Kimi Antonelli produced one of the most remarkable drives in recent Formula 1 history, winning the Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the grid. The victory was made even more special by the fact that it came at Monza, in front of his home crowd.
Starting near the back due to an engine-related grid penalty, Antonelli was expected to fight for a place in the top five or six. Instead, he carved through the field with stunning speed and confidence.
A Drive Nobody Saw Coming
Antonelli quickly moved through the pack:
- P19 on the grid
- P14 after the opening lap
- P12 before the red flag
- P8 shortly after the restart
- P3 by Lap 13
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff later said he had sensed something special was coming, describing Antonelli’s mindset before the race as one focused entirely on winning.
Strategy Couldn’t Stop Him
A Virtual Safety Car created a strategic split between the two Mercedes drivers. Antonelli switched tyres, while George Russell stayed out.
According to Mercedes, their strategy calculations suggested Russell’s one-stop approach had the advantage.
With 24 laps remaining, he found himself 14.3 seconds behind Russell. He closed the gap, briefly ran wide during an attempted overtake, regrouped, and eventually passed his teammate with just a few laps remaining.
A Historic Home Victory
The win was particularly emotional for Antonelli.
- He became the first Italian to win at Monza in 60 years.
- He won from 19th on the grid.
- It was his seventh victory in 13 races this season.
- He now leads Russell by 66 points in the championship.
For Wolff, the moment represented a full-circle journey after Antonelli’s difficult Monza debut two years earlier, when a crash brought criticism and doubt.
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The Final Take
From a difficult start at Monza two years ago to winning his home Grand Prix from 19th on the grid, Antonelli’s journey has come full circle.
