Antonelli leads the Ferrari pair after Bearman crashes in Monaco FP3

The final practice hour of the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix delivered exactly what Monaco so often promises: drama, fine margins, traffic chaos and a statement lap when it mattered most. As the sun climbed over the Principality, all eyes turned to FP3 as the last true indicator ahead of one of the most critical qualifying sessions of the season.

FP3 Recap: Antonelli Lays Down a Marker

Antonelli Stuns the Field

Kimi Antonelli topped Practice 3 with a superb 1:12.720, ending the session over three tenths clear of Charles Leclerc. The young Mercedes driver looked supremely confident throughout the hour, delivering his fastest lap on fresh soft tyres at a moment when traffic briefly relented.

Mercedes had appeared slightly on the back foot on Friday, but overnight setup changes clearly unlocked performance. Antonelli consistently extracted grip from the C5 tyres and looked particularly strong through the Swimming Pool and the final sector, traditionally areas where confidence outweighs raw power.

Toto Wolff was understandably upbeat afterwards, saying “That was a good session from Kimi, very fast. Now we just need to build for Qualifying.”

Ferrari Close but Not Comfortable

Ferrari remained firmly in the fight, with Charles Leclerc second and Lewis Hamilton third, separated by just four thousandths of a second. However, the headline times masked underlying concerns.

Leclerc repeatedly reported brake issues, aborting at least one promising lap due to traffic and balance problems. His best effort, a 1:13.047, came despite those limitations and suggests there may still be more performance available if Ferrari can tidy things up before qualifying.

Hamilton, meanwhile, continued to impress around one of his strongest circuits. The seven-time world champion looked sharp from the opening runs and briefly topped the times early in the session. His 1:13.051 was a reminder that experience still counts heavily around Monaco’s unforgiving barriers.

Russell and Verstappen Lurking

George Russell backed up Mercedes’ resurgence by taking fourth, though he admitted the car did not feel quite as comfortable as Antonelli’s. Still, a 1:13.483 keeps him firmly in the pole discussion.

Max Verstappen rounded out the top five. The Red Bull driver never looked entirely satisfied, but his pace remained solid rather than spectacular. As ever at Monaco, discounting Verstappen would be foolish, especially if he finds a clean lap amid the traffic later on.

Key Moments and Incidents

Bearman Brings Out the Red Flag

The biggest interruption came late in the session when Oliver Bearman crashed at Massenet, clipping the barriers and scattering debris across the track. The Haas rookie emerged unhurt, but the red flag compromised several final runs.

While the damage was not terminal, Haas will be anxiously checking the gearbox ahead of qualifying. Bearman ended the session 14th and will be under pressure to bounce back quickly.

Traffic Dominates the Narrative

Traffic was a constant theme throughout FP3. Leclerc abandoned laps, Antonelli expressed frustration, and a late near-miss between Norris and Hamilton underlined how easily qualifying could unravel.

With 22 cars fighting for space in Q1, luck and timing may prove just as decisive as outright speed.

Midfield Watch: Audi Impress, McLaren Recovering

Audi Genuine Q3 Contenders

Audi once again impressed, with Gabriel Bortoleto seventh and Nico Hülkenberg tenth. Their pace across all three practice sessions suggests the car is well-suited to Monaco’s low-speed demands, and both drivers look capable of making Q3.

McLaren Playing Catch-Up

McLaren’s FP3 was quietly encouraging rather than spectacular. Oscar Piastri finished sixth, while Lando Norris took ninth after another session disrupted by traffic and deleted laps. After Norris’ FP2 electrical issue and Piastri’s wall brushes on Friday, the team will be relieved to have gathered clean data at last.

Zak Brown summed it up cautiously, suggesting a second row would be “optimistic” — an honest reflection of McLaren’s current standing.

What FP3 Tells Us Ahead of Qualifying

Mercedes have thrown themselves into pole contention, Ferrari remain formidable but imperfect, and Verstappen is hovering ominously. Behind them, the midfield is tightly packed, with Audi, McLaren, Haas, Alpine and Williams all sensing opportunity.

At Monaco, FP3 pace is only part of the story. When qualifying begins later today, precision, bravery and timing will decide everything — and after this session, a five-way fight for pole feels not just possible, but inevitable.