Kimi Antonelli wins chaotic Italian Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli produced one of the greatest comeback drives in Formula One history to win a chaotic Italian Grand Prix after starting from 19th on the grid, reports BritPanorama.
The Mercedes sensation hunted down team-mate George Russell before completing the decisive overtake with four laps remaining at Monza. Antonelli’s remarkable victory extended his championship advantage over Russell to 66 points and further strengthened the Italian’s grip on the title race.
Beginning the afternoon facing a significant challenge after qualifying on the penultimate row, Antonelli tore through the field during a breathtaking opening phase and was already closing on Russell after just 16 laps. Mercedes introduced a strategic element by bringing Antonelli into the pits for fresh tyres during a mid-race virtual safety car period. Initially, he emerged approximately 15 seconds behind Russell but quickly erased the deficit with his newer rubber.
His first attempt to pass Russell almost ended in disaster when Antonelli ran through the gravel, momentarily threatening to destroy his comeback hopes. However, the championship leader recovered, applying intense pressure before finally sweeping ahead of Russell during the closing stages. “It was quite scary there in the moment,” Antonelli admitted. “The tarmac was breaking up but I still thought I could do the corner. But once I went over a bit of gravel as well I went straight and I was like, ‘Maybe I lost my chance’.”
Despite the challenge, Antonelli went on to claim the victory, with thousands of spectators at Monza rising to acclaim him crossing the line. The magnitude of his achievement was underlined by Formula One’s record books: only John Watson has won a Grand Prix from further back on the starting grid, having triumphed from 22nd at the 1983 United States Grand Prix West.
Antonelli struggled to comprehend what he had achieved after climbing from his Mercedes, declaring, “Unbelievable! I am so happy and I could have never imagined to be here today. But we managed to pull it off and I’m really, really happy.” Russell, on the other hand, was forced to settle for second despite having controlled much of the race, leaving him disappointed and knowing that Monza represented an important opportunity to reduce Antonelli’s championship advantage.
The result not only highlighted Antonelli’s skill but also raised questions about Russell’s strategy as he lost further ground to his team-mate. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen completed the podium for Red Bull, while McLaren recovered to secure fourth and fifth through Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris respectively.
This race serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Formula One, where fortunes can shift dramatically in an instant, reflecting the blend of strategy, teamwork, and individual brilliance that defines the sport.
