Italian GP: Kimi Antonelli sensationally wins thrilling Monza race from George Russell and Max Verstappen
Kimi Antonelli secured a victory at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix in Monza after a strategic race involving Mercedes and Max Verstappen. The win extends his lead in the Drivers' Championship over teammate George Russell.
Why it matters
This result significantly impacts the 2026 Formula 1 championship standings and highlights the performance of emerging drivers.
<p class="first">Antonelli was not expected to contend for victory due to grid penalties for exceeding his engine allocation but stormed through the field early on - in between the red flag for Charles Leclerc's huge crash - and showed tremendous pace to catch Russell on an alternative strategy.</p><p>The two Mercedes and Max Verstappen pulled clear of the field in the first half of the race, exchanging the lead several times, due to the yoyo style of racing caused by the 2026 power units and the impact of having a slipstream around the long straights at Monza.</p><ul><li><strong>Italian GP race result | F1 2026 standings | F1 2026 calendar</strong></li><li><strong>Download the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more</strong><strong>📱</strong></li><li><strong>Not got Sky?
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