The 2026 Italian Grand Prix added to Kimi Antonelli’s lead at the top of the F1 Drivers’ Championship after a remarkable victory at Monza. The Mercedes driver started 19th but fought his way through the field to win his home race, while George Russell finished second and Max Verstappen took third.
The Italian Grand Prix began with Pierre Gasly on pole for Alpine, but George Russell immediately put pressure on the Frenchman at the start. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc had a difficult battle at the opening chicane, with the Briton running onto the gravel and dropping to P10. Verstappen moved forward while Antonelli also began his recovery from 19th, quickly making up six places.
Leclerc’s race ended on Lap 3 after he lost control exiting the Parabolica, bringing out the Safety Car before the race was eventually red-flagged for barrier repairs. The stoppage allowed the field to change tires and reshaped the strategies. After the restart, Russell remained near the front while Antonelli continued his charge, eventually taking the lead by Lap 20.
Antonelli then turned the Italian Grand Prix into a Mercedes fight. He briefly took the lead from Russell before pitting and dropping back, but his fresh-medium strategy gave him a major pace advantage later in the race. He chased Russell down in the closing laps, survived a moment in the gravel, and eventually passed his teammate at Ascari to regain the lead on the penultimate lap.
Hamilton finished sixth after a difficult opening lap, but Leclerc’s retirement made it a frustrating weekend for the Tifosi. However, the result was historic for Antonelli as the 20-year-old became the first Italian to win the Italian Grand Prix since 1966.
2026 F1 Drivers’ Championship Standings after the Italian Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli’s victory takes him to 267 points, giving him a 66-point advantage over George Russell. Russell’s second-place finish also helped him create some breathing room over Lewis Hamilton, who could only finish sixth after his poor start and tire struggles throughout the day. Meanwhile, Charles Leclerc’s DNF at Ferrari’s home race means he loses valuable ground to the drivers ahead of him.
The Italian Grand Prix also strengthened Max Verstappen’s position in sixth, although Red Bull remains some distance behind the Mercedes and Ferrari drivers in the F1 championship fight. Oscar Piastri finished fourth and Norris fifth, giving McLaren both cars inside the top five and a strong Monza weekend.
2026 F1 Constructors’ Championship standings after the Italian Grand Prix
The 2026 Italian Grand Prix was a mixed result for the championship-leading Mercedes team and a difficult one for Ferrari. Mercedes scored heavily with both drivers on the podium, while Ferrari lost Charles Leclerc after his crash, and Lewis Hamilton finished behind both McLaren cars and Max Verstappen.
Mercedes now leads Ferrari by 87 points in the Constructors’ Championship. The result at Monza further underlines how much the team has gained from having both Antonelli and Russell consistently scoring at the front, unlike Ferrari.
Meanwhile, McLaren remains third on 265 points, and Red Bull continues to hold fourth with 189. Racing Bulls also keeps its advantage over Alpine, although the gap between the two teams remains an important midfield storyline. Haas, Audi, and Williams are separated by only 10 points between seventh and ninth, while Aston Martin and Cadillac complete the standings.
The F1 championship now moves to Round 14, with the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid scheduled for next weekend. The race will take place at the Circuito de Madring on September 13.
Edited by Anurup Chakraborty
