Antonelli snatches Monaco pole with 'magic lap', Piastri off the pace

Kimi Antonelli will start from pole position at the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix, defying expectations with a stunning performance. The young driver delivered what he described as a "magic lap" to secure his fourth pole in six races this season.

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It was one of those laps that we call a magic lap.

Antonelli's final qualifying lap in his Mercedes clocked in at 1 minute and 12.051 seconds, narrowly edging out Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull by a mere 0.043 seconds. This marks the first time an Italian driver has taken pole in Monaco since Jarno Trulli in 2004.

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I was able to put ‌it all together. It was such a close qualifying with Max.

Despite suggestions that Monaco's tight circuit might neutralize Mercedes's power advantage, Antonelli proved dominant. Championship leader Antonelli, at 19, is the youngest driver to lead the championship and has won the last four races. Ferrari, tipped as race favorites, will start from the second row with Lewis Hamilton third and local favorite Charles Leclerc fourth.

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I knew the last lap was good. I was just hoping that it would be enough but it was very close.

In contrast, Australia's Oscar Piastri had a difficult qualifying session, ending up seventh on the grid. "We're just lacking performance compared to the guys ahead and we just have to accept that," Piastri stated, noting his best lap time of 1 minute and 12.624 seconds. Reigning champion Lando Norris will start alongside his McLaren teammate on the fourth row.

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We're just lacking performance compared to the guys ahead and we just have to accept that.