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Antonelli delivered one of the most sensational triumphs in the long history of the Italian GP by becoming the first home winner in 60 years after starting 19th on the grid.
Girogia Meloni’s tweet for Kimi Antonelli after 20-year-old creates history in Italian GP goes viral. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took to X on Sunday (September 6) to congratulate Kimi Antonelli after he became the first Italian in 60 years to win the Italian Grand Prix.
Antonelli delivered one of the most sensational triumphs in the long history of the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday by becoming the first home winner in 60 years after starting 19th on the grid.
The 20-year-old Mercedes driver, who hails from Emilia-Romagna, claimed his seventh win of the season to extend his lead in the drivers’ championship as he seeks to become Italy’s first world champion since Ferrari’s Alberto Ascari in 1953.
He is the first Italian driver to win the Italian GP since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966.
Meloni lauded Antonelli’s achievement, describing the 20-year-old as an “extraordinary young talent.”
“Sixty years later, an Italian returns to win the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Congratulations to Kimi Antonelli, an extraordinary young talent who signs a historic result” (Sixty years later, an Italian returns to win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. Congratulations to Kimi Antonelli, an extraordinary young talent who has achieved a historic result)Meloni tweeted.
In a thrilling, helter-skelter race featuring wild, yo-yo overtaking moves, Antonelli finished 3.857 seconds ahead of his teammate and title rival George Russell, who is now 66 points adrift in the championship.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull.
For the passionate Italian crowd, Antonelli’s victory was some consolation after Ferrari endured a disappointing home race, with Charles Leclerc crashing out on the second lap and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton finishing sixth behind the McLaren pair of reigning world champion Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
Antonelli started at the back of the grid after receiving penalties for power-unit changes but showed searing pace throughout the race as he carved his way through the field. He also benefited from an early red-flag stoppage before eventually outracing Russell to claim victory.
“Unbelievable!” said an emotional Antonelli after win.
“I’m so happy. I could never have imagined being here today, but we pulled it off.”
“After the second restart, I knew I was up there and could have had a shot at the win.”
“I believed in it, especially when I was behind George, but it was really difficult to break away with the tow being so strong,” he added.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Kimi Antonelli is a 20-year-old Mercedes driver from Emilia-Romagna who became the first Italian in 60 years to win the Italian Grand Prix on September 6, 2026. He started 19th on the grid and secured his seventh win of the season, extending his lead in the drivers’ championship.
Ask News18About the Author
Harshit Bisht is a sports journalist at CNN-News18, where he has been covering cricket, football, and major sporting events from around the world since July 1, 2024. Driven by a passion for storytelli…Read More
September 07, 2026, 06:33 IST
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