Antonelli wins Monza from 19th on the grid
The short version
Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Italian Grand Prix from 19th on the grid, 3.857s ahead of Mercedes team-mate George Russell, with Max Verstappen third. He started that far back because of a power unit penalty, and became the first Italian to win the Italian Grand Prix since 1966. Pierre Gasly started from his first career pole and finished seventh. Charles Leclerc crashed early in the race, bringing out a red flag.
- 3.857sMargin of victory
- 1:23.504Fastest lap · Antonelli
- P19 → P1Antonelli · biggest mover (+18)
- 3Retirements · incl. Stroll, Alonso
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
George Russell
Max Verstappen
19th on the grid, first at the flag. Kimi Antonelli gave Monza an Italian winner of the Italian Grand Prix for the first time since 1966, and he did it from almost the back of the grid.
Grid penalty and a surprise pole
Antonelli qualified seventh but took a grid penalty for extra power unit parts and started 19th. At the front, Pierre Gasly used the slipstream to take the first pole position of his career for Alpine, six years after his famous Monza win in 2020.
Leclerc’s crash stops the race
George Russell passed Gasly for the lead early on. Then Charles Leclerc put his left-rear wheel on a drain cover at the Parabolica and crashed heavily, which stopped the race. Leclerc was unhurt, but the home crowd lost a Ferrari.
Antonelli’s charge
Antonelli was 12th within a few laps. He caught Russell and passed him at the first chicane, and the two Mercedes swapped the lead from there. A Virtual Safety Car for Lance Stroll’s hydraulic failure let Antonelli pit for fresh tyres cheaply, and he made the decisive pass late in the race to win by 3.857s. Max Verstappen finished third.
Antonelli now leads by 66 points (267 to Russell’s 201).
Key moments
- GridAntonelli qualifies seventh but starts 19th after a penalty for extra power unit parts. Gasly takes his first career pole for Alpine.
- EarlyRussell passes Gasly for the lead. Leclerc crashes at the Parabolica after putting a wheel on a drain cover, and the race is red-flagged.
- ChargeAntonelli is up to 12th within a few laps and then passes Russell at the first chicane. The two Mercedes swap the lead.
- FlagA VSC for Lance Stroll's hydraulic failure gives Antonelli a cheaper stop, and he makes the decisive pass late on.
Race classification
2026 Italian Grand Prix · official classification| Pos | Driver | Time / Gap | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrea Kimi Antonelli | 1:51:15.281 | 25 |
| 2 | George Russell | +3.857 | 18 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | +14.718 | 15 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | +19.056 | 12 |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | +19.253 | 10 |
| 6 | Lewis Hamilton | +24.655 | 8 |
| 7 | Pierre Gasly | +27.351 | 6 |
| 8 | Arvid Lindblad | +45.136 | 4 |
| 9 | Franco Colapinto | +47.353 | 2 |
| 10 | Yuki Tsunoda | +58.187 | 1 |
| 11 | Gabriel Bortoleto | +1:05.187 | 0 |
| 12 | Nico Hülkenberg | +1:06.187 | 0 |
| 13 | Carlos Sainz | +1:14.117 | 0 |
| 14 | Liam Lawson | +1:15.609 | 0 |
| 15 | Oliver Bearman | +1:18.958 | 0 |
| 16 | Esteban Ocon | +6.591 | 0 |
| 17 | Alexander Albon | +20.268 | 0 |
| 18 | Sergio Pérez | +1:13.372 | 0 |
| 19 | Valtteri Bottas | +12.880 | 0 |
Did not finish
3 retirements| Driver | Reason |
|---|---|
| Lance Stroll | Hydraulics |
| Fernando Alonso | Retired |
| Charles Leclerc | Accident |
Quick answers
Who won the 2026 Italian Grand Prix?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) won the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Autodromo Nazionale Monza on 6 September 2026, finishing 3.857 ahead of George Russell in a race time of 1:51:15.281.
Who finished on the podium at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix?
P1 Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), P2 George Russell (Mercedes), P3 Max Verstappen (Red Bull).
Who set the fastest lap at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix?
Andrea Kimi Antonelli set the fastest lap of the race, a 1:23.504.
How many drivers retired from the 2026 Italian Grand Prix?
3 drivers did not finish: Lance Stroll (hydraulics), Fernando Alonso (retired), Charles Leclerc (accident).
Why did Kimi Antonelli start 19th at Monza?
Antonelli qualified seventh but took a grid penalty for using extra power unit parts, which put him 19th on the grid.
Who took pole at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix?
Pierre Gasly (Alpine) took his first career pole position, 0.060s ahead of George Russell. He finished seventh.