MONZA, Italy — Kimi Antonelli’s remarkable victory at the Italian Grand Prix may have delivered one of the defining moments of the 2026 Formula 1 season — and even his closest rival and Mercedes teammate, George Russell, now admits the championship is firmly in the young Italian’s hands.
Antonelli produced a stunning comeback at his home race in Monza, charging from 19th on the grid to victory and extending his lead in the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship to 66 points after 13 rounds.
The 20-year-old’s seventh victory of the season left Russell facing an increasingly difficult task over the remaining races.
“Definitely Kimi’s in control of it and he’s deserving to be in control of it,” Russell said after finishing second.
Russell also made it clear that, for now, he is not obsessing over a dramatic championship comeback.
Instead, the British driver said his focus is on maximizing every remaining weekend and winning as many races as possible.
A Historic Home Victory for Antonelli
Antonelli’s triumph at Monza was about far more than another 25 championship points.
The Mercedes driver became the first Italian to win the Italian Grand Prix at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966, ending a 60-year wait for Italian fans at Formula 1’s famous Temple of Speed.
The victory was also one of the greatest recovery drives in recent Formula 1 history.
Starting 19th after a power-unit-related grid penalty, Antonelli rapidly moved through the field and eventually fought his way into contention with Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
Russell had led much of the race, but Mercedes’ split strategies changed the complexion of the closing stages.
Antonelli benefited from stopping during a Virtual Safety Car period, allowing him to gain fresh tyres before hunting down his teammate in the final laps. Russell later admitted he had been surprised when Antonelli and Verstappen chose to pit while he stayed out.
Antonelli ultimately completed the comeback to take victory, while Russell finished second and Verstappen claimed third.
Russell Admits the Championship Gap Is Becoming a Major Problem
Russell’s post-race comments revealed just how significant Antonelli’s Monza victory could become in the title battle.
With Antonelli now holding a 66-point advantage, Russell acknowledged that closing such a gap will be extremely difficult.
The Mercedes teammates had previously been engaged in a close and highly competitive championship fight. Earlier in the season, Mercedes publicly described their relationship as a “healthy rivalry,” with the team allowing both drivers to race while maintaining the principle that the team comes first.
But Antonelli’s consistency and seven wins from the opening 13 rounds have transformed the championship picture.
Russell praised his teammate’s performances and accepted that Antonelli’s position at the top of the standings has been earned.
Antonelli Refuses to Celebrate the Championship Too Early
Despite building a commanding lead, Antonelli is refusing to declare the championship battle over.
The Italian said the 2026 season has already demonstrated how quickly fortunes can change in Formula 1 and insisted he will continue approaching the campaign one race at a time.
That caution may be understandable.
Earlier in the season, Antonelli himself experienced reliability problems and setbacks, while Russell and other rivals have also shown race-winning pace. The championship has already seen momentum swings, mechanical problems and strategic battles that have reshaped the standings.
However, Monza may represent a turning point.
Winning seven races in 13 rounds is one thing.
Winning your home Grand Prix from 19th on the grid — while extending your championship lead to 66 points — is something else entirely.
Monza Delivers a Dream Moment for Italy
For Antonelli, victory in front of the Italian fans made the moment even more emotional.
He described the Monza podium and the atmosphere created by the home crowd as among the most special experiences of his season.
The significance was not lost on Formula 1 observers either.
Antonelli became the first Italian to win at Monza since 1966 and the first Italian driver to lead the world championship at the circuit since Alberto Ascari secured his second title in 1953. Only John Watson’s victory from 22nd on the grid at the 1983 U.S. Grand Prix West came from a lower starting position than Antonelli’s among the statistics highlighted after the race.
Is the F1 Title Race Already Slipping Away?
Russell may not have officially surrendered the championship.
There are still races remaining, and Formula 1 has repeatedly proven that a single retirement, mechanical failure or disastrous weekend can dramatically alter a title battle.
But the psychology of the championship may now be changing.
Antonelli is no longer simply the young Mercedes driver enjoying a breakthrough season.
He is now the driver everyone else is chasing.
Russell has acknowledged that reality. Antonelli is embracing a race-by-race approach. And Mercedes suddenly finds itself with a young Italian star delivering historic victories while building a substantial championship advantage.
The biggest question now is no longer whether Antonelli can lead the championship.
The question is whether anyone can stop him before the 2026 Formula 1 season reaches its finish line.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.S
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