Antonelli does a 19th-to-1st comeback and takes the checkered flag at home to be Italian GP winner.
The F1 championship has intensified thanks to a sensational Italian Grand Prix performance at Monza for Kimi Antonelli, who fought from 19th place on the grid all the way to first to maintain his lead at the top of the drivers’ championship.
The Mercedes driver overcame an engine penalty to win for the 7th time this year in the first home Italian triumph since Ludovico Scarfiotti won in 1966.
George Russell took 2nd for Mercedes just 3.857 seconds back of his teammate, and Max Verstappen took 3rd for Red Bull.
The exciting dash to the front for Antonelli was secured through an incredible race-long duel with George Russell.
On fresher tyres, the Italian overcame an 8.9sec deficit to less than a second over the course of 10 laps. With 4 laps to go he hit the gravel making a move but recovered immediately, taking the lead from Russell on lap 51 of 53 and winning easily. He said.
‘Im so happy I cannot imagine anything better than this… We managed to make it. It’s just unbelievable.’
Mercedes driver Russell acknowledged the tires were completely degraded.
