Monza witnesses Antonelli’s historic Italian Grand Prix victory from 19th
Kimi Antonelli secured an exceptional victory at the Italian Grand Prix, starting from 19th on the grid to claim a memorable home win. This triumph marks the first time an Italian driver has won at Monza since 1966, a gap of 60 years. The 20-year-old driver’s performance has been highlighted as a significant moment in his career.
Antonelli’s race began with a grid penalty for new engine components, leading to expectations that a top-five finish would be a strong result. However, he exceeded these projections, demonstrating remarkable racecraft and control throughout the event. His victory saw him overcome teammate George Russell, who started second, and Red Bull‘s Max Verstappen, who finished third.
A Race of Strategic Decisions and Comebacks
The race was marked by several dramatic moments, including an early red flag. Antonelli capitalized on both starts, moving from 19th to 12th after the first start, and then to eighth after the second. He steadily climbed through the field, eventually battling with Russell for the lead.
A pivotal moment occurred under a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) period. Antonelli, on worn medium tires, pitted for fresh rubber, while Russell, on hard tires, stayed out. This strategic split allowed Antonelli to utilize his fresher tires to regain the lead from his teammate, ultimately securing the win despite a moment through the gravel. Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, noted that the team chose to split strategies to maximize their chances of victory.
Russell expressed frustration at being close to victory but acknowledged it as a brilliant team result and congratulated Antonelli on his home win. He also commented on the VSC as a race-changing moment, supporting the team’s decision to split strategies between the two cars.
Antonelli’s Dominant Performance
Antonelli’s drive was described as methodical from the start. He maintained composure, avoided risks on both starts, and systematically overtook competitors. His pace on the medium tires was crucial in making the two-stop strategy effective, allowing him to carve through the field even against cars that were expected to be difficult to pass.
The Italian driver’s ability to navigate through the pack with control and decisiveness was evident. He demonstrated a cold nerve in what was his first time tasked with such a comeback in a dominant car. His final chase of Russell from sixth place, overcoming a 14-second deficit, was a notable display of skill and confidence.
Verstappen also had an eventful race, battling with various drivers including Charles Leclerc, Oscar Piastri, and Antonelli. He managed to secure a podium finish after pitting under the VSC for fresh tires, despite facing limitations with deployment on the straights compared to Mercedes-powered cars.
The victory at Monza is particularly sweet for Antonelli, who described it as the most special win of his career so far. He expressed gratitude to his team for providing an amazing car and thanked everyone for their support. The atmosphere at Monza, with the pit straight packed with cheering fans, was described as a dream for the young driver.
Mercedes’ Trackside Engineering Director, Andrew Shovlin, highlighted the team’s strong race pace, which was optimized during Friday’s sessions. He noted that both Antonelli and Russell were significantly faster than their competitors. While pleased with the 1-2 finish and increased championship lead, Shovlin cautioned that Monza is an outlier track and the team does not expect the same form to continue into the next race in Madrid.
The race also featured other incidents, including contact between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at the first corner, and a significant crash involving Leclerc at Parabolica on lap two, from which he emerged unhurt. Despite the drama, Antonelli’s performance remained the focal point, culminating in his decisive pass on Russell three laps from the end.
Antonelli’s win at Monza has brought him closer to potentially taking the world championship. Russell, who had entered the weekend with a 59-point deficit to his teammate, now finds himself further behind. The next race in Madrid is anticipated to be a tougher challenge for Mercedes.
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Source: formula1.com
