Andrea Kimi Antonelli capped off the Italian Grand Prix at Monza in a way he will never forget. The Mercedes driver became the first Italian to win at home since 1966, and he described the moment as a "dream come true" in an emotional message to fans on Monday morning after the race.
The victory tasted even sweeter as he had to start from 19th on the grid after an engine penalty. But with his characteristic grit, Antonelli fought back and overtook his teammate, George Russell, in the closing laps to claim his seventh win of the season. A podium in front of his home crowd always has a different story, and for Antonelli, the reception from the tifosi at the historic circuit was simply overwhelming.
"P1 at home!! It's hard to describe yesterday. It's a dream come true," he posted. "What I experienced is something I will never forget, the Monza podium is indescribable, the warmth of all the fans and the sea of people that never ends. I really want to thank all the people who made this possible and who are making this year special."
The win also extended his lead in the drivers' standings. He now holds a 66-point advantage over Russell, who sits second. With a long season still ahead, that margin looks comfortable, but Antonelli refused to think the title is already in his grasp.
"No, not at all. I just take race by race because you never know what can happen," he told Sky Sports F1. "Today went well, we had a massive opportunity and we took it, but of course next week we have Madrid and it's going to be a new challenge. We will have to be on top of our game because it's a new track for everyone and it's going to be important to be on point in order to maximise the track time and everything. I'm going to enjoy this moment and then focus on the next one, and then focus on the next one again until the end of the season."
With seven wins from ten rounds, Antonelli is clearly in the form of his life. But he knows the 2026 F1 season is still long, and each week brings a different test. For now, he chooses to savour the euphoria of a historic victory in front of his own fans—something worth celebrating before returning to battle at the brand-new Madrid circuit.
Read Also
2026 F1 Italian GP driver rankings: Verstappen wins from P19, Gasly starts P1 finishes P7. Full analysis from Edd Straw.
Martin Brundle stands by his verdict on the Hamilton-Leclerc collision at Monza, while Nico Rosberg blames Leclerc. Get the full analysis.
Fred Vasseur hints Ferrari may consider team orders after the Monza clash between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Will the Scuderia change strategy?
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!