The 2026 Italian GP took place on 6th September. This was an important Grand Prix for hometown hero Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen for different reasons. Max wanted a podium, and Kimi wanted points after starting from the 19th. Pierre Gasly gave Alpine its first pole position in Formula 1. It was going to be a cracker of a race.
Kimi Antonelli Does The Improbable
As the race started, Pierre Gasly took the early lead from George Russell, and the two Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, were going wheel to wheel. Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen were fighting for P4, and Max edges out Oscar. The overtaking had begun as George Russell got past Pierre Gasly, and Charles Leclerc tried to get to P2 but was stopped. Charles Leclerc lost control of his car and slammed into the wall.
The red flag was waved, and the race was stopped. Every driver was worried for the safety of Charles Leclerc. Kimi Antonelli had gotten to P12, going past Gabriel Bortoletto and Nico Hulkenberg.
George Russell got ahead of Pierre Gasly for P1, and Franco Colapinto got past Max Verstappen for P3. Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri were at P4 and P5 in the race at this time. Pierre Gasly and Alpine were getting overtaken by everyone, as it was Max Verstappen who went past the Alpine.
Kimi Antonelli was having the race of his life, as he was in P7 and was fighting Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri and eventually getting to P6. Yuki Tsonuda and Ollie Bearman were the last places in the Top 10. Liam Lawson was behind the Top 10. Oscar Piastri and Lewis Hamilton were battling for P4. Max Verstappen was in P3, and Kimi Antonelli was racing ahead to catch up to him and fight for that spot. Fernando Alonso retired from the race as well as Lance Stroll.
With 20 laps remaining, Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen were in P4 and P5 and were trailing George Russell by 10 seconds. Kimi Antonelli reached P2 and was behind by 9 seconds to his teammate George Russell. Max Verstappen once again regained the P3 spot. With 10 laps remaining, it was a fight to the finish with both Mercedes drivers fighting for the Top 2 spots. By Lap 49, Kimi Antonelli was looking more and more like he would win the race.
Lap 50 and Kimi Antonelli were closing in on George Russell to win a Home Grand Prix. By the end of the race, Kimi Antonelli won an incredible race, followed by George Russell and Max Verstappen in the podium places. Lando Norris was P4, and Oscar Piastri was P5.
Race Standings
Position | Driver | Team | Time | Points |
1. | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:51:15:281 | 25 |
2. | George Russell | Mercedes | +3.857s | 18 |
3. | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +14.718s | 15 |
4. | Lando Norris | McLaren | +19.066s | 12 |
5. | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | +19.253s | 10 |
6. | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | +24.655s | 8 |
7. | Pierre Gasly | Alijne | +27.351s | 6 |
8. | Arvid Lindblad | RB | +45.136s | 4 |
9. | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | +47.353s | 2 |
10. | Yuki Tsonuda | RB | +58.187s | 1 |
11. | Gabriel Bortoletto | Audi | +65.187s | 0 |
12. | Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | +66.187s | 0 |
13. | Carlos Sainz | Williams | +74.117s | 0 |
14. | Liam Lawson | Red Bull | +75.609s | 0 |
15. | Ollie Bearman | Haas | +78.958s | 0 |
16. | Esteban Ocon | Haas | +1 Lap | 0 |
17. | Alex Albon | Williams | +1 Lap | 0 |
18. | Sergio Perez | Cadillac | +1 Lap | 0 |
19. | Valteri Bottas | Cadillac | +2 Laps | 0 |
DNF | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | DNF | 0 |
DNF | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | DNF | 0 |
DNF | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | DNF |