The 2026 Italian Grand Prix delivered an unforgettable afternoon of racing at Monza, headlined by an incredible comeback from Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli. Starting from 19th on the grid, Antonelli claimed a stunning maiden home victory, while Ferrari endured a devastating outing in front of the Tifosi.
Antonelli's Inspired Home Win
Heading into the weekend, Antonelli faced a hefty 30-place grid penalty following sweeping power unit changes aboard his Mercedes. Despite the setback, the young Italian showcased raw pace and smart overtakes to carve through the field.
- He reached 12th place by the time Race Control issued an early red flag.
- Following a mid-race Virtual Safety Car, Antonelli chased down his teammate George Russell for the lead.
- The victory extends his championship lead over Russell to 66 points.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff praised the drive, stating that "nothing would have stopped him" from taking the chequered flag.
Expectations were high for Ferrari at their home race, but Sunday quickly turned into a disaster.
- On lap one, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc went wheel-to-wheel into the second corner, forcing Hamilton wide into the gravel.
- Just one lap later, Leclerc lost control of his SF-26 and crashed heavily into the barriers coming out of Parabolica, forcing an early retirement.
- Hamilton was only able to recover to a sixth-place finish.
Alpine's Silver Lining
Despite the chaos at the front, Alpine secured valuable points. Pierre Gasly, who started from a shock pole position, led the opening lap before eventually settling into seventh place. His teammate, Franco Colapinto, also reached the points in ninth after a spirited fightback that included passing Yuki Tsunoda in the closing laps.