Antonelli Ends Ferrari Practice Dominance with Fastest Lap in Monaco FP3

Kimi Antonelli put Mercedes on top of the timesheets in the final free practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix, snapping Ferrari's early-weekend dominance on the streets of Monte Carlo. The Italian rookie set a benchmark of 1:12.720, ending the hour three-tenths clear of the Ferrari pairing of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton despite an interruption.

Why it matters:

Qualifying in Monaco is everything, and topping the final practice session signals genuine pace on a circuit where confidence and rhythm are paramount. Ferrari had controlled the running heading into Saturday, but Antonelli's lap suggests Mercedes is a serious contender for pole position in the Principality.

The details:

• Antonelli's pace: The Mercedes rookie posted a 1:12.720 to lead the way, with Charles Leclerc second at 0.327s back and teammate Lewis Hamilton third, just four-thousandths behind Leclerc.
• Mercedes strength: George Russell backed up Antonelli's speed with fourth place, giving the Brackley squad two cars in the top four.
• Red Bull chasing: Max Verstappen was fifth for Red Bull, 0.942s off the pace, with teammate Isack Hadjar in eighth.
• Session interruption: Oliver Bearman spun at Massenet and damaged his Haas' rear wing, bringing out the red flags and cutting into valuable track time ahead of qualifying.
• Midfield surprises: Gabriel Bortoleto impressed with seventh for Audi, while Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris placed sixth and ninth respectively for McLaren.

What's next:

All eyes now turn to qualifying, where grid position effectively determines the race outcome in Monaco. Ferrari will need to find an immediate response to Antonelli's pace if they are to secure a front-row lockout, while Mercedes will aim to capitalize on its sudden Saturday morning advantage around the unforgiving Monte Carlo circuit.