Kimi Antonelli wins Italian Grand Prix, ending 60-year Italian home win drought
Consensus Summary
Kimi Antonelli, a 20-year-old driver in his second F1 season, won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza from 19th on the grid, ending Italy’s 60-year drought for a home F1 victory. His performance included 26 overtakes, with key moments on lap 18 of 53 and a late charge from sixth place with 14 seconds back, extending his championship lead to 66 points. The win drew comparisons to Michael Schumacher, with tributes at Monza including special liveries and Schumacher’s 2002 championship car. Antonelli’s teammate George Russell, who started second, finished second, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen took third. The Guardian highlights Antonelli’s emotional connection to the win and his potential championship path, while ABC notes rivals avoiding confrontation with him, similar to Schumacher’s era. Upcoming races include the Spanish Grand Prix, with Red Bull’s Liam Lawson racing in place of injured Isack Hadjar.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Kimi Antonelli won the Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the grid, ending Italy’s 60-year wait for a home F1 win at Monza (last won in 1966).
- Antonelli started 19th on the grid and won the race, overtaking teammate George Russell to extend his championship lead to 66 points (from a previous 59-point lead).
- Antonelli made 26 overtakes during the race, including taking the lead on lap 18 of 53 and chasing again with 24 laps remaining.
- Antonelli is a 20-year-old driver in his second F1 season.
- Antonelli’s victory came at Monza, where he overtook Russell twice, including a comeback from sixth place with 14 seconds back.
- Antonelli’s win is compared to Michael Schumacher’s dominance, with tributes including special liveries and Schumacher’s 2002 championship-winning car driven at Monza.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Antonelli’s father predicted the win after speaking with team principal Toto Wolff the day before (yesterday).
- Antonelli’s comeback included a dramatic pass on Russell three laps from the end after a near-miss at the first chicane.
- Antonelli gave songsheets of the Italian national anthem to his Mercedes team, saying he would teach them to sing it if he wins the championship.
- Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc collided at the first corner, and Leclerc crashed at Parabolica on lap two.
- Antonelli’s win moved him closer to the championship, with Russell now 66 points behind after a 59-point lead before the race.
- Antonelli’s win drew comparisons to Schumacher, with Juan Pablo Montoya noting rivals avoid battling him, similar to how drivers avoided Schumacher.
- Red Bull’s Max Verstappen finished third, battling Russell but not Antonelli, who passed with ease.
- Liam Lawson will race for Red Bull in the Spanish Grand Prix (starting at 9pm AEST on Sunday, September 13), replacing Isack Hadjar, who is recovering from a wrist injury.
- Antonelli’s 66-point lead is nearly double Oscar Piastri’s 37-point lead over Lando Norris with nine race weekends left in 2025.
- Lawson finished seventh in the Netherlands and 14th in Italy after starting from the pit lane, while Yuki Tsunoda will again fill Lawson’s seat at Racing Bulls.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian mentions Antonelli’s win as part of a season where he is vying for his first championship, while ABC focuses on him being the championship leader with a 66-point gap.
- The Guardian states Antonelli’s comeback included a pit stop strategy from sixth place, while ABC emphasizes his sheer pace and rivals avoiding confrontation.
Source Articles
Antonelli ends Italy’s 60-year wait for home F1 win with Monza triumph from 19th
Italian overhauls George Russell late on at Monza Verstappen third for Red Bull, with Hamilton sixth For all that they could not enjoy a win for Ferrari, the tifosi at the Italian Grand Prix were treated to a moment that will live long in the memory. Their homegrown hero Kimi Antonelli produced an exceptional, extraordinary victory from 19th on the grid, definitively marking his arrival as a potential great of Formula One and putting him within reach of his first F1 championship. The 20-year-o
Schumacher comparisons made as Antonelli continues historic F1 season
Kimi Antonelli's win from 19th on the grid in Monza was epic, and the way his rivals raced with him has drawn comparisons with Ferrari legend Michael Schumacher.
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