Home driver Antonelli storms from 19th to win F1 Italian Grand Prix

Kimi Antonelli produced a remarkable comeback from 19th on the starting grid to first across the finish line, winning his home Italian Grand Prix on Sunday after passing Mercedes teammate George Russell late, in a dramatic Formula 1 race at Monza.

Antonelli took the lead from Russell for good at the Ascari chicane on the 50th lap, after the two Mercedes drivers had traded places repeatedly for a major stretch of the race.

Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, while Lewis Hamilton took sixth for Ferrari.

Antonelli became the first Italian to win his home Grand Prix since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966. No F1 driver had won from as far back as 19th on the grid since John Watson triumphed from 22nd at Long Beach in 1983.

The victory was Antonelli's seventh of the season and extended his championship lead over Russell to 66 points, with Hamilton a further 10 points behind in third.

Mercedes also strengthened its grip on the constructors' championship and now has 468 points, 122 ahead of Ferrari, with McLaren sitting third at 287.

Alpine's Pierre Gasly had claimed a surprise first pole position of his career and initially held off Russell, but the Mercedes driver swept into the lead at the start of the second lap.

Moments later, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc crashed badly at the Parabolica after running wide and losing the rear of his car, causing the race to be halted while several protective barriers were repaired.

Antonelli had already climbed seven places to 12th by the time of the stoppage, which allowed him to discard the hard tires he had opened on.

Russell led Gasly and Verstappen at the restart, but Antonelli continued his rapid progress, passing Norris and then Gasly before moving in front of Hamilton and Piastri to reach third place by the 13th lap.

He caught the leaders shortly afterward, beginning a frenetic battle with Russell in which the Mercedes pair repeatedly exchanged first place, while Verstappen remained close behind.

Antonelli first took the lead on the 18th lap before Russell responded, with the pair trading places several more times as Mercedes attempted to manage their battle.

A virtual safety car following Lance Stroll's retirement on the 28th lap changed the complexion of the race. Antonelli and Verstappen pitted while Russell stayed on the track, leaving Antonelli to fight his way back through traffic.

The Italian quickly dispatched Gasly, Norris, Hamilton and Piastri to return to second, and began closing a gap of more than 13 seconds behind Russell.

With Russell struggling with tire graining, Antonelli was within striking distance by the 47th lap. An initial attempt at the first turn just two laps later sent him briefly through the gravel as Russell defended stoutly, but the 20-year-old recovered before executing his decisive move at the serpentine curve.

Russell held on for second place, with Verstappen finishing third after a race-long battle with Piastri. Norris came in fifth, ahead of Hamilton, Gasly, Arvid Lindblad, Franco Colapinto and Yuki Tsunoda.

The 2026 season will continue at next weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, which will be held for the first time at the new "Madring" circuit in Madrid.