ItalianGP: Kimi Antonelli boost from back grid to win
Kimi Antonelli delivered a masterclass performance on home soil, driving his Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS machine to a spectacular victory at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix. To top off a dream day for the Silver Arrows, George Russell crossed the line in second place, sealing an emphatic 1-2 finish.
From the moment the lights went out, Antonelli controlled the pace with clinical precision. Navigating all 53 laps around the iconic Monza circuit in 1:51:15.281, the young sensation capped off his flawless drive by snatching the fastest lap of the race on his final tour with a blazing 1:23.504.
George Russell stayed firmly in the hunt throughout the 306.72 km race, finishing just 3.857 seconds back to secure maximum team points. Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen battled hard to take the final podium step in third, finishing 14.718 seconds behind the leader.
It was a bittersweet afternoon for the home crowd. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc suffered a nightmare start, enduring a Lap 1 retirement. Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton salvaged crucial points for the Scuderia by bringing his Ferrari home in sixth.
Further down the grid, BWT Alpine enjoyed a strong afternoon, putting both cars into the points with Pierre Gasly taking seventh and Franco Colapinto grabbing ninth. Aston Martin experienced total catastrophe, with both Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso forced into early retirements.
2026 Italian Grand Prix – Final Top 10 Race Classification
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Laps | Gap | Points |
| 1 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team | 53 | WINNER | 25 |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team | 53 | +3.857s | 18 |
| 3 | 3 | Max Verstappen | Oracle Red Bull Racing | 53 | +14.718s | 15 |
| 4 | 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mastercard F1 Team | 53 | +19.056s | 12 |
| 5 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mastercard F1 Team | 53 | +19.253s | 10 |
| 6 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Scuderia Ferrari HP | 53 | +24.655s | 8 |
| 7 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 53 | +27.351s | 6 |
| 8 | 41 | Arvid Lindblad | Visa Cash App RB F1 Team | 53 | +45.136s | 4 |
| 9 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | BWT Alpine F1 Team | 53 | +47.353s | 2 |
| 10 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Visa Cash App RB F1 Team | 53 | +58.187s | 1 |
Antonelli’s Monza triumph extends his firm grip on the World Drivers' Championship lead, pushing his tally to 267 points. Teammate George Russell strengthens his second-place spot with 201 points, while Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton holds third with 191 points.
World Drivers' Championship Top 5
- Kimi Antonelli – 267 pts
- George Russell – 201 pts
- Lewis Hamilton – 191 pts
- Lando Norris – 171 pts
- Charles Leclerc – 155 pts
Constructors' Championship Top 4
In the team battle, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS continues to build an insurmountable lead at the top:
- Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team – 468 pts
- Scuderia Ferrari HP – 346 pts
- McLaren Mastercard F1 Team – 287 pts
- Oracle Red Bull Racing – 204 pts
Credit Photo : AMG
