Andrea Kimi Antonelli wrote one of the most incredible stories of the season, starting 19th on the grid at Monza and finishing first at his own home Italian Grand Prix – a feat that makes him the first Italian to win at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti back in 1966, 60 years ago.

The championship leader made lightning progress at the start of the race, and after a red flag for Charles Leclerc’s crash at the last corner, found himself in 12th place after just three laps. Following the restart, Antonelli continued his charge, and by lap 13 was already third, passing Piastri, Norris, Hamilton and Gasly in turn.

Mercedes’ strategy also played a key role in the success – Antonelli started on hard tyres, and after the restart, while most drivers switched to hards, he stayed out on mediums alongside Verstappen and Hamilton. The decisive stop came on lap 29 during a virtual safety car for Stroll’s mechanical failure – Antonelli switched to fresh tyres, while his teammate Russell stayed on hards, handing the championship leader a decisive advantage in the closing stages of the race.

On fresh mediums, Antonelli systematically passed Gasly, Norris, Hamilton and Piastri, setting impressively quick lap times. Three laps from the finish he completed the decisive overtake at the Ascari chicane, after an earlier attempt at Turn 2 had sent him off track onto the freshly resurfaced section.

The final race result had Antonelli ahead, followed by George Russell 3.857 seconds back, Max Verstappen at 14.718 seconds, Lando Norris at 19.056 seconds and Oscar Piastri at 19.253 seconds.

“Incredible! I’m so happy, and I never imagined I’d be here today. But we managed to do it, and I’m really, really happy,” Antonelli said after the finish. His win from 19th on the grid is the second-lowest starting position ever to produce a Formula 1 victory, behind only John Watson’s win from 22nd at Long Beach in 1983.