Andrea Kimi Antonelli reached seven Formula 1 victories with his triumph at the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday, matching Mercedes teammate George Russell’s career total. The remarkable difference is that Antonelli has collected all seven wins in 2026, while Russell reached the same number across five seasons in F1.
Antonelli opened his 2026 winning account at the Chinese Grand Prix and then followed it with four consecutive victories in Japan, Miami, Canada and Monaco. His sixth win came at Spa-Francorchamps in the Belgian Grand Prix before he added a seventh at his home race in Monza.
Formula 1’s official results confirm Antonelli has now won seven of the first 13 Grands Prix of the 2026 season, while Russell has taken two victories this year, in Australia and Austria.
Russell’s previous six victories came across the 2022, 2024 and 2025 seasons. His first F1 win came at the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix, followed by victories in Austria and Las Vegas in 2024, then Canada and Singapore in 2025. He added the Australian and Austrian Grands Prix to his tally in 2026.
The result means Antonelli has now equalled Russell on seven career victories, despite being only in his second F1 season.
Antonelli turns penalty into Monza victory
Antonelli started the Italian Grand Prix from 19th after Mercedes introduced new power-unit components beyond the permitted allocation, triggering a grid penalty. The Italian therefore faced a long recovery drive from the back of the field.
Mercedes initially put Antonelli on hard tyres in an attempt to extend his opening stint, but Charles Leclerc’s heavy crash early in the race and the subsequent red flag changed the strategic picture.
After the restart, Antonelli switched to medium tyres and quickly moved through the field. He reached the lead on lap 18, although Russell remained close behind and the Mercedes teammates exchanged positions during their fight at the front.
The decisive moment came on lap 28, when a Virtual Safety Car created an opportunity for Antonelli to pit for a fresh set of mediums. He returned to the track in sixth and resumed his charge toward the front.
The fresher tyres eventually gave Antonelli the advantage over Russell, who remained on used hard tyres. After a tense fight between the Mercedes drivers, Antonelli reclaimed the lead with two laps remaining and held on to take one of the most significant victories of his young career.
Read more about the race in Antonelli’s historic Monza victory from 19th.
Seven wins — but a much bigger championship lead
Russell finished second, with Max Verstappen completing the podium. The result allowed Antonelli to increase his advantage over his teammate from 59 to 66 points.
Antonelli now has 267 points in the Drivers’ Championship, while Russell sits second on 201. Lewis Hamilton is third with 191 points.
The victory was also historic on home soil. Antonelli became the first Italian driver to win the Italian Grand Prix since Ludovico Scarfiotti achieved the feat for Ferrari in 1966, ending a 60-year wait for a home winner at Monza.
For more on the title picture, see Antonelli’s 66-point championship advantage after Monza.
Media: Kimi Antonelli’s post-race interview — Watch the video
Formula 1 now heads directly to Spain for the 14th round of the 2026 season. The Spanish Grand Prix will take place from September 11-13 at Madrid’s new MADRING street circuit. GRANDE PRÊMIO will continue to cover all the action from the next round of the championship.
FAQ
How many F1 wins does Kimi Antonelli have?
Antonelli has seven Formula 1 victories, all achieved during the 2026 season.
How many F1 races has George Russell won?
George Russell has seven Formula 1 victories. His first came at the 2022 São Paulo Grand Prix, while his two most recent wins came in Australia and Austria in 2026.
What is Kimi Antonelli’s lead over George Russell in the 2026 F1 championship?
Antonelli leads Russell by 66 points after the Italian Grand Prix, with 267 points against Russell’s 201.
