Every single victory in Formula 1 carries a magnificent feeling, and Kimi Antonelli has already secured five of them across the opening six rounds of this spectacular season. It has been an extraordinary start to his campaign, with his world championship dream growing stronger by the day. However, his triumph on the streets of Monte Carlo carries a truly unique flavor compared to all his other wins, and it was celebrated with the highest honors—including a traditional post-race dive that was captured perfectly by Mercedes, the official Formula 1 cameras, and passing fans who wanted to soak in the memorable moment.
Antonelli secured a completely overwhelming victory in Monte Carlo, essentially winning the race twice after the grand prix was suddenly red-flagged on lap 68 due to a severe track surface issue with the asphalt. While a late-race standing restart under heavy pressure could have proven highly treacherous, the Italian prodigy left no room for doubt, delivering a flawless getaway to comfortably seal the win.
Kimi dives into the Monte Carlo harbor alongside his father Marco
Kimi Antonelli wanted to properly honor his monumental triumph in the Principality by diving straight into the famous Monte Carlo harbor. While this isn’t a brand-new concept, it has transformed into a cherished modern F1 tradition that has seen several legendary drivers pull off similar celebrations over the last two decades. The sheer joy radiating from the Mercedes garage and the teenage Italian racer was through the roof. Accompanied by his inseparable father, Marco, the current Formula 1 world championship leader leaped into the Mediterranean waters to a massive ovation from the Mercedes mechanics and onlookers. He did so after quickly shedding his race overalls and official team gear, making sure the branding of the dominant Brackley squad—which has won every single grand prix so far this season—remained dry.
The post-race celebration was lighthearted, youthful, and incredibly energetic, with Kimi acting as the life of the party as he enthusiastically urged and playfully pushed other members of his engineering crew to join him in the water. Amidst the chaos, he made sure to shout out a warning to look after his official winner’s trophy, which he proudly reclaimed the moment he climbed back onto the pier.
Lewis Hamilton offers high praise to the unstoppable rookie
By securing this victory, the championship leader has kept a historic record intact, having claimed five wins out of the first six rounds, with Melbourne standing as the only weekend where he dropped points to teammate George Russell. Immediately following the checkered flag—well before taking his plunge into the harbor and right before the podium ceremony—the young driver received high praise from Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time world champion warmly welcomed him in the cooling-down room, jokingly telling him:
“You are winning too much my friend, you will catch up to me soon.”
If the young Mercedes star continues on this current, history-making trajectory, he might just live up to that spectacular praise one day.
Kimi Antonelli’s breathtaking victory at the Monaco Grand Prix has further solidified his dominance in the 2026 world championship, proving that the young Mercedes sensation can handle intense pressure restarts while earning the ultimate respect of racing legends like Lewis Hamilton.
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