This is a day that I will remember forever, says Kimi Antonelli after Monza victory

Monza, Italy, September 7, 2026: Kimi Antonelli produced the drive of his Formula 1 career so far at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix, storming from 19th on the grid to claim a remarkable victory at Monza. The Mercedes driver was joined on the podium by team-mate George Russell, giving Mercedes a commanding 1-2 finish at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.

Antonelli’s victory was particularly special as it came at his home race in Italy. Starting from the back of the grid following an engine-related penalty, the young Mercedes driver made his way through the field across a dramatic 53-lap race that featured an early red flag and a crucial Virtual Safety Car period.

Despite starting P19, Antonelli and Mercedes maintained belief that a strong result was possible. The Italian immediately gained several positions at the first start before the red flag created another opportunity for the field to reshuffle.

“This is a day that I will remember forever! It is for sure the most special win of my career so far,” Antonelli said after the race.

The Mercedes driver also described the Monza podium as the best of his season, highlighting the atmosphere created by the Italian fans.

“To see the full pit straight packed with people cheering and showing their support was a dream.”

Antonelli Makes P19-to-P1 Charge

Antonelli’s recovery drive was built around strong race pace and an effective Mercedes strategy.

After making up significant ground at the opening start, Antonelli recognised that the red flag had given him another opportunity to attack the field. Mercedes’ decision-making during the Virtual Safety Car then became a crucial part of the race.

The team split its strategies between Antonelli and Russell, with Antonelli making a pit stop under the Virtual Safety Car. Although the decision initially appeared unconventional compared with much of the field, Mercedes was able to make it work thanks to Antonelli’s pace on the Medium tyre.

“We obviously gave up some positions under the Virtual Safety Car, but we had the pace on the Medium tyre to come back through and take the victory,” Antonelli explained.

His ability to overtake rivals quickly in the second half of the race ultimately transformed the strategy gamble into a winning call.

George Russell Finishes Second

George Russell completed a Mercedes 1-2 by finishing second, narrowly missing out on victory but delivering another strong result for the team.

Russell admitted that finishing so close to victory was frustrating, but praised Antonelli for his performance and congratulated his team-mate on winning his home Grand Prix.

“It’s frustrating to be so close to victory and not to achieve it but that is racing sometimes,” Russell said.

The British driver also highlighted the importance of the Virtual Safety Car, which changed the complexion of the race and forced Mercedes to make a strategic decision with its two cars.

Mercedes ultimately chose to split the strategies, allowing the team to cover different possibilities and maximise its chances of winning.

Russell said the two Mercedes drivers raced hard but maintained respect throughout their battle for the lead.

“We raced each other hard but always with respect, and it was good fun fighting wheel-to-wheel for the win.”

Russell’s result also came despite vibrations affecting his front tyres during the closing stages, which slightly limited his pace.

Mercedes Delivers Perfect Team Performance at Monza

Mercedes Team Principal and CEO Toto Wolff described the race as a phenomenal performance from both drivers and the entire team.

The Austrian said the Monza 1-2 was particularly significant given Antonelli’s home victory and the championship points secured by Mercedes.

“To take a 1-2 in Monza is a special feeling and victory will obviously be particularly sweet for Kimi at his home race.”

Wolff praised Antonelli’s controlled approach throughout the race, noting that the Italian avoided unnecessary risks during both starts and gradually picked off the cars ahead.

Mercedes had initially expected Antonelli’s first set of Medium tyres to struggle to reach the end of the race. However, the Virtual Safety Car created an opportunity for a relatively inexpensive pit stop.

Antonelli’s pace after the stop proved decisive.

“His pace was superb to make the strategy work,” Wolff said.

For Russell, Mercedes opted for the more conventional strategy, although front-tyre vibrations late in the race prevented him from extracting his maximum pace.

Mercedes Extends Championship Lead

The Monza result was particularly valuable for Mercedes in the championship battle.

Technical Director James Allison said the team had been confident that Antonelli could recover from his low starting position and potentially fight for the podium after the work done to optimise the car’s race pace on Friday.

Mercedes’ pace advantage over its rivals was evident throughout the Grand Prix, with both Antonelli and Russell able to maintain a significant performance advantage.

The team’s decision to split strategies under the Virtual Safety Car ultimately provided Antonelli with the opportunity to make the crucial second charge through the field.

Mercedes acknowledged that the two-stop strategy initially appeared less favourable than the conventional one-stop approach. However, Antonelli’s ability to overtake cars quickly made the alternative strategy effective.

Mercedes Warns Madrid Will Be a Different Challenge

Despite the dominant performance at Monza, Mercedes is not expecting the same level of superiority at the next round in Madrid.

The team acknowledged that Monza’s low-downforce characteristics and unique layout make it something of an outlier on the Formula 1 calendar.

Mercedes also noted that it is currently operating somewhat out of sync with its rivals in terms of its latest updates, making the Monza result particularly encouraging.

The focus now turns to executing another clean weekend in Madrid and maximising the available package.

The Italian Grand Prix victory gives Mercedes significant momentum, while Antonelli’s remarkable P19-to-P1 recovery has provided one of the standout performances of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

For Antonelli, however, the significance of the result goes beyond championship points.

A home victory at Monza, achieved after starting 19th and fighting through the field to beat his team-mate, represents a defining moment in the young Italian’s Formula 1 career.