Andrea Kimi Antonelli secured one of the most brilliant victories of his career at the home Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The Mercedes driver, who started from 19th position due to a penalty for an engine replacement, made an incredible charge through the entire field and finished first, completing a winning double for his team. According to Sport RBC.UA, in the decisive part of the race the Italian made 26 overtakes and used a second pit stop strategy to pass his teammate George Russell.
Start from the Back of the Field
Antonelli's position before the start was complicated by a penalty for an engine replacement, which dropped him to 19th place. Nevertheless, immediately after the race restart the Italian began actively clawing back positions, gradually closing in on the leading group. According to the source, the Mercedes driver made a total of 26 overtakes, which became the key factor in his triumph.
Leclerc's Crash and a Shift in the Crowd's Mood
The race in Monza began with an incident: Charles Leclerc of Ferrari crashed his car as early as the second lap and was forced to retire early, after which red flags were deployed on the track. The local crowd, initially cheering for Ferrari, switched its sympathies to Antonelli after the crash. For Ferrari itself, the race went poorly: Leclerc did not finish, and Lewis Hamilton completed the race only in sixth place.
26 Overtakes and a Two-Pit-Stop Strategy
In the decisive part of the race, Antonelli resorted to a second pit stop strategy, which allowed him to pass his teammate George Russell and take the lead. Russell ultimately finished second, while third place was taken by Max Verstappen of Red Bull, so Mercedes completed a winning double. The sensational pole-sitter Pierre Gasly failed to hold up among the leaders and finished seventh.
A Historic Triumph for Italy
For the 19-year-old Antonelli, this is his first victory at the Italian Grand Prix. He became the first Italian in 60 years to triumph in Monza. The previous victory by an Italian representative at the home race dates back to 1966, when Ludovico Scarfiotti won as part of Ferrari. According to Sports.ru, this victory was Antonelli's seventh of the 2026 season.
A New Balance of Power in the Championship
After the win in Monza, Antonelli collected 267 points and continues to lead the overall Formula 1 standings, with a 66-point advantage over his nearest pursuer Russell. Lewis Hamilton is third with 191 points, followed by Lando Norris (171), Charles Leclerc (155) and Max Verstappen (127). In the Constructors' Championship, Mercedes leads with 468 points, Ferrari has 346 points, and McLaren — 287.
