{"id":1825,"date":"2026-09-07T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=1825"},"modified":"2026-09-07T10:02:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T13:02:48","slug":"gp-opinion-antonelli-delivers-champions-drive-at-home-and-all-but-seals-2026-f1-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/gp-opinion-antonelli-delivers-champions-drive-at-home-and-all-but-seals-2026-f1-title\/","title":{"rendered":"GP Opinion: Antonelli delivers champion&#8217;s drive at home and all but seals 2026 F1 title"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Andrea Kimi Antonelli left no room for doubt about his qualities or talent in Formula 1 on Sunday (6). The 20-year-old turned what appeared to be a major setback into a commanding display at Monza, doing so with a remarkable combination of aggression, speed and composure. Yes, the Italian has the best car on the grid in his hands, but having the fastest equipment does not automatically produce a performance like this. There are examples on the current grid to prove it. Antonelli, however, has now crossed another important threshold: he showed exactly what he is made of, and the 2026 world title is looking increasingly secure in his hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/antonelli-ignites-monza-and-wins-italian-gp-to-end-60-year-curse\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Antonelli&#8217;s historic Monza victory from 19th<\/a> was all the more impressive because he already knew before the weekend began that he would have to start from the back. It was a painful situation to accept at his home race, but one Mercedes had deliberately chosen as part of its championship strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recovery itself was spectacular. Antonelli went from 19th to first and defeated a team-mate driving the same car. But what stood out even more was the way he approached the entire Italian GP weekend. The power-unit change that forced him to start near the back had zero influence on his mentality or his driving. Kimi did not complain, nor did he abandon the aggression that has become a defining feature of his still-young F1 career. He attacked the challenge with the same unusual lightness that has characterized his 2026 campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"ANTONELLI VENCE E DEIXA MONZA EM DEL\u00cdRIO: CLASSIFICA\u00c7\u00c3O GP IT\u00c1LIA F1 2026  [narra\u00e7\u00e3o + Briefing]\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sZR2vtrXQL0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps nobody summarized that attitude better than Toto Wolff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Already for quite some time, I observe the drivers,&#8221; the Mercedes team principal told reporters. &#8220;Levels of energy, mentality, pattern of behaviour. I knew that Kimi&#8217;s mission was to win the race. I spoke to his father yesterday and he had the same feeling. There are moments when, seeing how a weekend unfolds, session after session, you feel that something special could be coming.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And this is not only about what happened at Monza. The calm Antonelli has been able to demonstrate may be the final piece missing from the portrait of a driver who has taken the 2026 season by storm and now looks increasingly inevitable as champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kimi has been preparing for this moment for some time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is why it is important to understand that <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/russell-admits-surprise-but-accepts-mercedes-strategy-in-italy-it-was-risky\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Antonelli&#8217;s recovery was far from obvious<\/a>. Mercedes had to change its strategy during the race. The initial expectation was that Antonelli could perhaps recover into the top three, with a podium depending on how the race developed. Even Mercedes, however, did not anticipate such an overwhelming performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team had to take risks and adjust its approach \u2014 with a little help from luck, too. The kind of luck that tends to follow champions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Russell, starting from the front row in identical machinery, initially looked like the overwhelming favorite. But the Englishman could not build the advantage expected at the front, opening the door for Antonelli. Kimi took every opportunity that appeared in front of him with the hunger of a driver who genuinely wants the world championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was almost a summary of the 2026 season for Mercedes&#8217; two drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After the lights went out, Antonelli completed the opening lap in 13th before moving up another position shortly before Charles Leclerc&#8217;s crash triggered the red flag. The restart changed everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antonelli immediately went on the attack, dispatching the cars ahead with impressive ease, including the strongest opposition from McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull. By lap 18, he had taken the lead after overtaking Max Verstappen and Russell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From there, the race became a Mercedes fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The two drivers battled intensely, forcing the team to intervene over the radio in an attempt to calm them down. It did not work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/F1-2026-ITALIA-MONZA-CORRIDA-LARGADA-3-1024x576.png\" alt=\"F1 2026, IT\u00c1LIA, CORRIDA, LARGADA, DOMINGO\" class=\"wp-image-1020314227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/F1-2026-ITALIA-MONZA-CORRIDA-LARGADA-3-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/F1-2026-ITALIA-MONZA-CORRIDA-LARGADA-3-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/F1-2026-ITALIA-MONZA-CORRIDA-LARGADA-3-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/F1-2026-ITALIA-MONZA-CORRIDA-LARGADA-3-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/F1-2026-ITALIA-MONZA-CORRIDA-LARGADA-3-1200x675.png 1200w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/F1-2026-ITALIA-MONZA-CORRIDA-LARGADA-3-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/F1-2026-ITALIA-MONZA-CORRIDA-LARGADA-3.