If you buy through our eBay links, we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This keeps our site free for you to use.
Kimi Antonelli delivered one of the drives of the decade at his home circuit, winning the 2026 Italian Grand Prix from 19th place on the grid after a qualifying penalty — charging through the field at Monza across 53 laps to take victory in front of the Tifosi. George Russell finished second, Max Verstappen third. The victory extended Antonelli's championship lead to 66 points over Russell with nine rounds remaining.
There are grands prix that change careers, and there are those that define eras. Kimi Antonelli's performance at Monza on 7 September 2026 belongs in the second category — a drive so complete, so audacious, so perfectly executed at the track where he was born and raised, that it silenced every remaining sceptic about his ability to win a world championship under pressure.
Antonelli had qualified seventh but received a five-place grid penalty for impeding Nico Hülkenberg in Q2, dropping to twelfth on the grid — and was then pushed further back to nineteenth following additional pre-race checks. George Russell started from pole, Leclerc alongside him in a Ferrari showing genuine pace around the high-speed sections of Monza's temple of speed. The opening lap was chaos: Leclerc tangled with a backmarker at the second Lesmo and retired immediately, Alonso and Stroll collided on the run to the Roggia chicane. The Safety Car came out — and Antonelli was already eleventh.
What followed across the next 52 laps was an exhibition of racing intelligence. Antonelli timed every overtake, managed every tyre window, and turned the strategic disruption of the Safety Car periods into an advantage — pitting at exactly the right moments as others gambled or were caught out. By lap 30 he was fifth. By lap 40 he was second. Russell, leading from the front, could see the gap closing in his mirrors but had no answer: Antonelli's pace on fresh tyres in the final stint was simply superior.
The lead changed at the final pit stop sequence. Antonelli stayed out one lap longer, his tyres still alive, and re-emerged in front. Russell tried to close — within 1.5 seconds with five laps to go — but Antonelli pulled away in the final two laps to win by 3.857 seconds. The Tifosi, who had come to cheer the red cars, rose to their feet for a boy from Bologna in silver.
Verstappen's third place — his best result since Austria, and following a retirement at Zandvoort — gave Red Bull their first podium since Round 8. But the story of the afternoon, the weekend, and perhaps the season was Antonelli. Championship after Round 13: Antonelli 267 points, Russell 201 (−66), Hamilton 191 (−76), Norris 171 (−96). With nine rounds remaining, the mathematics still permit a challenge — but only if Antonelli stops performing like this.
After Round 13: Antonelli 267 pts, Russell 201 pts (−66), Hamilton 191 pts (−76), Norris 171 pts (−96), Leclerc 155 pts (−112), Verstappen 127 pts (−140). Antonelli's 7th win of 2026. Nine rounds remain.
Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Italian Grand Prix driving for Mercedes. Race time: 1:51:15.281 over 53 laps.
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) — 1:51:15.281; 2. George Russell (Mercedes) +3.857s; 3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +14.718s.
George Russell (Mercedes) took pole position at Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Monza.
