Just as Pierre Gasly delivered AlphaTauri a shock victory at Monza six years ago, 6 September 2026 became another historic date at the Temple of Speed. Home favorite Kimi Antonelli ignited the Italian tifosi with a stunning comeback drive, turning a weekend that began with tears after Charles Leclerc’s heavy Parabolica crash into pure euphoria.
From 19th on the Grid to Victory Lane
Antonelli’s triumph appeared impossible on paper. A power-unit change relegated him to 19th on the starting grid, a strategic move designed to remove pressure rather than chase glory. Yet the championship leader had already carved his way up to 12th by the time a red flag neutralized the race. After the restart, he sliced through the field with surgical precision, producing what he later described as the best Formula 1 victory of his young career.
Wolff’s Premonition: “He’s Going to Walk on Water Here”
Fernando Alonso’s podium prediction for Antonelli seemed optimistic, but Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff sensed something extraordinary brewing. He revealed the conviction he felt even before lights out:
“I thought one of our two drivers was going to win. Either George, because he was on pole [Russell started second behind Gasly in the race], or Kimi, because he’s going to walk on water here in Monza. And I felt that yesterday also.”
Wolff explained that the feeling crystallized after qualifying, rooted in the driver’s demeanor and a conversation with Antonelli’s father:
“It’s been a while that I’ve seen driver’s energy levels, attitude, mindset, or behavioural patterns, and I knew that that was his mission today, to win the race.
“I chatted with his father yesterday and the father also saw that coming.
“These are those moments where you can see how a weekend is panning out through the sessions, feeling that a special moment could come. But it’s still a mechanical sport, so it can change quickly.”
A Victory for the History Books
Only John Watson’s 1983 Long Beach win from 22nd on the grid surpasses Antonelli’s climb from 19th. Asked where this ranks among his most memorable F1 victories, Wolff answered with characteristic pragmatism:
“This sounds very unromantic now, but I forget about wins,” he said. “There’s a few that I remember. Maybe my first one, but it isn’t as glamorous as you would like. It’s Pastor Maldonado in Barcelona. Or Nico Rosberg with Mercedes-Benz, the first one in Monaco. And Lewis Hamilton winning in Singapore.
“So there’s a few of these big ones. And certainly this is one that I will remember.”
Full Circle: From FP1 Crash to “Biggest Glory”
Beyond the on-track heroics, Wolff highlighted the profound narrative arc. Two years earlier, Antonelli endured a heavy crash during his Formula 1 practice debut at Monza in FP1 — a moment Wolff called “probably the toughest moment in his career for himself and his family.”
“It’s how the circle closed,” he said. “Two years ago in FP1, it was probably the toughest moment in his career for himself and his family. A moment where everyone doubted, including himself.
“And then two years later, it’s the biggest glory, the biggest moment of his career that’s probably going to be one of his biggest moments overall in the future.
“Even if he wins another 200 grand prix, that one will always remain special. And I think that’s the perspective under which I want to see it.”
Antonelli’s Monza masterclass stands as a testament to resilience, timing, and the unique magic of the Italian Grand Prix — a victory that transcends statistics and etches itself into Formula 1 folklore.
