Antonelli Tops Monaco GP Free Practice 3 Ahead of Ferrari Duo

Kimi Antonelli underlined his growing reputation by topping the final practice session ahead of qualifying at the Monaco Grand Prix, outpacing Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. The Italian driver posted a 1:12.720 as teams completed last-minute preparations on the streets of Monte Carlo, though the hour was disrupted by a red flag for Ollie Bearman and more brake trouble for Cadillac.

Why it matters:

Monaco qualifying often determines the race winner given the near-impossibility of overtaking on the tight street circuit, making FP3 the final chance to fine-tune setups. Antonelli's pace suggests Mercedes has genuine front-row potential, while Ferrari's tight grip on second and third indicates the Scuderia remains a formidable threat at a track where Leclerc has historically excelled.

The details:

• Antonelli's 1:12.720 was 0.327s clear of Leclerc, with Hamilton close behind in third, underscoring strong one-lap pace from both Mercedes and Ferrari.
• Cadillac suffered another difficult session as both Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas reported brake issues within ten minutes, following Perez's front-right brake fire in Friday's FP2.
• Franco Colapinto spun at the Hotel Hairpin and damaged his Alpine's rear wing, bringing out a brief yellow flag midway through the session.
• Ollie Bearman triggered a red flag with 15 minutes remaining after hitting the Massenet wall, destroying his Haas's rear wing and forcing his mechanics into a race against time before qualifying.

What's next:

With qualifying looming later today, teams face a compressed window to analyze data and repair cars. Haas in particular will be under pressure to fix Bearman's machine, while Cadillac must solve its persistent brake cooling gremlins before the most important grid-setting session of the season.