Scott Gulbransen
The Monaco Grand Prix is often characterized as a dud of a race, with little action or drama. It is typically a procession of cars following each other closely, with the pole sitter usually maintaining their position until the end. In 2026, the race defied the usual narrative and included as much drama as Kim Kardashian’s dating life. It included multiple penalties, two red flags, and seven cars retiring prematurely. Despite the chaos, the championship leader, 19-year-old Kimi Antonelli, managed to navigate through the turmoil unfazed.
Let’s delve into this round’s winners and losers after the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix.
Winner: Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes
With five pole positions and five victories this season, Antonelli continued his winning streak. Overcoming some hiccups throughout, such as race restarts, deteriorating track conditions, and engine concerns, he dominated the race from start to finish. Despite facing adversity, Antonelli maintained his composure, clinching the win with a significant lead over Lewis Hamilton. His performance not only extended his championship lead but also showcased his superiority on the track.
Antonelli, already the youngest driver to ever win at Monaco, held off Hamilton through a red flag and a restart on Sunday, banked his fifth win in a row, and stretched the title lead to 66 points. Add those accomplishments to the fact that he’s the youngest polesitter and youngest points leader at this point in the F1 season, and he’s starting to run out of records for him to break.
Winner: Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari
Securing second place may not sound remarkable, but considering the circumstances, Lewis Hamilton’s achievement is commendable. Despite a penalty for speeding in the pit lane and an investigation for a Safety Car incident, Hamilton displayed the skill that has made him the best driver of his generation. Hamilton kept pace with Antonelli during the restarts, showing he’s lost nothing over the years in navigating the quirky Monaco circuit. In a race where his teammate Charles Leclerc faltered, Hamilton’s steady performance highlighted his value to the team, and the talk of his decline is greatly exaggerated.
Related: Will Lewis Hamilton Win in 2026? Ferrari’s SF-26 and the Case for a Comeback
Loser: Max Verstappen | Red Bull
Max Verstappen’s race was a complete dumpster fire from the start. After a great weekend for him and Red Bull, and qualifying second, he couldn’t get off the line and was a DNF before the race could complete one lap. Verstappen fell behind early on and could not recover, resulting in a frustrating end to his 2026 Monaco Grand Prix.
“After such a nice weekend for us, you at least hope to be on the podium, right?” Verstappen said. “Yeah, when you, of course, then retire basically straight away, I think it’s painful for everyone.”
For a driver with high expectations, failing to complete a single lap at Monaco was a significant setback for Max Verstappen and Red Bull.
Loser: George Russell | Mercedes
George Russell’s race was plagued with setbacks, including a false-start investigation, penalties for pit-lane speeding and a subsequent drive-through penalty. These penalties sank Russell and his progress on a track notorious for limited overtaking opportunities. Struggling to make up for lost time, Russell found himself stuck behind slower cars and ultimately finished outside the points. A challenging race weekend for Russell underscored the importance of avoiding costly mistakes in Formula 1. It also continues to be a rough season for Russell, who is now continually in his young teammate’s shadow.
Loser: Charles Leclerc & Ferrari
The Monaco curse struck again for Charles Leclerc and Ferrari, as the local hero crashed during the race restart, attributing the incident to brake issues. The team salvaged a second-place finish with Hamilton, but Leclerc’s early exit and ongoing brake issues cast doubt on Ferrari’s performance. With bottlenecks facing both drivers and technical difficulties looming, Ferrari’s aspirations of success in Monaco were overshadowed by disappointing outcomes and unresolved issues.
