This Sunday, Kimi Antonelli starred in one of the most spectacular comebacks in Formula 1 memory by winning the Italian Grand Prix in Monza after starting from nineteenth position on the grid.
At 20 years old, the championship leader became the first driver since John Watson, in 1983, to win a Formula 1 race starting from 19th place or worse. In addition, Antonelli put an end to a 60-year wait for Italian fans: he is the first local driver to win the Italian Grand Prix since Lodovico Scarfiotti, winner at Monza in 1966.
Antonelli’s victory also had a special meaning for the history of his country, since it represented the 50th victory of an Italian driver in Formula 1.
Mercedes teammate George Russell finished second, while Max Verstappen completed the podium in third. Pierre Gasly, who had achieved the first pole of his career, crossed the finish line in seventh place.
Antonelli’s decisive move over Russell came on lap 50. The Italian was already fighting with his teammate for the lead after having pitted on lap 29, taking advantage of a virtual safety car period, to fit a new set of medium tires.
Russell, on the other hand, decided not to stop during that period and completed the race with the hard tires he had put on after the red flag caused by Charles Leclerc’s accident in the opening laps.
The victory also allowed Antonelli to become the first driver to win his home Grand Prix since Lando Norris won the 2025 British Grand Prix.
For Ferrari, on the other hand, the home race ended up being disappointing. Leclerc suffered an accident in the early stages that forced the race to be stopped with a red flag. Lewis Hamilton, who had started fourth from the second row, could only finish in sixth position.
Antonelli had arrived at Monza as the first Italian driver in the World Championship to compete at the circuit since Alberto Ascari in 1953. After his historic victory, he extended his lead over Russell in the championship standings to 66 points.
