Monaco Grand Prix FP3: Kimi Antonelli fastest as Mercedes turn the wick up
F1 NewsSaturday, 06 June 2026 at 13:30
Kimi Antonelli topped the final practice session for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix as Mercedes appear to have responded to Ferrari's early form ahead of Qualifying.
The 2026 Formula 1 Championship leader admitted he was not happy with his W17 on Friday labeling it unpredictable in the middle sector.
But it appears that Mercedes did some work overnight and probably turned things up a bit as the Italian managed the fastest lap at the end of FP3, a 1:12.720 which was over three tenths clear of Charles Leclerc in second.
The Monegasque was not happy with the brakes on his SF-26 calling them "horrendous" over the team radio.
Lewis Hamilton was third fastest in the sister Ferrari just 0.004s behind his teammate and ahead of former Mercedes teammate George Russell.
Russell had a tough session, finishing fourth fastest, but more worryingly, over seven tenths slower than his teammate.
Max Verstappen seemed to have dropped back compared to Friday and was fifth fastest at the end of FP3, almost one second off the pace.
Things were not better for McLaren as Oscar Piastri was sixth fastest, less than a tenth behind Verstappen while Gabriel Bortoleto was seventh for Audi.
Isack Hadjar was eighth fastest in the second Red Bull RB22 and ahead of reigning F1 Champion, Lando Norris, who was ninth while Nico Hulkenberg out the second Audi in the top ten.
The session was Red flagged towards the end as Oliver Bearman crashed his Haas on his way to Casino Square.
Buildup towards FP3
Ferrari confirmed all the pre-Monaco hype with Leclerc and Hamilton in control of proceedings on Friday around the streets of the principality while Verstappen emerged as best of the rest, a status that should have been reserved for Mercedes logically.
Within Mercedes, there is the battle between Russell and Antonelli with the latter admitting he is not happy with his car in the middle sector of the track.
McLaren, on the other hand, struggled with performance and reliability as their 1000th Grand Prix weekend doesn't seem off to a decent start so far.
The upset for Ferrari, however, came with the announcement that boss Fred Vasseur has been admitted into a medical facility and will not be present at the pitwall of his team on Saturday.
Other than that, Qualifying later on will be a challenge with 22 cars hitting the tight track in Q1 while Pirelli say that firing up the Soft tyres will be key today.
So who will prevail at Ferrari? At Mercedes? Will Verstappen maintain his form? What of McLaren?
FP3 Session Highlights
The session started in slightly cloudy conditions with track temperature at 28 degrees Celsius while air temperature was 23 degrees.
Hamilton was the first driver to hit the track as the green light at the end of the pitlane was illuminated. He was on Softs. So was Leclerc who soon followed him out.
Straight onto the soft tyres we go 😮💨
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2026
And it's the Ferrari duo of Leclerc and Hamilton at the top from the off! 🔝#F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/xx6sUMHCLO
All the drivers started on the Softs with the track lacking grip early on and evolving fast.
Soon Valtteri Bottas reported that smoke was coming out of his brakes. An issue that ended Sergio Perez's practice on Friday. He returned slowly back to the pits.
Soon after that, Perez also reported that his left brake was catching fire.
"I'm catching fire on the left brake"
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2026
Problems for Sergio Perez and Cadillac early on in FP3 😢#F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/CgvkmIoZHL
Almost 15 minutes into the session, Verstappen and Hadjar joined the action followed by the Mercedes drivers.
Russell had a moment with the wall at the swimming pool section but got away with it... Antonelli was asking where his teammate is better than him.
Hamilton, on the other hand, was complaining that his seat was moving around.
With the track evolving and the times improving, the names were continuously being shuffled on the timing screens.
Those times are tumbling! ⏱️
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2026
We're into the 1:13s with Russell going fastest, before Leclerc assumes the top spot with a 1:13.748 🙌#F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/f2r5ejapCz
Liam Lawson said on the radio he had a big moment at the swimming pool but got away with it somehow.
But Franco Colapinto brought out a Yellow flag after spinning at the hairpin, and tapped the barriers. He managed to get going again.
A spin for Colapinto at the hairpin and he clips the barrier with the rear! 😱🔄#F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/fiqzaywEMV
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2026
Colapinto then came very close to the wall at Turn 1 where he actually slammed it in practice of Friday.
Alex Albon went deep at Turn 1 as well and ended up in the run-off area and had to reverse back to the track.
Russell had a moment, locking up behind Carlos Sainz and just managed to keep it out of the barriers.
Locking up into Rascasse goes Russell behind Sainz! 😬
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2026
But he juuust makes it around and continues on his way... 😮💨#F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/igD6RmTgbg
With 15 minutes remaining, Bearman brought out the Red flag after crashing up the hill on the way to Casino Square.
Replay showed the Haas driver going wide and running on the dirt and losing the rear, game over.
Bearman was soon on the radio apologizing for the team saying his car bottomed out on the bumps.
Ollie Bearman crashes out of FP3 😱
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 6, 2026
Here is how the moment happened at Massenet 👇#F1 #MonacoGP pic.twitter.com/S7ME5vNxft
The session was resumed with only four minutes on the clock and practice starts concluded the running.
Monaco Grand Prix FP3 Classification
Latest News
Loading
