F1 championship leader Kimi Antonelli topped a chaotic final practice session for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix, delivering a standout lap that left both Ferrari drivers and the rest of the field chasing shadows on what is shaping up to be a defining Saturday in Monte Carlo.
The Mercedes driver was the only competitor to dip below the 1m13s barrier, setting a commanding 1m12.720s to finish three tenths clear of Charles Leclerc, with Lewis Hamilton just 0.004s further back in a tightly packed Ferrari response.
On a session repeatedly interrupted by incidents, traffic, and red flags, Antonelli’s pace stood out as both a statement and a warning ahead of qualifying.
Monaco Grand Prix Free Practice 3 - Results
The session began at full intensity, with teams immediately deploying soft tyres in anticipation of a rapidly evolving track surface.
Ferrari initially set the benchmark, as Leclerc posted a 1m15.184s to lead Hamilton by 0.062s. But the seven-time champion soon responded, becoming the first driver to break into the 1m14s range with a 1m14.390s as the order began to shift.
As grip improved, McLaren briefly disrupted Ferrari’s control of the session, with Lando Norris edging ahead by just 0.015s. The British team arrived under pressure following a disrupted Friday, including a €30,000 fine (with €10,000 suspended) after the MCL40 stopped on track and a curfew breach linked to electrical repairs.
Mercedes and Ferrari trade blows in evolving conditions
The middle phase of FP3 developed into a direct exchange between Mercedes and Ferrari as the times tumbled.
George Russell was first to break into the 1m13s range with a 1m13.902s, only for Leclerc to respond immediately with a 1m13.748s. Antonelli then issued a stronger reply, going 0.374s quicker with a 1m13.374s before Russell briefly restored a Mercedes 1-2, just 0.109s off his teammate.
Leclerc again countered with a 1m13.355s, but Antonelli soon raised the bar further with a 1m13.137s — only to lose time on what could have been an even faster lap after encountering a slow Cadillac through his final sectors.
A brief yellow flag period followed after Franco Colapinto suffered a half-spin at the hairpin, disrupting the rhythm of the session and prompting Antonelli to abandon his run and pit.
Red flags, traffic and Antonelli’s decisive strike
Drama escalated further when Oliver Bearman crashed at Massenet, triggering a red flag and marking the fourth interruption of the weekend across three practice sessions.
When running resumed with just minutes remaining, traffic congestion defined the closing phase. Cars flooded back onto track, creating a chaotic final run where space was scarce and tensions briefly flared, including a close call between Norris and Hamilton at the final chicane.
Ollie Bearman crashes out of FP3 ?
Here is how the moment happened at Massenet ?#F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/S7ME5vNxft
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2026
But by then, the session’s defining moment had already been set.
Antonelli had earlier delivered the decisive blow with 19 minutes remaining, eclipsing Hamilton’s Friday benchmark of 1m13.026s with a blistering 1m12.720s — a lap no rival could match.
Ferrari’s final efforts fell short, with Leclerc’s 1m13.047s securing second ahead of Hamilton by just 0.004s. Russell completed the top four, while Max Verstappen finished fifth with a 1m13.662s.
Oscar Piastri took sixth, narrowly ahead of Gabriel Bortoleto, with Isack Hadjar eighth. Norris ended a frustrating session in ninth, while Nico Hülkenberg completed the top ten.
With margins razor-thin behind Antonelli and multiple teams showing flashes of pace amid disrupted running, Monaco qualifying promises a fiercely contested battle — one where track position, timing, and a clean lap may matter as much as outright speed.
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