Kimi Antonelli strengthens Formula One lead after Italian Grand Prix victory

Kimi Antonelli delivered the major surprise of the Italian Grand Prix by winning at Monza after starting from 19th place, despite a penalty caused by Mercedes’ engine change.

The Italian had been expected to start last at his home race. Alexander Albon, Fernando Alonso and Liam Lawson ended up behind him on the starting order for different reasons. None could stop Antonelli from taking the victory or prevent him from extending his advantage in the championship.

Antonelli now has 267 points. His Mercedes teammate George Russell finished behind him in the race and remains second in the drivers’ standings with 201 points. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull completed the podium.

Franco Colapinto produced a strong recovery for Alpine and finished ninth, earning two points and taking his season total to 21. He remains 12th in the standings, although he was dissatisfied after briefly running third before going off track and dropping to 16th. His teammate Pierre Gasly started from pole position and finished seventh.

Mercedes leads the constructors’ championship with 468 points, ahead of Ferrari on 346. Alpine remains sixth with 62 points. The next race is scheduled for the Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid’s new circuit. It will be the 14th event on the calendar after races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were canceled because of the war in the Middle East. Bahrain was rescheduled for early October in Malaysia.