The future of Formula 1 remains in the firm grasp of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Entering the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday with a power unit penalty that forced him to start at the back of the grid, the 20‑year‑old sliced through 18 drivers across 53 grueling laps to complete the improbable comeback and win his seventh race of the season.
Despite a crucial lock‑up in the 49th lap that sent his car into the gravel, Antonelli pressed hard on the gas to take advantage of teammate George Russell, who was nursing worn tires. He regained the lead in the following lap and ultimately secured Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team their third 1‑2 finish this season.
With the victory, the sophomore racer added 25 points to remain the frontrunner in the drivers’ championship and rewrote history by becoming the first Italian in 60 years to win his home Grand Prix.
“Unbelievable, I’m so happy and I couldn’t have imagined to be here today… After the second restart I knew I could’ve had the shot for the win. I believed in it especially when I was behind George, but it was really difficult,” Antonelli said.
Antonelli, Mercedes Inch Closer to Title
Antonelli’s comeback was also the second‑lowest starting position ever converted into a win in F1 history, trailing only John Watson’s P22 triumph at the US Grand Prix in 1983, while besting Max Verstappen’s P17 victory in Brazil in 2024.
Now boasting 267 points, the Italian remains on top of the drivers’ standings and is on pace to become the youngest F1 champion in history. Meanwhile, a constructors’ title for Mercedes looks inevitable with 11 races left, as they currently hold a 122‑point gap over Ferrari.
Gasly Disappoints, Leclerc Crashes Out
Despite Pierre Gasly shocking the grid with an outstanding qualifying run that landed him pole position, the Alpine driver was overwhelmed by the frontrunners’ pace and finished in P7.
Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc endured another nightmare weekend, crashing out in the final corner of lap two. The incident prompted a restart that ultimately boosted Antonelli’s chances of pulling off the historic win.
The grid returns to action in Spain for the debut of the Madrid Grand Prix on Sunday, September 13.
