Kimi Antonelli produced a breathtaking drive to win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza, climbing from 19th place on the grid to claim his maiden victory in Formula 1. The Mercedes driver passed teammate George Russell with just three laps remaining, extending his championship lead to 66 points.
The result marks the second-largest comeback in F1 history for a race winner, trailing only John Watson’s triumph from 22nd place at the 1983 United States Grand Prix West. Antonelli’s performance was particularly remarkable given he was challenging for the lead within the first 16 laps of the restart following an early incident.
The race was punctuated by drama at the home of Ferrari. Charles Leclerc crashed heavily into the barriers at the Parabolica on lap three while defending against Oscar Piastri, bringing out a red flag as marshals repaired the fencing. Leclerc emerged unhurt, but the crash marred what had hoped to be a strong day for the Italian squad.
For Russell, who started from second, the race ended in disappointment. Despite leading for a significant portion of the Grand Prix, he struggled with tire degradation in the final stages. Antonelli, who pitted for fresh tires under a virtual safety car, closed the gap and executed a decisive overtake between the Lesmo corners and Ascari.
“I did not expect this,” Antonelli said after crossing the line. “Unbelievable. I am so happy; I could never imagine being here today.”
Russell acknowledged his teammate’s pace, stating, “When I saw he was already in P5 or P6 after the restart, I knew he would be in the mix. I was just struggling with the tyres at the end.”
Max Verstappen secured the final podium position for Red Bull, while McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri completed the top five. For the crowd at Monza, Antonelli became an instant hero, becoming the first Italian to win at the circuit since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966.
Max Verstappen getting third is solid, but this race was all about Kimi’s incredible drive. Absolute masterclass!
Poor Leclerc’s day ended badly with that crash. Meanwhile, Russell had all the speed but couldn’t handle the tire wear.
I’m still in shock. Second biggest comeback in F1 history is no joke. Antonelli is a true talent.
Starting 19th and winning? That is incredibly difficult. How did he manage to keep the pace up through the entire field?
Finally! An Italian hero at Monza since Scarfiotti. The crowd went absolutely wild for this stunning comeback drive.