°F (48°C). Despite an interruption caused by an accident involving Oliver Bearman and the resulting red flag, the teams were able to complete a good number of laps to prepare as effectively as possible for the subsequent qualifying session. Once again, Antonelli topped the timesheets, setting a lap of 1:12.720.
With Antonelli securing pole position and overtaking opportunities traditionally at a premium around Monaco's narrow streets, the stage is set for what promises to be another fascinating edition of Formula 1's most prestigious race.
SUNDAY
The Monaco Grand Prix was won by Kimi Antonelli. On the streets of the Principality, the Mercedes driver never relinquished the lead, having started from pole position and led every lap on his way to victory.
Max Verstappen, who lined up second on the grid, endured a difficult start and was forced to stop his car in the pits at the end of the opening lap due to mechanical problems, bringing his race to an early end. Behind Antonelli, Lewis Hamilton finished second, while Isack Hadjar claimed an impressive third place.
A Safety Car on lap 50, triggered by Lance Stroll's Aston Martin going straight on at the final corner, prompted Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, and several others to make an additional pit stop. However, shortly after the restart, Leclerc crashed his Ferrari at the same corner in what was virtually a carbon copy of Stroll's incident. The accident brought out the Safety Car once again before the race was ultimately red-flagged.
At the standing restart following the red flag, Antonelli got away perfectly once more and maintained control of the race to secure victory. Hamilton also made an excellent getaway to consolidate second place, while Hadjar held on to third behind them.
The drama was far from over, however, as the race featured numerous penalties, most of them for speeding in the pit lane. Particularly costly was George Russell's penalty. After failing to serve a five-second penalty correctly, the Mercedes driver was handed a drive-through penalty that dropped him out of the points.
Sergio Perez also suffered heartbreak. Although he crossed the finish line in tenth place, he was later handed a ten-second time penalty for being out of position at the race restart, costing Cadillac what would have been its first Formula 1 World Championship point.
Pierre Gasly experienced a similarly frustrating afternoon. The Frenchman crossed the line in third place but was ultimately classified seventh after two separate five-second penalties for speeding in the pit lane were applied to his race time.
On a day that featured mechanical failures, crashes, Safety Cars, a red flag, and numerous penalties, it was fitting that the winner was the driver who made the fewest mistakes. Around Formula 1's most famous circuit, Kimi Antonelli produced a flawless performance, etching his name onto the distinguished list of Monaco Grand Prix winners.
Excerpts and media courtesy of Pirelli S.p.A., Getty Images, and the official Formula 1 team press offices. All images are provided via Getty Images through the respective team media platforms and are credited to their rightful copyright holders. Used for editorial purposes only. Not for sale.
