Kimi Antonelli produced one of the most remarkable drives of the 2026 F1 season, recovering from 19th on the grid to win a dramatic Italian GP at Monza – Here is the report.
The Mercedes driver fought his way through the field, eventually passing George Russell late in the race to secure victory as his teammate finished second to secure a 1-2 with Max Verstappen in third for Red Bull.
Antonelli’s afternoon began with a major disadvantage after his power-unit change penalty forced him to start from the back of the grid despite qualifying seventh. He immediately began making progress during the opening laps.
The race was then interrupted by a red flag after Charles Leclerc crashed at the Parabolica, with the Ferrari driver’s retirement adding another twist to an already unpredictable race.
When racing resumed, Russell controlled the restart before Verstappen briefly moved into the lead. Antonelli continued his charge through the field, eventually reaching the front group and joining the fight for victory.
Antonelli turns 19th into a remarkable victory
Antonelli’s recovery accelerated after the restart as he picked his way through the leading group. He moved ahead of several rivals before passing Verstappen and joining Russell at the front of the race.
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The Italian then took the lead from his teammate on Lap 18, although Russell responded several laps later. The Mercedes pair continued to exchange positions as strategy became increasingly important.
After the later virtual safety car, Antonelli stopped for fresh medium tyres while Russell stayed out. The move gave him a major tyre advantage and a clear opportunity to attack for victory.
Antonelli steadily closed the gap before making his final move. He briefly ran into the gravel on Lap 49, but recovered quickly and passed Russell one lap later to take the lead for the final time.
The victory was a major championship boost for Antonelli, who entered Monza 59 points ahead of Russell. Winning while his teammate finished second increased that advantage to 66 points.
Russell and Verstappen complete podium
Russell produced a strong drive to finish second after starting from the front row and taking advantage of Antonelli’s grid penalty. He led for significant periods and controlled the race after the restart.
The Mercedes driver looked capable of winning for much of the afternoon, but tyre degradation became increasingly important. His pace faded as Antonelli closed rapidly on fresher rubber.
Russell was warned by his engineer to bring the car home as the closing laps approached. Despite losing the lead, he held second to secure another valuable podium for Mercedes.
Verstappen completed the podium after briefly taking the lead during the early stages. He struggled to match Mercedes later on, but recovered after locking up while fighting Piastri for third.
McLaren and Ferrari endure difficult Monza races
Norris finished fourth for McLaren, while teammate Piastri followed in fifth after the two drivers became involved in a tense battle during the closing stages of the race at Monza.
The McLaren pair came close to contact while fighting for position, with Norris unhappy with Piastri’s aggressive defence. The team then reminded both drivers to keep the battle clean.
Hamilton finished sixth after spending much of the afternoon fighting near the front, while Leclerc’s race ended on Lap 2 after his crash at the Parabolica brought out the red flags.
Gasly completed the points for Alpine in seventh after starting from pole position. Lindblad, Colapinto and Tsunoda completed the top 10 after a race shaped by strategy and attrition.
