F1 Kimi Antonelli wins Italian GP from 19th on grid at Monza
Starting 19th due to a grid penalty, Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli charged through the field at Monza to secure a stunning home victory
In a recent update the Formula One (F1) leader Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli took a breathtaking victory won his home Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, September 6, 2026.
Starting 19th following a grid penalty, mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli delivered a stunning home victory at Monza, slicing through the field and passing teammate George Russell in the closing stages to extend his championship lead.
At the start, surprise pole sitter Pierre Gasly initially held the lead from Russell, who did get into first before the race was stopped when Charles Leclerc crashed hard at the Parabolica corner. This was shortly after he and his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton had clashed at the start.
The Italian caught and passed his team-mate George Russell, who started second, with three laps to go to extend his championship lead to 66 points.
Antonelli's performance is the second furthest back a driver has ever come from to win a grand prix after John Watson's victory from 22nd on the grid in the 1983 United States Grand Prix West.
It was a statement performance from Antonelli, who remarkably was on Russell's tail and challenging for victory within 16 laps of the start.
Antonelli looked capable of winning any which way, but decided to stop for fresh tyres under a virtual safety car mid-race and narrowed a 15-second gap to nothing before carving past Russell.
The Italian fans, who usually support Ferrari, rose to acclaim their new hero after a sensational drive as he crossed the line to take the chequered flag.
"I did not expect," Antonelli said. "Unbelievable. I am so happy, I could never imagine being here today."
Red Bull's Max Verstappen took the final podium place ahead of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Antonelli's compelling and spectacular win, the best of a stand-out season from the Italian.
A desperately disappointing day for Russell, who knew he needed to try to use this day to make up points on his team-mate.
A disappointing home race for Ferrari, with Lewis Hamilton finishing sixth and Charles Leclerc crashing out early was considered a good recovery from McLaren.
