Kimi Antonelli delivered a remarkable performance to claim victory at the Italian Grand Prix from 19th position on the grid, becoming the first Italian winner at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966. The Mercedes driver caught and overtook his team-mate George Russell with three laps remaining, extending his championship advantage to 66 points in an incident-packed race that showcased his exceptional racecraft and pace.
This achievement ranks as the second-greatest comeback victory in Formula 1 history, surpassed only by John Watson's triumph from 22nd place at the 1983 United States Grand Prix West. Antonelli's performance proved particularly impressive given that he had started from the back of the grid due to a penalty for exceeding his permitted allocation of engine components, yet found himself challenging for the lead within just 16 laps of the start.
The Italian fans, traditionally loyal to Ferrari, rose to celebrate their new hero as he crossed the line.
I did not expect. Unbelievable. I am so happy, I could never imagine being here today.Antonelli said after the race.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen completed the podium in third place, with McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finishing fourth and fifth respectively. Lewis Hamilton secured sixth for Ferrari, while Charles Leclerc's home race ended in disappointment when he crashed out early in the contest.
How did Antonelli mount his remarkable recovery?
Antonelli's path to victory began with a cautious but calculated assault through the field. On the third lap, Charles Leclerc lost control at the Parabolica while defending from Piastri, crashing heavily into the barriers and triggering a red flag that halted the race while marshals rebuilt the barriers at the famous final corner.
By the time racing resumed, Russell had assumed the lead from surprise pole-sitter Pierre Gasly's Alpine. The restart proved decisive, with Antonelli picking his way through the pack with remarkable speed. Four laps after the restart, Russell led a six-car train with Antonelli at the rear. The Italian then moved past Gasly, Hamilton and Piastri in quick succession before joining a three-car battle for the lead alongside Verstappen.
Verstappen briefly took the lead from Russell on lap 11, but the Briton reclaimed it three laps later as Antonelli overtook the Red Bull into the second chicane. From laps 17 to 24, the two Mercedes drivers engaged in a compelling battle, repeatedly passing and repassing each other while managing their hybrid engine modes as Verstappen shadowed them from behind.
The pivotal moment came when a virtual safety car was deployed following Lance Stroll's Aston Martin breakdown at the first chicane. Antonelli's pit crew made the bold decision to bring him in for fresh tyres, while Russell remained on track to preserve his lead. Antonelli rejoined in sixth place, 15 seconds adrift of his team-mate, but his pace advantage proved overwhelming.
He systematically moved past Gasly, Norris, Hamilton and Piastri as he closed the gap to Russell. By lap 48, with five laps remaining, the two Mercedes drivers ran nose to tail. An initial overtaking attempt into the first chicane on lap 50 went awry when Antonelli encountered rubber debris and slid into the gravel, but he recovered quickly and closed the resulting 1.7-second deficit with ease. He then swept past Russell between the Lesmo corners and Ascari to secure victory.
Russell acknowledged the superior pace of his team-mate after the race.
When I looked at the leaderboard a few laps after the restart and saw he was already in P5/6 I knew he would be in the mix. I was just struggling with the tyres at the end. I will take it. It has been more positive than before summer break but of course I would have loved to be P1 today.
What went wrong for Ferrari on home soil?
Ferrari's Italian Grand Prix descended into frustration from the opening lap. Charles Leclerc made contact with Lewis Hamilton while exiting the first chicane, forcing the seven-time champion onto the grass and dropping him to 10th position. Leclerc then challenged Gasly for third on lap two before being passed by Verstappen into Ascari.
The incident that ended Leclerc's race came moments later. While defending against Piastri's attack at the Parabolica, Leclerc ran slightly wide on entry and through the apex. This carried his left rear tyre onto the white line marking the track edge and partly over the artificial grass section before the gravel trap. The car lost grip suddenly, and a high-speed tank-slapper sent Leclerc spinning into the barrier at considerable velocity. After extracting himself from the cockpit, he sat behind the barriers with his head bowed, visibly devastated by his error.
Hamilton's recovery proved more successful initially. A strong restart moved him to fourth within two laps, but Ferrari's lack of straight-line speed ultimately proved costly. He slipped behind Antonelli and the McLaren drivers as the race progressed, eventually finishing sixth.
How did the supporting cast perform?
While Antonelli's drive dominated the narrative, Verstappen delivered an impressive performance in moving from sixth on the grid to third place. He fought alongside the Mercedes drivers for extended periods and demonstrated strong racecraft, though his pit stop strategy ultimately left him unable to challenge for victory. His fresher tyres allowed him to reclaim third place from Piastri and Hamilton, but he could not close the gap to the leading Mercedes.
Norris showed steady progress as the race unfolded, moving up the order and eventually passing Hamilton. He then set his sights on Piastri, his McLaren team-mate, in the closing stages. The pair engaged in a tense battle in the final laps, with Piastri defending aggressively on the outside of Curve Grande as Norris attacked on the inside approaching the second chicane. Norris complained of being pushed off the track, prompting his team to warn Piastri about his defensive driving. Norris ultimately succeeded in passing Piastri on the final lap to secure fourth place.
Pierre Gasly's shock pole position proved unsustainable for Alpine. Despite his stunning qualifying performance, the car's lack of race pace became apparent as the event progressed. However, seventh place represented a solid result for the team, particularly given their objective of finishing ahead of Racing Bulls in the constructors' championship battle. Gasly achieved this aim, though Arvid Lindblad's Racing Bulls car beat Franco Colapinto's second Alpine to eighth place, with Yuki Tsunoda completing the top 10.
Key Facts
- Antonelli's 19th-to-1st recovery is the second-greatest comeback in Formula 1 history, behind only John Watson's 22nd-place victory in 1983
- The Italian became the first home winner at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966, extending his championship lead to 66 points
- Charles Leclerc's crash on lap three triggered a red flag and ended his race, while Lewis Hamilton recovered from early contact to finish sixth
- Max Verstappen finished third despite starting sixth, while Lando Norris passed Oscar Piastri on the final lap to secure fourth place
- Pierre Gasly's Alpine secured seventh place despite lacking race pace, helping the team maintain its constructors' championship position against Racing Bulls
