Kimi Antonelli, who only turned 20 years old in August, delivered a comeback drive for the ages to win the Italian Grand Prix. It was a historic performance in more ways than one, with the Bologna-born driver becoming the first Italian to win his home race since all the way back in 1966.
The local fans typically want Ferrari to win, no matter what the nationality of the drivers involved, so their loyalties were rather split here. Charles Leclerc won for Ferrari in 2024 and 2019, but we have to go back to the success of Ludovico Scarfiotti in the same year that England last won the football World Cup for an Italian victor of this race.
That was Scarfiotti’s only success in a Grand Prix, but this was most certainly not Antonelli’s first GP victory, nor is it likely to be his last. This is his second full season in the sport, and he won his first-ever race in the second contest of the campaign, in China. He then won the next four races, claiming a sixth win of the season in Belgium, with this victory in Monza the lucky seventh.
Win Gives Youngster Commanding Lead
It doesn’t get much more special than this 🥹#F1 #ItalianGP @MercedesAMGF1 pic.twitter.com/SFY84NFKnL
— Formula 1 (@F1) September 6, 2026
After 13 races, Antonelli’s quest to smash Sebastian Vettel’s record as the youngest World Drivers’ Championship winner is looking good. Vettel was 23 years and 134 days old when he won in 2010, with Lewis Hamilton next, 166 days older when he won in 2008. If the current Championship leader can maintain his advantage, he will still be 20, his precise age depending on how quickly he wraps things up.
Thanks to his win at Monza, Antonelli is 66 points clear of Mercedes teammate George Russell. Russell was second in Italy, so the Championship favourite added a few more points to his lead thanks to his incredible win. The nature of his success, and the commanding lead he holds, mean he is now priced at just 1/6 to win the title. Russell is 14/1, with Lando Norris slightly longer with most firms.
Hamilton is currently third in the standings, with 191 points, 10 behind Russell and 76 adrift of Antonelli. However, the Brit is just behind Norris in the betting, although many firms price all three at 14/1. In other words, the title is very much Antonelli’s to lose, but after the drive he produced at Monza, it would be a major surprise if the young Italian did not take his place in the record books.
Holds Host of Records Already
We have seen in seasons past that dramatic changes can take place over the course of the season. That could be even more likely this year given the new rules, with teams and drivers still coming to terms with the best way to set up their cars. Antonelli may not break Vettel’s record in 2026, but he would seem to have every chance in 2027 or 2028. Come what may, however, he has already set a number of records that will take some beating.
Below is just a selection of the many “Youngest” benchmarks he has created over the past season and a half:
- Youngest driver to set a fastest lap
- Youngest driver to gain pole position
- Youngest to win from pole
- Youngest driver to complete hat-trick
- Youngest to lead world championship
- Youngest driver to win two, three, four and five Grands Prix in a row
- Youngest sprint winner
In addition to those “youngest” records, he also holds the record for the most points in his first season. In 2025, he registered 150 and finished seventh. The point-scoring system has changed so much over the years, so comparisons are not entirely fair, but even so, it is clear that Antonelli has the talent to win not just this Championship, but many more in the years ahead.
Incredible Win from 19th Yet More Proof of Generational Talent
Italy had to wait 60 years for a home winner at Monza, but they may well feel in years to come that it was worth the wait, especially if Antonelli goes on to race for Ferrari. It was a stunning performance that saw the youngster come from 19th on the grid – due to a penalty – to take the chequered flag.
Only once in the history of the sport has a driver come from further back to win. That was way back in 1983, when Antonelli’s father was still a teenager! He scythed through the field, making incredible progress in just the first few laps to instantly make it clear he could challenge for a podium at least.
As good as Antonelli’s performance was, teammate Russell will be desperately disappointed, knowing that this was his real chance to take a bite out of the healthy 59-point lead his rival had. Instead, that advantage just got bigger, Antonelli getting up to 12th by the third lap, then seventh within a couple of laps of the restart, which followed an early red flag after Leclerc crashed.
By the 13th lap he was third, less than two seconds off the lead with Russell in between him and race leader Verstappen. There were various twists and turns along the way, but in the end Antonelli made it look all too easy. He said the win was “one that I will remember forever”, and it will live long in the memories of all who watched it.