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Italian GP featured two starts, changing the course of Antonelli&#8217;s race at Monza (Photo: Pirelli)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The different tyre choices added another layer to the duel. Antonelli ran the medium compound after the red flag, while Russell was on hards. Their battles and position changes continued until a Virtual Safety Car was triggered by Lance Stroll on lap 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was the moment Mercedes split its strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team brought Antonelli into the pits for another set of medium tyres while leaving Russell on track. Kimi returned in fifth and immediately resumed his charge through the field. He caught Russell again quickly, setting up another fight for victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fresh tyres eventually proved decisive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antonelli did make one mistake late in the race when he ran wide, a reminder that there is still plenty of inexperience underneath the growing confidence. But even that could not derail him. He recovered, attacked again and ultimately took the lead from Russell to secure one of the most important victories of his young career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;With the red flag, I was already in 12th place. And then I knew I had a chance,&#8221; Antonelli admitted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He did not waste it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/antonelli-wins-from-second-lowest-starting-position-in-f1-history\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Antonelli&#8217;s victory from 19th was the second-lowest starting position for an F1 Grand Prix winner<\/a>. Only John Watson, who won the 1983 United States Grand Prix West at Long Beach from 22nd, has gone on to victory from further back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the historical statistic does not fully explain the significance of what happened at Monza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antonelli did not simply inherit positions through retirements. He fought his way through the field, overtook some of the fastest cars in the championship and then beat his own team-mate in a direct battle for the win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result also ended Italy&#8217;s 60-year wait for a home winner at Monza. Antonelli became the first Italian to win at the circuit since Ludovico Scarfiotti did so for Ferrari in 1966.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And perhaps most importantly, he left Monza with a 66-point advantage over Russell in the championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/antonelli-extends-f1-championship-lead-to-66-points-after-italian-gp\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Antonelli now leads Russell by 66 points in the 2026 title race<\/a>, with 267 points to the Mercedes team-mate&#8217;s 201. Lewis Hamilton sits third with 191.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The title is not mathematically decided yet. But after a performance like this, it is increasingly difficult to imagine anyone taking it away from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The race in Monza was a champion&#8217;s drive in front of a home crowd divided between the new Italian hero and the iconic Ferrari colors of Maranello. More than simply accelerating the championship picture, it completed an important part of Antonelli&#8217;s development in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two years ago, the teenager who had been given his first F1 free-practice opportunity at Monza crashed the Mercedes at the Parabolica on his opening run. Intriguingly, that car had been Russell&#8217;s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Sunday, that same driver returned to Monza as a 20-year-old championship leader and produced one of the defining performances of his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The transformation is striking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Antonelli has learned quickly, and perhaps more importantly, he has learned when to control his own instincts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;There is the question of whether he is capable of maturing, of keeping the personality he has \u2014 humble, very introspective and self-critical \u2014 in order to develop. And only the future will tell if he is like some of the drivers before him, a complete talent,&#8221; Wolff said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Toto is right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But for now, Antonelli is already what Formula 1 expected him to become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that is a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">F1 now heads directly to Spain for the 14th round of the 2026 season, with the <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/f1\/real-madrid-joins-forces-with-f1-as-official-local-sponsor-for-2026-spanish-gp\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid&#8217;s new MADRING street circuit<\/a> taking place from September 11-13. <strong>GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/strong> will continue to cover every session of the 2026 championship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is Kimi Antonelli now the favorite to win the 2026 F1 championship?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes. Antonelli has won seven of the first 13 Grands Prix and leads George Russell by 66 points after Monza. His combination of victories, consistency and Mercedes&#8217; current pace makes him the clear favorite, although the championship remains mathematically open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How many races are left in the 2026 F1 season?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid is the next round, taking place from September 11-13. The race begins the final phase of the 2026 calendar, with Antonelli entering it as the championship leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why did Mercedes make Antonelli start from 19th at Monza?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mercedes changed multiple power-unit components on Antonelli&#8217;s car, triggering a grid penalty. The team deliberately accepted the penalty at Monza because the circuit&#8217;s long straights and heavy braking zones offered strong opportunities to recover positions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kimi Antonelli produced a champion&#8217;s performance at a packed Monza on Sunday (6), turning a 19th-place start into a historic victory and stretching his 2026 F1 championship lead to 66 points<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020314275,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Antonelli dominates Monza from 19th and takes 66-point F1 championship lead","42wp_featured_image_credits":"Mercedes","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_ai_content_disclaimer":"","42wp_is_ai_content":false,"42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[],"footnotes":"","42wp_hide_from_automatic":false,"42wp_breaking_news":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[19,45,325,294,16],"42wp_author":[4],"class_list":["post-1825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-f1","tag-andrea-kimi-antonelli","tag-f1","tag-f1-2026","tag-italian-gp","tag-mercedes","42wp_author-evelyn-guimaraes"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1825"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1825\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1826,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1825\/revisions\/1826"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020314275"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1825"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=1825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}