Parc Ferme: Monaco’s Italian Miracle

We’ll never know what might have been if Max Verstappen had participated, but based on what evolved, it is unlikely he would have dislodged Kimi Antonelli from the top step at the finish.

It all started off on the right track – Ferrari dominated FP1 and FP2. However, it all went off script in FP3. It appeared Antonelli had discovered the wooden block placed behind his accelerator by his “racing uncle” – Peter Bonnington, Bono.

With the offending item duly removed, the young Italian topped the time sheets by three tenths, a feat somewhat made smaller by the shortest track on the calendar. If it had been Spa, we could have been looking at a second.

However, the margins were reduced for qualifying but only by the Max-pedalled Red Bull, as he pulled one of his special laps out of the bag in Q3.

Unfortunately for the Dutchman, this wasn’t quite enough to pip Kimi, whose lap, when compared to his, was virtually identical in gear changes, lines and car placement. The Italian, though, just has that dash of je ne sais quoi.

Meanwhile, the misery for his teammate George Russell was only just beginning. Qualifying sixth. It felt like he was consistently exiting La Rascasse when Kimi had already crossed the start line.

Unfortunately, this is a look that’s starting to stick and one that is not appropriate for the supposed team leader. It will be difficult for George to shrug this off anytime soon.

Throughout the race, Antonelli never looked fazed, executing safety-car restarts and a second standing start perfectly.

Never under pressure, he consistently delivered fastest laps without looking on the edge, existing within his own racing space time continuum. Comparisons are already being made between him and Lewis Hamilton.

However, this is never a good idea. Different times, different cars. Lewis was on his way to winning the world championship in his rookie year and handing his double world Formula 1 champion teammate (Fernando Alonso) his ass at the same time; Kimi was a long way from that on his debut. 

We would be remiss if we didn’t also recognize Toto Wolff and, to a greater extent, Bono's contribution to Kimi’s stunning achievements.

Toto has protected him from those on the outside who would pull him down, while Bonnington is exceptionally good at talking him off the roof and keeping his eye on the now.

This combination is allowing this young driver to enjoy every moment on track and ignore external expectations or pressure.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to see where this will all end, other than in an Italian winning his first F1 World Championship.

If Wolff and Bonnington can continue to corral and funnel this exceptional talent for the balance of this year, he should mature enough to stand on his own two feet in 2027.

However, a bigger question will soon be: how can Mercedes hang on to him? Antonelli has Ferrari written all over him, or is that a Ferrari with his name written on it?

This can only be a question of time and money before the ultimate Tifosi dream!