Pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli is the man to beat on Monaco's tight streets, where track position often decides the winner
Kimi Antonelli continues his push to a Formula One World Championship title, taking the pole position for tomorrow’s Monaco Grand Prix.
The 19-year-old Italian, who has won the last four F1 races, now sits 43 points up on Mercedes teammate George Russell in the driver’s standings.
Russell will start a distant sixth tomorrow. Antonelli beat out Red Bull’s Max Verstappen through the streets of Monaco today by just 0.043 seconds.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, both Ferrari teammates, will start third and fourth, respectively.
Verstappen’s teammate Isack Hadjar starts fifth.
Hamilton finished 0.228 seconds behind Antonelli.
The Antonelli story, for his young age, is an extraordinary one.
“It was the most intense qualifying of the year,” Antonelli told reporters.
Added Russell, after qualifying: “The last few races have been so challenging for me. Nothing is clicking. My driving style just isn’t working with the car at the moment.”
Antonelli is the betting favorite at Betway to take the 2026 F1 Drivers’ Championship, at -275, followed by Russell at +275, Leclerc +2000, Lando Norris +2000, Verstappen +2500, and Oscar Piastri +2500, then Hamilton +3300.
Mercedes are huge betting favourites to take the 2026 F1 Constructors Championship, at -1200, followed by McLaren +700, Ferrari +1400, Red Bull +6600, then Alpine +200000.
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Monaco GP, tomorrow, 9 a.m., Circuit de Monaco
In F1 betting, at Betway, Antonelli is -200, Verstappen +250, then Hamilton +700, Leclerc +1200, Russell +7000, then Hadjar +8000.
It’s tough to bet against Antonelli for tomorrow, since he has shown maturity and pace under pressure. That value holds, even though those odds have shortened slightly.
Having the pole is massive in Monaco, since overtaking opportunities are limited on the narrow 3.337-kilometre street circuit.
Pole sitters often come out on top here.
Monaco does level the playing field due to low-speed corners that favour handling over raw power.
Hamilton could surprise – his experience could shine in traffic/strategy. Hamilton starts P3 in Ferrari (strong practice pace) with three prior Monaco wins and elite street-circuit experience.
He edges Leclerc (P4, who hit the wall in Q3) in recent intra-team battles. Safety car strategy or a Mercedes slip could promote him tomorrow.
