Kimi Antonelli wins home Italian Grand Prix from back of grid

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli has claimed victory at the Italian Grand Prix at his home event, showcasing an incredible display of racing. 

Feature image credit: Mercedes F1

The current championship leader, Antonelli has produced an incredible race at his home event, which saw him start from the back of the grid to claim his seventh win of the season at the Italian GP, beating his closest championship rival, George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

Ahead of the Italian GP, Antonelli was confirmed to take a grid penalty having exceeded his power unit allowance, and ultimately started 19th on the grid, taking into account grid penalties for other drivers, starting one place from last – occupied by Williams’ Alexander Albon.  

A feat which has never been completed in Formula 1’s history at the circuit. 

Antonelli was expected to cut through the field and take home a number of championship points, but a number of factors, including a red flag and a virtual safety car, played into the Italian’s hand to claim victory. 

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The race was quickly red flagged early on lap three, by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who crashed out at the final corner on the exit of the Parabolica. The Monegasque’s car squirmed under acceleration sending it across the gravel and into the barrier. 

Thankfully, Leclerc was okay, seen climbing out of his wrecked Ferrari SF-26.

At the stoppage, Antonelli managed to move from 19th to 12th overall. When the race finally resumed, the Italian quickly made up more places and found himself within contention of a podium – and a potential victory – in the early-mid stages. 

However, after the virtual safety car came out, thanks to an on-track retirement for Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, both Antonelli and Verstappen pitted for fresher tyres, mediums and hard compounds respectively. 

From there, it was a chase for the victory and podium. 

With fresher medium compound tyres late on into the race, Antonelli finally caught up to his teammate by lap 49, and immediately put Russell under pressure late on in the race into the first-corner chicane. 

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The Briton locked up into the corner, skipping across the short run off, and the championship leader almost had his race undone by veering and sliding across the gravel, having lost grip over the marbles on track. 

However, with a handful of laps left to go, Antonelli launched another attack on his championship rival, Russell, on the following lap (50). Antonelli secured the move – and the lead – on the run towards the Ascari Chicane, causing a roar of celebration from the local Tifosi. 

From there the Italian points-leader carried on to secure the chequered flag on home turf to clinch another 25 points for his championship bid. It means Antonelli extends his championship lead to 267 points, 66 points ahead of second-placed Russell.

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton came home to finish sixth overall, picking up eight points during the race, as the Scuderia’s only car in their home event. The seven-time world champion 76 points adrift of Antonelli heading into the final European race of the season, next weekend. 

As a result of Ferrari’s total of eight points, compared to Mercedes’ 43, it means the Silver Arrows (468pts) now extend their constructors championship lead to 122 points over Ferrari (346pts).

Charles Leclerc brings out Italian Grand Prix red flag with heavy crash

Next up is the Spanish Grand Prix, in Madrid, as the venue makes its Formula 1 debut on September 11 – 13.

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Kamron Kent

Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.

I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.

Kamron Kent

Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.