For the first time in 60 years, the Temple of Speed has been conquered by one of its own. Kimi Antonelli, from 19th on the grid, came back to win the Italian Grand Prix. Having exceeded his quota of power units, the championship leader was forced to start from the 10th row, with both his nearest title challengers up at the front; this race appeared to be an exercise in damage limitation.
Clearly Antonelli didn’t get the memo. After benefiting from the early chaos, Antonelli found himself 12th by the time the race was halted on lap three. Come the restart, Antonelli wasted little time; bolstered by a fresh power unit, the home hero scythed through the pack and was running in third by lap 13. After chasing down Max Verstappen, Antonelli made a move around the outside of the Curva Grande to snatch second, following which he began pressuring his teammate George Russell. Antonelli took the lead on lap 18, which marked the beginning of a lengthy intra-team scrap. The pair swapped places four times over the next ten laps, despite Mercedes advising caution.
The tussle came to an end thanks to a virtual safety car on lap 28. Russell had switched to hard tyres during the early red flag and therefore stayed out. Antonelli, who was running mediums, pitted along with Verstappen. The Mercedes driver emerged in seventh and spent the remainder of the race hunting down his teammate. With four laps to go, Antonelli made what appeared to be the definitive pass at the second corner, only to run wide into the gravel and give the place back. An incident that would have normally ended his hopes of victory.
But such was Antonelli’s pace (and power unit) that he was able to close back up to Russell after just one lap and passed him for the final time on lap 50. Regardless of his new power unit or beneficial strategy, this was a comeback for the ages. Of the 1,162 rounds of the Formula 1 World Championship that have been held thus far, only one has been won from a lower grid position (John Watson at Long Beach, 1983, in case you were wondering). Having stunned the paddock, become the first Italian to win at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966 and extended his championship lead to 67 points, this title is now definitely Antonelli’s to lose.
George Russell cut a gracious figure after the race despite his obvious disappointment. After taking the lead from surprise pole-sitter Pierre Gasly on lap two, prevailing in a memorable bout with Max Verstappen and fighting tooth and nail to keep his teammate at bay, Russell was forced to try and defend from Antonelli with tyres that were 25 laps older. In the end, he had to settle for second. There may be ten races left to run, but given Antonelli’s imperious form, Russell’s title chances are growing increasingly remote.
Behind him, Max Verstappen secured his fifth podium of the season. Starting fourth, Verstappen had a good getaway, passed Charles Leclerc on lap two and overtook Gasly on lap seven. The four-time world champion began pressuring Russell and took the lead on lap 12. Russell eventually regained the lead three laps later, and Antonelli later went through. The Mercedes’ squabbling allowed Verstappen to stay in close attendance for a while, and Red Bull later rolled the dice with a pit stop under the VSC. However, the Red Bull couldn’t match the Mercedes for pace. Third was the maximum Verstappen could have achieved.
After struggling for much of the weekend, Oscar Piastri was able to find some much-needed race pace. The McLaren driver came out on top after a lengthy battle with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton but was later outdone by his teammate in the closing stages. Norris took fourth with Piastri in fifth.
Hamilton had a frustrating afternoon. After an audacious move on his teammate at turn one of the opening lap, Hamilton was shoved wide at turn two. Further offs at turn four and the first chicane compounded Hamilton’s woes, and he eventually finished sixth. Not the result he or Ferrari would have wanted.
After stunning the entire paddock with his maiden career pole on Saturday, Pierre Gasly could do little to defend his lead in the race. The Alpine had no answer for the established frontrunners, and Gasly tumbled down to seventh by lap 22. However, from that point on, Gasly’s pace was solid. He was able to keep in touch with the McLarens for much of the race and later expressed optimism after securing six valuable points for the team. Arvid Lindblad finished eighth ahead of Franco Colapinto, who underlined Alpine’s strength by scoring points despite a costly off on lap six.
Super sub Yuki Tsunoda finished tenth, securing his first point of the season. He was followed by Gabriel Bortoleto, Nico Hulkenberg, Carlos Sainz, Liam Lawson, Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon. Alex Albon finished 16th ahead of Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas.
Lance Stroll retired with a hydraulic failure on lap 28, triggering the VSC. Fernando Alonso’s race ended with mechanical issues five laps earlier and, after his controversial exchange with Hamilton, Leclerc crashed out at the final corner on lap three. A heavy impact that triggered a red flag.
This season is far from over, but if Antonelli’s performance is anything to go by, the same cannot be said for this year’s title battle.
