Kimi Antonelli secured a landmark victory at the Monaco Grand Prix for Formula 1, underscoring Mercedes’ excellent form in the 2026 season. The Italian led from start to finish and earned praise from the team after a mature and controlled performance through the streets of the Principality.
The result represented another important step in Antonelli’s evolution over the course of the season. Beyond the triumph, the driver highlighted the confidence shown throughout the weekend and stated that succeeding on such a demanding circuit makes the win even more special.
“It’s an incredible feeling to win in Monaco. It’s a very special weekend and one I’ll remember for a long time. Today was one of those days when everything worked perfectly. I had a lot of confidence in the car and felt strong throughout the race,” said the winner.
Antonelli also highlighted a few decisive moments of the contest. According to him, starts still represent an area in development, but there has been progress. The young driver assessed that the first start was consistent, while the second required more attention due to the tyres. The red-flag interruption also increased the pressure, since a restart could have completely altered the race’s scenario.
Nevertheless, the Mercedes driver believes the team managed the situation well. In the final laps, he said he had managed to capitalize on the track experience, although he still needed to manage tyre wear: “This circuit demands a lot of concentration. You need to find the balance between attacking and avoiding mistakes,” he commented.
While Antonelli celebrated the victory, George Russell endured a frustrating race. The Briton revealed that he even reached fourth place, but his chances vanished after a penalty for speeding in the pit lane. Subsequently, an error in executing the penalty worsened the situation and left him outside the points: “It’s hard to accept. In the last two races, I’ve lost about 40 points. It’s extremely frustrating, but there are still many races ahead. I believe in myself and I know what I’m capable of,” Russell said, hoping to bounce back at the next event.
The Mercedes boss, Toto Wolff, praised Antonelli’s performance and called his driving exactly what the team expects from a winner. Regarding Russell, the executive acknowledged the team’s responsibility for the problems encountered during the weekend: “We win and lose together. We’ll learn from this and help him rebound,” he concluded. Wolff also avoided commenting on the title fight at this moment, noting that the season still has many races ahead.
