FP3: Antonelli tops final practive as Mercedes regain dominant form in Monaco

F1 Grand Prix, GP Monaco, Monte Carlo Circuit

Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivered a response to Ferrari’s Friday supremacy by topping the third and final practice at the Monaco Grand Prix, restoring Mercedes to the front after a muted opening day.

The Italian teenager, who leads the world championship by 43 points, became the first driver of the weekend to break into the 1m12s, setting a benchmark of 1:12.720 that no rival could match.

Antonelli's form in FP3 underlined Mercedes’ overnight progress after Ferrari had controlled both Friday sessions with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.

The Italian’s performance was the clearest indicator yet that Mercedes had unlocked the W17’s potential around Monaco. After struggling to extract a clean lap on Friday, the Silver Arrows arrived on Saturday with a more compliant car, improved rotation in the low‑speed corners, and greater confidence on the soft tyre.

Charles Leclerc emerged as Antonelli’s closest challenger, finishing 0.327s behind. The Ferrari driver, who had topped both Friday sessions, could not quite match the Mercedes’ agility in the first sector but remained firmly in the fight for pole on home soil.

Lewis Hamilton, fastest in FP2, slipped to third but remained within half a second of Antonelli, while George Russell endured another scrappy session, unable to string together a clean lap on the softs and ending up fourth.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen remained adrift, nearly a full second down, while McLaren continued to struggle for one‑lap pace, Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris both outside the top six.

Audi again impressed with Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg inside the top ten, maintaining the team’s quietly consistent Monaco form.

The session ended prematurely when Ollie Bearman crashed his Haas at Massenet, triggering a red flag and denying several drivers a final qualifying simulation.