Kimi Antonelli achieves remarkable comeback to win Italian Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli produced a sensational comeback to win the Italian Grand Prix, starting from 19th on the grid at Monza, reports BritPanorama.
The Mercedes driver executed one of the finest recovery drives in Formula One history, surpassing team-mate George Russell with four laps remaining. Antonelli’s victory not only solidified his championship lead to 66 points but also positioned him as only the second driver to win a Grand Prix from as far back as 19th. John Watson holds the record for winning from 22nd at the 1983 United States Grand Prix West.
From the race start, Antonelli made significant progress, moving closer to the front within 16 laps and establishing himself as a contender for victory. Mercedes adopted varied strategies during a virtual safety car period, opting to pit Antonelli for fresh tyres while Russell remained on his worn hard tyres. Although Antonelli emerged roughly 15 seconds behind Russell, he quickly leveraged his superior pace to close the gap.
His effort almost faced a setback when he nearly lost control while navigating a deteriorating track surface. “It was quite scary there in the moment,” Antonelli admitted. However, he recovered from the scare, overtook Russell, and roared to a celebrated home victory. “Unbelievable!” he exclaimed afterwards.
Russell expressed disappointment at losing the lead but highly praised his team-mate. “Huge congrats to Kimi. Incredible result from him,” Russell said, acknowledging he had anticipated both drivers would remain on their respective strategies. “In the end it was a roll of the dice both ways,” he reflected.
Max Verstappen secured third place after struggling with his Red Bull’s straight-line speed. He engaged in several bold attempts to overtake but faced challenges with vehicle deployment issues. “Happy with P3 and to be on the podium here,” Verstappen concluded after a battle-filled race.
What a remarkable display of skill from Antonelli, showcasing not just talent but sheer determination on one of Formula One’s most storied circuits. Such a race serves as a classic reminder that in motorsport, fortunes can turn in an instant—an unpredictable thrill that keeps both teams and spectators on the edge of their seats.
