P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Kimi Antonelli put his Mercedes top of the timesheet in final practice at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Formula 1 championship leader, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, set the pace for Mercedes in final practice at the Monaco Grand Prix. Antonelli and Mercedes made significant improvements overnight, reestablishing Silver Arrows’ dominance in the 2026 F1 season. Antonelli’s impressive performance saw him become the first to break into the 1m12s range at Monte Carlo. He outpaced Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by 0.327 seconds, with George Russell struggling in fourth. Max Verstappen finished fifth, while McLaren faced pace issues once more. Despite a crash by Ollie Bearman, the session hinted at a fierce battle for pole position in Monaco, where qualifying is crucial due to the track’s challenging nature.
