Formula 1
MonacoSeason 2026
Before the start, Liam Lawson reported a technical issue on his Racing Bulls car, although the team was able to resolve the problem in time for him to take his place on the grid. Gabriel Bortoleto was unable to line-up in his original grid position after his Audi stopped at the pit exit, forcing him to start from the pit lane.
Polesitter Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) retained the lead at the start, while Max Verstappen (Red Bull) suffered a power unit-related problem and dropped to the back of the field before retiring at the end of the opening lap. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc (both Ferrari) moved into second and third, with Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) running fourth.
Further back, Pierre Gasly (Alpine) passed Lando Norris (McLaren) on the opening lap, while Sergio Pérez (Cadillac) was later given a drive-through penalty for being out of position at the start. Antonelli gradually built a lead over Hamilton and Leclerc during the opening stint, while Hadjar came under pressure from George Russell.
Despite reporting engine braking and gear-selection issues Russell was unable to pass Hadjar on track and later lost time through penalties, including a drive-through penalty after failing to serve an earlier pit lane speeding penalty correctly. Several drivers also received five-second penalties for speeding in the pit lane, including Hamilton, Russell, Gasly, Franco Colapinto and Oscar Piastri.
Mechanical issues removed several cars from contention during the first half of the race, with Valtteri Bottas retiring with brake problems, Oliver Bearman being called into the pits to retire, and Norris retiring after reporting a loss of battery power. The race's main period of disruption began with around 20 laps remaining, when Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) crashed at the final corner, bringing out the safety car.
Several drivers pitted during the interruption, including Hamilton and Piastri, who were able to serve their time penalties. When racing resumed, Leclerc crashed at the same corner, prompting a red flag while officials inspected damage to the track surface.
During the stoppage, Gasly received a second five-second penalty for speeding in the pit lane, while Russell was required to serve his drive-through penalty after the restart. The Grand Prix resumed with a standing restart.
Antonelli again held the lead from Hamilton, while Russell briefly moved ahead of Gasly and Hadjar before serving his drive-through penalty and falling out of the points. Behind them, Carlos Sainz Jr.
(Williams) was involved in two collisions shortly after the restart, first with Nico Hülkenberg (Audi) and then with Colapinto, and retired with collision damage. Antonelli went on to win the race ahead of Hamilton, securing his fifth victory of the season and extending his lead in the Drivers' Championship.
Gasly finished third on the road, but his two five-second penalties dropped him to seventh, promoting Hadjar to his first podium of the season. Piastri finished fourth, followed by Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, while Alexander Albon, Esteban Ocon and Pérez completed the points positions, the latter appearing to have scored Cadillac's first point of the season.