Kimi Antonelli delivered one of the most impressive comeback drives of the 2026 Formula 1 season by winning the Italian Grand Prix at Monza after starting from 19th on the grid. The Mercedes driver overcame an engine-related grid penalty, worked his way through the field and eventually passed teammate George Russell in the closing stages to secure a historic victory in front of his home fans.
Antonelli entered his home race with a major disadvantage after being pushed to the back of the starting order because of a power-unit penalty. Despite starting 19th, he immediately showed strong pace. During the opening stages, the young Italian gained several positions and continued moving forward as the race developed. An early red flag caused by Charles Leclerc’s crash also changed the dynamics of the race and provided Antonelli with another opportunity to attack the leading group.
After the restart, Antonelli continued his charge and quickly reached the leading positions. He eventually became involved in a direct fight with his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who had started near the front of the grid. Antonelli’s pace allowed him to close the gap despite beginning the race far behind the leaders.
The decisive phase came in the closing laps. Mercedes used the Virtual Safety Car period to bring Antonelli into the pits for fresher tyres, while Russell remained on older hard tyres. The difference in tyre condition became increasingly important as the race approached its final stages. Antonelli used his fresher tyres to reduce the gap and challenge Russell for the lead.
Antonelli briefly went off the racing line while attempting to attack Russell, running through the gravel. However, he recovered quickly and continued his pursuit. With only a few laps remaining, he made the decisive move and passed Russell to take the lead. He then controlled the remaining laps to cross the finish line first after 53 laps. Russell finished second, while Max Verstappen completed the podium in third place.
The victory was significant not only because of the comeback but also because of its place in Formula 1 history. Antonelli started from 19th, making his victory the second-lowest starting-position win in the history of the championship. Only John Watson has won a Grand Prix from further back. Watson started 22nd at the 1983 United States Grand Prix West in Long Beach and went on to win for McLaren.
Antonelli’s Monza victory also ended a 60-year wait for an Italian driver to win the Italian Grand Prix at the circuit. The previous Italian winner was Ludovico Scarfiotti, who won at Monza in 1966. Antonelli therefore became the first Italian driver since Scarfiotti to stand on the top step of the podium at the Italian Grand Prix.
The result was also important for the 2026 championship battle. Antonelli secured his seventh Grand Prix victory of the season and extended his lead over Russell in the drivers’ championship to 66 points. His performance further strengthened his position as one of the leading contenders for the 2026 world championship.
For Mercedes, the result was another major success, with Russell finishing second to complete a one-two finish for the team. Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, while Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri completed the top five. Lewis Hamilton finished sixth for Ferrari after teammate Charles Leclerc retired following his early crash.
Antonelli’s victory at Monza was particularly memorable because of the circumstances surrounding it. Starting from 19th at his home circuit, he had to overcome traffic, changing race conditions, strategic decisions and a late battle with his own teammate. His ability to recover from the back of the grid and win the race made the result one of the standout performances of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The victory also gave Italian fans a long-awaited moment at Monza. After six decades without an Italian winner at the circuit, Antonelli delivered a home victory that combined historic significance with an extraordinary sporting comeback. His 19th-to-first charge will now be remembered as one of the most remarkable performances of his young Formula 1 career.