Monza witnessed one of the greatest comeback drives in modern racing history as Kimi Antonelli turned what looked like an impossible challenge into an unforgettable home victory. Forced to start from 19th on the grid after an engine penalty, the young Italian carved his way through the field with breathtaking pace to claim victory in front of a jubilant home crowd, becoming the first Italian winner at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966.
The race began in dramatic fashion. Pierre Gasly converted his shock pole position into the early lead, while George Russell quickly moved into contention after overtaking the Alpine. Antonelli, meanwhile, wasted no time making progress, gaining several places on the opening lap before continuing an aggressive charge through the midfield. By the sixth lap, the Mercedes driver had already climbed into the top ten, delighting the packed grandstands with a series of fearless overtakes.
Chaos struck again when Charles Leclerc crashed heavily, bringing out a red flag that completely reshaped the race. Russell inherited the lead after the restart and appeared on course to take a crucial victory in the championship battle, but Antonelli’s relentless pace proved impossible to resist. Armed with fresher tyres and remarkable speed, the Italian hunted down his teammate before producing the decisive overtake in the closing laps, sending the Monza crowd into celebration.
Behind the dominant Mercedes duo, Max Verstappen completed the podium after a solid afternoon in which he managed deployment issues and stayed clear of the incidents unfolding around him. McLaren’s drivers entertained with a fierce intra-team battle, as Lando Norris overtook Oscar Piastri on the final lap, while Pierre Gasly’s dream weekend faded after leading early, eventually finishing seventh despite starting from pole position.
Ferrari, meanwhile, endured a nightmare on home soil. Leclerc’s early accident immediately ended any hopes of victory, while Lewis Hamilton struggled with tyre performance throughout the race and could do no better than sixth. Fernando Alonso also retired with mechanical problems, adding further disappointment to an afternoon that belonged almost entirely to Mercedes and its young Italian star.
As the chequered flag fell, Antonelli completed a drive that will be remembered for decades. Climbing from nineteenth on the grid to victory at his home circuit was a remarkable achievement on its own, but the triumph carried even greater significance. By ending Italy’s 60-year wait for a home winner at Monza and extending his championship lead to 66 points over George Russell, the Mercedes sensation delivered one of the defining moments of the 2026 season and further cemented his status as the sport’s brightest new superstar.
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