"It was one of those days where everything just clicked," claims Antonelli
Originally published by F1Technical
Championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivered the kind of performance in Monte Carlo that defines champions: controlled, composed, and utterly unshakeable.
While chaos unfolded behind him, the Mercedes rookie executed a near‑perfect afternoon to claim his first Monaco Grand Prix victory and extend his championship lead to 66 points after five wins from the opening six races.
Antonelli’s Sunday was one of the few that unfolded without major drama. He launched cleanly from pole, built a commanding margin over Lewis Hamilton, and even when the Safety Car wiped out his advantage, he handled both the rolling restart and the later red‑flag restart with the calm of a veteran.
Reflecting on his faultless weekend, Antonelli said: “It’s an incredible feeling to win in Monaco. It’s such a special weekend and one I’ll remember for a long time.
"Today was one of those days where everything just clicked; I had a lot of confidence in the car, felt strong throughout, and to bring the win home in a place like this makes it even more meaningful.”
His start — an area he has openly acknowledged as a work in progress — was solid, and he highlighted the progress made: “The starts are still an area we’re working on, but I’ve made good progress. My first one was solid, and although the second was a bit more challenging with the tyres, it’s positive to see improvement.”
Managing pressure when it matteredThe red flag, triggered by a mid‑race incident further down the field, reset the race and introduced a new layer of tension. Antonelli admitted the moment carried weight “The red flag added a bit of stress, especially knowing the restart could change everything, but we handled it well.”
Once the race settled into its final phase, he found the rhythm that has defined his early‑season dominance: “In the final laps, I really enjoyed myself out there, even though I still had to carefully manage the tyres.
"This track demands a lot of focus, you have to find the right balance between pushing and not making mistakes, and once you settle into that rhythm, everything starts to come together.”
Despite the historic run — five consecutive wins, a commanding points lead, and a first Monaco triumph — Antonelli remains grounded. His long‑term approach continues to be one of incremental improvement:
“At the same time, I know there’s still a lot to learn and improve. I just want to keep pushing, keep building on this momentum, and most importantly, keep enjoying the journey. That’s what makes moments like this so rewarding.”