Antonelli secures dramatic Italian Grand Prix victory from 19th on grid
Antonelli’s remarkable comeback victory
Kimi Antonelli achieved a stunning victory at the Italian Grand Prix, starting from 19th on the grid to claim his home race for the first time. The 20-year-old Italian’s performance was described as exceptional and extraordinary, marking his arrival as a potential great in Formula One. This triumph places him within reach of his first F1 championship, extending his lead over teammate George Russell to 66 points in the standings.
Antonelli’s drive to victory at Monza was particularly special given the circumstances. Heading into the weekend, his team had focused on damage limitation due to significant power unit changes on his Mercedes, which resulted in a 30-place grid penalty. Despite this setback, Antonelli showcased rapid pace and executed smart overtakes from the start of Sunday’s race, quickly moving through the field to challenge Russell before the halfway point.
He advanced to 12th place after only a few laps, just before a red flag was issued for Charles Leclerc’s crash. Following the restart, Antonelli moved into the points and made his initial move for the lead on Russell on Lap 18. A mid-race Virtual Safety Car further influenced the intra-team battle, as Antonelli pitted for fresh medium tyres while Russell remained on used hards. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff later stated that nothing could have stopped Antonelli from winning.
Antonelli’s victory is historically significant, as he became the first Italian driver to win the Italian Grand Prix in 60 years, since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966. Only one other driver, John Watson, has won from further down the grid, starting 22nd at the 1983 Long Beach GP. Antonelli’s performance demonstrated his racecraft, control, and judgment, allowing him to navigate through the field from a seemingly impossible position.
Ferrari’s challenging home race
While Antonelli celebrated a dream victory, Ferrari experienced a difficult home Grand Prix. The team had arrived at Monza with high expectations, with Lewis Hamilton expressing strong belief in their victory chances due to an engine upgrade, and Leclerc aiming for a “very special weekend.” However, their hopes faced a setback in Qualifying, where both drivers felt the team’s strategy could have been more effective, leaving them in fourth and fifth, which became third and fourth on the grid after a penalty for Oscar Piastri.
The race began with drama for Ferrari as Leclerc and Hamilton went wheel-to-wheel into the second corner. Hamilton subsequently ran wide into the gravel, dropping him down the order, and he reported over the radio that Leclerc had pushed him off. Just one lap later, Leclerc’s race ended prematurely when he lost control of his SF-26 and crashed into the barriers. Leclerc later explained he had to manage the throttle during the first lap and would investigate the incident.
Hamilton eventually finished the race in sixth place, describing his performance as “a bit devastating” and “tough to swallow.” He noted that the early incident with Leclerc had left him in approximately 10th position. The disappointing outcome for Ferrari contrasted sharply with the pre-race optimism, leaving the Tifosi without a home victory to celebrate.
Pole position shock and supporting races
The qualifying session provided a major surprise when Pierre Gasly and Alpine secured an unexpected pole position at Monza. Gasly’s maiden Formula 1 pole was achieved at the same venue where he secured his first and only victory six years prior. He demonstrated strong pace, leading both Q1 and Q3, utilising the Mercedes power unit to claim what was arguably the shock of the season.
Despite leading the opening lap and running among the front-runners for a period, Gasly ultimately finished seventh in the race, 27 seconds behind Antonelli. His teammate, Franco Colapinto, also scored points, finishing ninth after having run as high as third at the restart. Colapinto’s performance helped Alpine reduce the gap to Red Bull’s sister outfit in the battle for fifth in the teams’ standings, now trailing by 13 points.
The pre-race spectacle included a special appearance by Lightning McQueen, celebrating the 20-year anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Cars. McQueen completed an honorary lap alongside a Cars-themed Safety Car. Italian singer Laura Pausini also performed before the drivers arrived on the grid.
In the supporting races, Joshua Duerksen of Invicta Racing had a standout weekend, winning both the F2 Feature Race and the Sprint. These victories brought his F2 win tally to a record-equalling eight, elevating him to eighth in the championship standings. In F3, Nicola Lacorte secured his maiden victory for DAMS Lucas Oil, marking an emotional home win for the 19-year-old Italian, who started from third on the grid.
The F2 championship leader, Nikola Tsolov, holds an 11-point lead, with racing set to resume in Madrid next weekend. Similarly, the F3 title will be decided in Madrid next weekend, with championship contender Freddie Slater retiring from the race due to a mechanical issue, allowing rival Ugo Ugochukwu to narrow the deficit to 15 points by finishing eighth.
Source: formula1.com
Charlotte Reid 