Antonelli Wins Italian GP from 19th, Extends Lead — SkimNews
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- Kimi Antonelli passed Mercedes teammate George Russell with three laps remaining to win the Italian Grand Prix after starting 19th on the grid due to a grid penalty.
- Antonelli recovered from running through gravel at the Variante del Rettifilo on lap 49—losing 1.7 seconds—to overtake Russell heading into the Variante Ascari on the following lap on superior tires.
- Antonelli crossed the line 3.8 seconds clear of Russell, extending his lead in the drivers' championship standings from 59 to 66 points.
- Antonelli became the first Italian driver to win at Monza since Ferrari's Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966, ending a 60-year drought for Italian winners at the Temple of Speed.
- Charles Leclerc crashed out at 160 mph on the second lap and Lewis Hamilton finished only sixth, capping a miserable home race for Ferrari.
- Max Verstappen finished third, one place ahead of reigning world champion Lando Norris, with Oscar Piastri rounding out the top five.
Why it matters: Antonelli's victory extends his championship lead over Russell from 59 to 66 points, dealing a blow to his teammate's title hopes. Ferrari's home race meanwhile ended in disaster with Leclerc's 160 mph lap-two crash and Hamilton only sixth—making this a landmark day for Italian motorsport but a painful one for the Scuderia faithful.
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