The Formula 1 race was one that gave fans an extremely exciting Monaco Grand Prix that ended up being anything but normal as crashes, penalties, retirements, and last-minute action defined the contest. The Monaco Grand Prix of 2026 provided some winners and losers as the championship battle continued to get more heated. Mercedes teenager Kimi Antonelli cemented himself as a front-runner for the season-ending title, as did his many rivals during a weekend of surprises. Let’s look at five winners and losers of the Monaco Grand Prix of 2026.
With the Monaco Grand Prix entering its final stages, there were a number of safety car interventions, red flags, and penalties that altered the outcome of the contest. Some drivers found success amidst all of this chaos, while others had to deal with misfortune. Kimi Antonelli was a massive winner, while George Russell and local hero Charles Leclerc had disappointing weekends. Below are five winners and losers of Monaco in 2026, starting from least impactful to most impactful.
Kimi Antonelli (1st)
Antonelli delivered the most complete performance of the weekend. The Mercedes driver secured pole position and converted it into his fifth consecutive Formula 1 victory. He controlled the race from start to finish despite multiple interruptions, including a late standing restart. The 19-year-old extended his championship lead to 66 points over Lewis Hamilton and 68 points over teammate George Russell. Monaco underlined why he is now the clear title favorite.
George Russell (12th)
Russell endured another painful weekend. He qualified only sixth, nearly four-tenths slower than Antonelli, and his race unraveled further due to pit-lane penalties and operational confusion. A five-second penalty escalated into a drive-through after an incorrect pit-stop procedure. The result left him outside the points and further behind in the championship battle. Monaco exposed both performance and execution issues within his campaign.
Lewis Hamilton (2nd)
Hamilton continued his resurgence with another impressive result. The Ferrari driver finished second and moved into second place in the championship standings. He stayed ahead of teammate Charles Leclerc throughout the weekend and handled the chaotic race conditions effectively. The podium was also his eighth in Monaco, matching Ayrton Senna’s record at the circuit. Ferrari still trails Mercedes, but Hamilton remains firmly in contention.
Charles Leclerc (DNF)
Monaco brought fresh frustration for Leclerc at his home race. The Ferrari driver struggled with braking issues throughout the weekend and crashed out after a restart while running in podium contention. He blamed severe brake problems, claiming only one brake was functioning properly before the accident. What was expected to be Ferrari’s strongest opportunity of the season ended in another painful Monaco disappointment for the Monegasque driver.
Max Verstappen (DNF)
Verstappen’s result does not reflect how strong his Monaco weekend actually was. The Red Bull driver stunned many by qualifying second, splitting the expected front-runners and putting himself in contention for a podium. However, a power unit failure at the start ended his race before it truly began. He retired on the opening lap and left Monaco empty-handed. Given Red Bull’s pace and his front-row start, Verstappen appeared capable of challenging for second place behind Antonelli. Instead, a mechanical issue turned one of his most promising weekends of the season into a major setback.
