Kimi Antonelli wins Italian GP from 19th on grid, taking 7th victory of 2026 season

Charge from 19th on the grid

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on Sunday, recovering from 19th on the starting grid after taking an engine penalty. Mercedes fitted a fresh power unit to his car before the race to protect his championship bid, forcing the 20-year-old Bologna native to start near the back of the grid. Antonelli moved through traffic rapidly, joining the leading group within the first 15 laps. Over 400,000 spectators attended the race weekend at the Monza circuit, which opened in 1922 and has hosted Formula 1 since 1950. His mother Veronica watched the lap times from the team motorhome, while his father Marco followed from the pit wall.

Decisive duel with Russell

Antonelli engaged in a direct fight with his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who had started from the front row. After their final pit stops, Antonelli experienced a scare when his car slid into the gravel trap, but he maintained control, returned to the circuit, and completed the overtake on Russell. Antonelli set the fastest lap of the Grand Prix on the final lap to seal the victory. The result increased Antonelli's lead over Russell to 66 points in the drivers' championship standings.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised Antonelli's performance in heavy traffic after the race.

Even if he wins 200 GPs, this will remain special.

Italian drought ends after 60 years

The triumph marks Antonelli's seventh win of the 2026 season, following earlier victories in China and Monaco, establishing a record for the most Grand Prix wins by an Italian driver in a single Formula 1 season. Antonelli also became the first Italian driver to win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti won for Ferrari in 1966. Antonelli described his mindset after the second restart.

After the second start, when I saw that I was up there, I told myself that I had to win this today.

Before the race, tennis player Jannik Sinner, singer Laura Pausini, and MotoGP rider Marco Bezzecchi visited the Mercedes garage. Antonelli wore wristbands gifted to him on Thursday during a visit with staff from PizzAut. The Italian crowd and podium attendees sang the song "Sarà perché ti amo" during the celebrations. Antonelli scheduled a karting day with his team for Monday before heading to England on Tuesday for simulator sessions ahead of the Madrid race.

Ferrari struggles at home

Ferrari endured a difficult afternoon in front of their home fans, losing ground on the straights because of energy deployment limitations against Mercedes and Red Bull-Ford power units. Charles Leclerc suffered an early retirement following contact with teammate Lewis Hamilton through the opening two chicane corners. Leclerc visited the circuit medical centre with an eye issue before being cleared, while Hamilton lost multiple track battles and finished far from the podium.

Leclerc addressed the collision between the two Ferrari drivers after the race.

In turn one perhaps we exaggerated, but in turn two I tried to leave room, but it was not possible to do better than that.

Reigning world champion Lando Norris and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen also finished behind Antonelli, who had served as a grid boy at the Monza circuit in 2018.