His domination was underlined by the fact he then built a 6.271 seconds winning margin in the final eight laps after the race resumed with the day’s second standing start.

Antonelli suffered a crisis of confidence during the European races last season after finishing 18th in Monaco, but he is now beginning to look invincible.

Every driver who had won five races in succession in an F1 season has gone on to win the title.

His task was made easier on Sunday as Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who started alongside him on the front row, stalled on the grid and retired after a lap with a power unit issue.

It was also a miserable day for reigning world champion and 2025 Monaco winner Lando Norris who retired after 46 laps when the electrical gremlins that dogged him in practice returned.

Local favourite Leclerc received vociferous support from crowds wedged around the 3.3km circuit but his hopes of emulating his 2024 win vanished when he hit the barriers on the final corner on the resumption after the safety car was deployed following a crash by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll after 60 laps.

Leclerc said an issue with his brakes had caused the accident, not the loose road surface on the final corner where Stroll’s crash triggered a baffling conclusion to the race.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was fourth with Racing Bulls duo Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad fifth and sixth.