2026 Italian Grand Prix Review: Antonelli Wins at Monza

Kimi Antonelli won his home Grand Prix at Monza, becoming the first Italian to win an Italian round since Riccardo Patrese took the 1990 San Marino Grand Prix. For a nineteen-year-old leading the championship, it is difficult to imagine a better afternoon.

George Russell finished second, 3.8 seconds back, with Max Verstappen third a further eleven seconds adrift.

Gasly's Maiden Pole

Saturday belonged to Alpine. Pierre Gasly took his first pole in Formula 1 with a 1:21.786, and the team's first since 2009.

He could not hold it on Sunday and came home seventh, but a maiden pole at Monza is the sort of result that stays with a driver regardless of what follows.

Leclerc's Race Ends on a Drain

Ferrari's weekend ended early and unluckily. Charles Leclerc hit a drainage grill at Parabolica on lap three and crashed, bringing out a red flag while the barriers were repaired.

Losing the home team's lead driver three laps into the home race, to a piece of track furniture, took most of the atmosphere out of the grandstands. Lewis Hamilton salvaged sixth.

Mercedes Take Control

With Antonelli and Russell first and second, Mercedes left Monza with a commanding constructors' lead. Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished fourth and fifth, split by two tenths, Piastri having served a three-place grid penalty for impeding Liam Lawson in Q2.

Lance Stroll retired with a hydraulics failure on lap 26 and Fernando Alonso stopped three laps earlier with a mechanical problem.

Championship Standings After Round 13

Antonelli led on 267 points, from Russell on 201 and Hamilton on 191. In the constructors' championship Mercedes held 468 points, ahead of Ferrari on 346 and McLaren on 287.

With ten rounds remaining, a 66-point lead and seven wins from thirteen starts, Antonelli was in the strongest position of any driver this season.

Looking Ahead

The season resumes with the championship effectively Antonelli's to lose, and with Mercedes needing only consistency to convert their advantage into both titles.

Carry the Grid With You

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