Kimi Antonelli hit with Mercedes revenge prank at Italian GP

Summary

Kimi Antonelli's remarkable Italian GP win from 19th on the grid was described as a 'dream come true' and surpassed his expectations. The victory made him Italy's first home winner at Monza since 1966 and drew praise from Naomi Schiff. Nico Rosberg rejected suggestions that Mercedes favoured Antonelli over teammate George Russell, maintaining team neutrality. Antonelli's performance showcased his impressive pace and racecraft, making him a standout talent in F1's current season.

The Full Story

At the 2026 Italian Grand Prix held at Monza, Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli delivered a stunning performance, overcoming a 19th-place start to claim a remarkable victory on home soil. This win marked the first time an Italian driver had triumphed at Monza since 1966, ending a six-decade drought and extending Antonelli’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship. The race unfolded as a dramatic battle primarily between the two Mercedes teammates, Antonelli and George Russell, with Max Verstappen securing the final podium position in third.

Antonelli’s race was shaped by a challenging qualifying session and strategic decisions influenced by power unit regulations. Motorsport Week detailed how Antonelli entered qualifying knowing he would start at the back due to exceeding his engine allocation, which meant his Saturday was focused on supporting teammate Russell’s pole bid. Despite his efforts, Russell started second, with Pierre Gasly surprisingly taking pole. Antonelli described his Q3 as “weird” and admitted to having “mixed feelings” about the session, as he was instructed not to pass Verstappen during the final laps to maximize the tow for Russell. This unusual qualifying approach set the stage for Antonelli’s recovery drive in the race.

The race itself was punctuated by a significant red flag caused by a heavy crash for Charles Leclerc, who was fortunately unhurt but forced to retire. This incident, reported by Motorsport.com and RaceFans, allowed drivers to switch tyres and reset strategies. Antonelli, who had already climbed to 12th before the red flag, capitalized on the restart and the subsequent Virtual Safety Car period triggered by Lance Stroll’s retirement to make a crucial pit stop, switching to fresher medium tyres. This strategic move, combined with his pace, enabled him to close the gap on Russell, who was struggling with tyre degradation in the closing stages.

Throughout the race, the lead changed hands multiple times between Russell, Antonelli, and Verstappen, with the Mercedes drivers engaging in a tense “yo-yo” battle influenced by the unique characteristics of the 2026 power units and Monza’s long straights. RaceFans highlighted how Antonelli’s overtaking attempts were nearly undone when he ran wide at the first chicane after a track surface breakdown but quickly recovered to make the decisive move at Lesmo two, passing Russell with three laps remaining. Motorsport Week’s report emphasized how the Mercedes pit wall’s strategy played a role in Antonelli’s victory, suggesting some assistance in the timing and execution of his charge.

Verstappen, meanwhile, managed to hold off late challenges from McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri to secure third place, marking his first podium since the summer break, as noted by Sky Sports and Motorsport Week. Norris finished fourth, limiting damage for McLaren despite a difficult weekend, while Piastri took fifth ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who was involved in several position swaps early in the race.

Antonelli’s victory not only thrilled the home crowd but also solidified his championship position, extending his lead over Russell to 66 points, with Norris trailing further behind. Motorsport.com and Sky Sports both underscored the significance of this gap, especially with Russell expected to face grid penalties in upcoming races, potentially complicating his title challenge.

Adding a personal touch to the weekend, Crash.net reported that Antonelli sported a special helmet design paying tribute to Italian motorcycle legend Valentino Rossi, underscoring the emotional weight of the home race for the young driver.

Looking ahead, the Italian Grand Prix result sets up an intriguing championship battle as the season heads towards the Singapore and United States Grands Prix. Antonelli’s ability to recover from setbacks and convert strategic opportunities into victory at Monza will be closely watched, particularly as Mercedes and their rivals continue to adapt to the evolving power unit regulations and race strategies. The dynamics within Mercedes, especially the interplay between Antonelli and Russell, also remain a focal point, with the team’s approach to managing their drivers’ championship ambitions under scrutiny.