Verstappen Leads Monaco Qualifying Charge as Red Flag Drama Shakes Up Grid
Qualifying for the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix delivered plenty of drama on the streets of Monte Carlo, with a late red flag in Q1 and a fierce battle at the top of the timesheets as drivers fought for crucial grid positions.
The session was interrupted with just over two minutes remaining in Q1 when Audi rookie Gabriel Bortoleto crashed after breaking his front suspension, bringing out the red flags. The stoppage left several drivers under pressure heading into the final moments of the opening segment, where even the slightest mistake can prove costly around Monaco’s unforgiving barriers.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc initially set the pace in Q1, delighting the home crowd, while both Aston Martin drivers and both Cadillac entries suffered early exits. Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were eliminated in 21st and 22nd respectively, while Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas also failed to progress.
Bortoleto’s qualifying troubles worsened after he made contact with the barriers at the Nouvelle Chicane. The damage prevented him from taking part in Q2, leaving him 16th on the grid.
In Q2, championship leader Kimi Antonelli briefly took over at the top for Mercedes, but Max Verstappen responded with an impressive lap to put Red Bull ahead as the session intensified. Williams endured a disappointing end to qualifying, with both Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz falling short of the final shootout.
Drivers Eliminated in Q2
- 11th: Alex Albon (Williams)
- 12th: Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- 13th: Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
- 14th: Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
- 15th: Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
- 16th: Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
Drivers Eliminated in Q1
- 17th: Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- 18th: Sergio Perez (Cadillac)
- 19th: Oliver Bearman (Haas)
- 20th: Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
- 21st: Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- 22nd: Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
The 2026 season has introduced two notable qualifying changes. With the grid expanded to 22 cars, six drivers are now eliminated in both Q1 and Q2 instead of five. Additionally, Q3 has been extended from 12 to 13 minutes, giving the remaining 10 drivers more time to battle for pole position.
With overtaking notoriously difficult around Monaco, qualifying remains one of the most important sessions of the weekend, making every lap and every position on the grid critical for Sunday’s race.