Kimi Antonelli. Reuters photo
Antonelli from first place in Monaco: Everything went like clockwork today
The Italian Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), the leader in the Formula 1 season’s standings, secured the best starting position at the classic race in Monaco. In today’s qualifying, he beat the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull) by 43 thousandths.
For a young man Kimi Antonelliwho after the first five races of the season convincingly leads the SP, today’s “pole position” is the first in the Principality of Monaco in his career. He will start from the first starting position for the fourth time in total, but today’s qualifying victory is very important, because overtaking is almost impossible on the street circuit in Monaco, so the order is often decided already by the qualifications.
“It was one of those magical laps when everything came together perfectly. I was completely close to Max, in the first part only a thousandth was decisive. A big thank you goes to the team, yesterday we had some problems, today everything went like clockwork,” said Antonelli after the qualifying success for the organizers.
43 points jump
Both Ferraris, the British veteran, will start the race from the second row Lewis Hamilton he beat the local Charles Leclercwho extended his contract with the Italian team just before the competition began in his homeland.
Antonelli has a 43-point lead over team-mate Briton ahead of Sunday’s race, which starts at 3pm George Russell; he finished sixth today, ahead of him was a Frenchman Isaac Hadjar (Red Bull).
The British world champion will only start from eighth place Lando Norrisqualifying finished one place behind his McLaren team-mate the Australians Oscar Piastri.
