MONACO MASTERCLASS
The 2026 Monaco Grand Prix unfolded with all it’s usual glamour, chaos and razor edge racing. This weekend, Mclaren marked a major milestone by competing in their 1000th race. The team had a special designed livery with their signature papaya base and black accents. Both Lando and Oscar had special helmets that showcased the release of LEGO’S new Formula One helmet sets.
Charles Leclerc for his home race had a special suit and helmet – both white and red inspired by the Monaco flag.
Aston Martin’s special livery had a dramatic colour shifting green to gold iridescent design, hexagonal mesh gradient referencing ‘Madden’s mining to technology theme’. This was one of the most praised designs from the weekend
Audi switched things up by swapping the titanium silver for yellow Audi rings, the Audi drivers also wore black and yellow suits – reminding me of Renault’s days in F1.
Williams had a pixel style theme representing the Williams’ data driven identity.
The crown though out of all the ‘special’s went to Lewis Hamilton – wearing a pink glitter helmet, similar to 2025 Las Vegas.
Onto the track now….
Free practice 1 set the tone early for Ferrari who came out swinging, home hero, Charles Lecerc delighting his home crowd topping the session ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. In true Monaco fashion, the session wasn’t without drama – Isack Hadjar clipped the wall at the swimming pool and brought out the red flags, following shortly Ferando shredded bodywork after brushing the barriers.
FP2 shifted the spotlight to Hamilton, he took his Ferrari to top the timesheets with a stunning lap that underlined his comfort with the car and new engineer. Leclerc was behind, whilst Verstappen kept the pressure in 3rd.
FP3 delivered the first shake up of the weekend, Kimi Antoenlli lit up the timing screens and became the first driver to dip into the 1:12’s. His lap was a statement – smooth, fearless and perfect balanced.
Under the pressure cooker of Monaco’s narrow streets, Qualifying became a masterclass itself in precision. Antonelli delivered an impressive lap to claim pole position – the fourth of his young career, bravo Kimi! Verstappen pushed hard but ultimately couldn’t match the pace of the Mercades final sector. Ferrari found themselves a step behind with Lewis securing 3rd. Disappointment for Charles who aborted his final lap only landing in P4.
Race day Belonged to one man and from the moment the lights went out, Antonelli controlled the Monaco Grand Prix with the composure of a seasoned champion. Managing the pace, tires and pressure with remarkable maturity, never giving Hamilton a real opportunity to strike. Behind Hamilton was another new face to the Monte Carlo F1 podium, Isack Hadjar. Showing how challenging this circuit can be, Max Verstappen’s race ended extremely early after the dutchman wasn’t able to launch correctly and was asked to box to retire, Carlos, Lance, Lando, Ollie and Valtteri all became part of the DNF squad due to multiple different reasons. It was heartbreak for Leclerc who also joined the list of retirees
In the end, the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix will be remembered as the weekend Kimi Antonelli truly arrived. Pole position, fastest laps, and a flawless drive to victory — all on the sport’s most iconic stage. Hamilton’s with a confident second place, and Hadjar’s podium signalled the rise of another young star. With major contenders retiring and the championship picture shifting, Monaco once again proved that no season is ever predictable, and no victory is ever easy.
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With Love, T x
