Kimi Antonelli won the Italian Grand Prix with an extraordinary drive for Mercedes at Monza, coming back from 19th on the grid to take his first win at his home race. It was a historic performance to beat his Mercedes teammate George Russell who had started in second place, into second, with Max Verstappen taking third for Red Bull.
Lewis Hamilton was sixth, while his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc walked away unhurt from a huge accident early in the race when he went off at Parabolica.
Mercedes had hoped Antonelli, who had taken a grid penalty for taking a new set of engine components before the race, might do well to come back to as high as fifth at best. Antonelli, as he has repeatedly this season, once more exceeded their expectations. Still only 20-years-old the Italian has made his mark with emphatic effect and even the Ferrari fans were moved to roar their approval at the home hero, even in Mercedes kit.
Italy has not had a home winner at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti, 60 years ago, while only one driver has come back to win from further down the grid, John Watson from 22nd at the Long Beach GP in 1983.
Not only was it an exceptional performance but one which has moved Antonelli a significant step closer to taking the world championship. Russell had gone into the weekend expecting to claw some points back from his teammate’s 59-point lead but is now 66 in arrears.
after newsletter promotion
Leave a Reply