Kimi Antonelli wins Italian Grand Prix from 19th on grid

Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza after starting 19th, completing a remarkable recovery with a late pass on teammate George Russell. BBC Sport reported that the Italian overtook Russell with three laps remaining and extended his championship lead to 66 points. Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull, ahead of McLaren drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

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Antonelli had started near the back because of a penalty for using more engine components than permitted. He was already up to 12th by lap three, when Ferrari's Charles Leclerc lost control at the Parabolica while defending from Piastri. Leclerc hit the barriers but was unhurt, and the race was stopped while marshals repaired the barrier.

Russell had taken the lead from surprise pole-sitter Pierre Gasly before the stoppage. After the restart, Antonelli continued through the field, passing Gasly, Lewis Hamilton and Piastri before joining Russell and Verstappen in the fight at the front. Verstappen briefly moved ahead of Russell on lap 11, but Russell reclaimed the lead three laps later as Antonelli passed the Red Bull at the second chicane.

The two Mercedes cars exchanged positions during the middle phase of the race, with Verstappen close behind. The decisive strategic split came when Lance Stroll's Aston Martin stopped at the first chicane and triggered a virtual safety car. Antonelli pitted for fresh tyres, while Russell stayed out and attempted to manage his tyres to the finish. Verstappen also stopped.

Antonelli returned in sixth place, 15 seconds behind Russell, then passed Gasly, Norris, Hamilton and Piastri. He reached Russell by lap 48. An initial move at the first chicane on lap 50 ended with Antonelli sliding into the gravel, but he quickly erased the resulting 1.7-second deficit and passed Russell between the Lesmo corners and Ascari.

According to BBC Sport, the drive represented the second-furthest-back starting position for a grand prix winner, behind John Watson's victory from 22nd in the 1983 United States Grand Prix West. Antonelli also became the first Italian to win at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966. Hamilton finished sixth for Ferrari, while Leclerc's early crash ended his home race.