Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli won from the pole at a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday to claim his fifth consecutive Formula 1 victory.

Antonelli survived a red flag in the closing stages and held off Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton to win by 6.271 seconds. Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar was third and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri finished fourth.

“It’s been an incredible weekend and race,” Antonelli said. “One of those days when we had incredible pace. The car gave me the confidence to push.

“… Job’s not finished and still a long season. The goal is to keep performing like this.”

The day was over in a flash for four-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen, whose Red Bull ride stalled at the start and forced his retirement.

Mechanical problems also knocked out Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas and McLaren’s Lando Norris.

Local favorite Charles Leclerc of Ferrari crashed out in Lap 65 of 78.

The 19-year-old Antonelli is the first Italian to win in Monaco since Jarno Trulli in 2004, and also the youngest winner of the race. Hamilton was the previous record-holder at age 23 in 2008.

“Start by congratulating Kimi,” Hamilton said. “Mercedes have done it again by creating a monster. Gonna take a lot of work from us to get to that level.”

The F1 season continues next weekend at Barcelona.

–Field Level Media