Antonelli charges from 19th to win at Monza
Kimi Antonelli won the Italian Grand Prix after starting 19th, reaching the front in fewer than 17 laps before passing Mercedes teammate and title rival George Russell for the final time with three laps remaining.[4] The victory was the second-furthest-back start by a grand prix winner and made Antonelli the first Italian to win at Monza in 60 years.[4][9]
Antonelli’s seventh victory of the season extended his championship lead over Russell to 66 points and moved him closer to becoming Formula 1’s youngest champion.[4]
Key insights
- Antonelli’s comeback followed a difficult association with Monza, where he crashed during a one-off practice appearance two years earlier.[9]
- Mercedes secured the top two positions through Antonelli and Russell, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc crashed and Lewis Hamilton finished sixth at the team’s home race.[4]
- Team boss Toto Wolff said he had anticipated the victory after qualifying, framing it as the closing of a circle in Antonelli’s development.[9]