Formula 1: Kimi Antonelli mesmerizes Monza with an astonishing comeback

Kimi Antonelli turned Ferrari’s home race into a Mercedes celebration, storming from 19th on the grid to win at Monza and give the Italian fans a spectacular Formula 1 comeback.

The Italian Mercedes youngster finished ahead of teammate George Russell, who had no answer to Antonelli’s charge, while Max Verstappen took third for Red Bull. McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris followed, with Hamilton finishing sixth for Ferrari. Antonelli now leads Russell by 66 points in the championship. Hamilton trails by 76.

“

Formula 1 is so much more exciting when you start at the front. I hope we can produce a nice surprise.

Ferrari’s hopes of a red home celebration collapsed early. Charles Leclerc crashed heavily at the Parabolica after a difficult opening sequence and was forced to retire. Hamilton had already fallen into the midfield after a clash with Leclerc at the start. The race was interrupted while officials dealt with the accident.

“

That is absolutely crazy, all this red everywhere. The energy is stronger than anywhere else.

Antonelli’s victory came despite a major grid penalty for an unauthorized engine change. The surprise pole position went instead to Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who had stunned the field in qualifying. “Formula 1 is so much more exciting when you start at the front. I hope we can produce a nice surprise,” Gasly said during the drivers’ parade.

The weekend carried an added emotional charge for Ferrari supporters. More than 404,000 spectators attended the Autodromo Nazionale over the weekend, according to organizers. Ferrari ran special liveries honoring Michael Schumacher, while Sebastian Vettel drove one of Schumacher’s former Ferraris in a tribute during the support program, 30 years after Schumacher’s first Ferrari win at Monza and 20 years after his last.

“

The roles are a little reversed, so I can drive a little with him. We would have preferred to see him here himself, it is incredibly emotional.