Why Antonelli’s Monza win feels like the defining moment of 2026

Kimi Antonelli delivered what felt like a crowning moment on Sunday, winning his home race from 19th on the grid, in one of the great drives of recent years.

Arriving at Monza with a 59-point lead in the championship, but a grid penalty that would see him start at the back, this had to be the chance for his rivals to take a big chunk of points out of him. Instead, as Kimi ate pasta from his winner’s trophy on Sunday night, George Russell will be licking his wounds and realising that this season may well have just got away from him for good.