Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli clinches Monaco pole

Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli clinched the pole position for the Monaco Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen after a thrilling qualifying battle on Saturday.

The 19-year-old leader of the world championship went 0.043 quicker than Verstappen, who will start alongside him on the front row.

"It was one of those laps that we call a magic lap. I was able to put it all together. It was such a close qualifying with Max," Antonelli, who clocked 1:12.051 seconds said.

"I knew the last lap was good, I was just hoping that it would be enough but it was very close."

Ferrari, which started the race as favourites, had to be content with the second row on Sunday's grid with Lewis Hamilton finishing third quickest, 0.228 seconds slower, and local favourite Charles Leclerc finished fourth.

Winner of the race in 2024, Leclerc had been on provisional pole with time running out in Q3, but slightly hit the barrier on his final lap while trying to wrestle it back, stopping his car at Rascasse.

Red Bull’s second driver Isack Hadjar was fifth, with Kimi Antonelli's teammate George Russell a disappointing sixth.

Defending world champion and last year's Monaco winner Lando Norris is set to be on the fourth row alongside McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, with the team's hopes of victory in their 1,000th Grand Prix now looking slender.

Antonelli finished 18th and last at last year’s Monaco Grand Prix but now has the opportunity to continue a stunning start to the campaign after becoming the first Italian to take pole in the principality since Jarno Trulli in 2004.