Antonelli's Monza masterclass overshadowed by Hamilton-Leclerc clash

Kimi Antonelli delivered one of the great Monza victories on Sunday, charging from 19th on the grid to win the Italian Grand Prix despite an engine penalty. The Mercedes driver's seventh win of 2026 extended his championship lead over teammate George Russell to 66 points, with Max Verstappen completing the podium.

Why it matters:

With 10 races remaining, Antonelli's commanding lead has put Mercedes firmly in control of both championships. But the headlines from Monza were dominated by the first-lap collision between Ferrari teammates Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc — an incident that exposed growing tension within the Scuderia and divided opinion among F1's leading pundits.

The details:

• Antonelli overcame a grid penalty to win from 19th, with Russell second and Verstappen third.
• Pierre Gasly's surprise pole position was another major talking point, though the Alpine driver couldn't convert it into a podium finish.
• The clash: Hamilton and Leclerc made contact approaching the first chicane, triggering a fierce debate over who was at fault.
  • Nico Rosberg insisted Leclerc was "100 per cent" to blame, while conceding Hamilton's aggression "would have annoyed Charles massively."
  • Martin Brundle disagreed with the 2016 world champion's assessment in the Sky F1 commentary box.
• FIA action: Franco Colapinto and Sergio Perez both received reprimands for failing to follow race director's instructions at the pit exit.
  • Perez's reprimand is his third of 2026 — five driving-related reprimands trigger an automatic 10-place grid penalty.

By the numbers:

• 351kph: The top speed recorded at Monza, down from 365kph under the 2025 regulations.
• 5th: Monza's ranking for fastest top speed in 2026, behind Barcelona's 360kph — a sign of how the new rules have tamed the Temple of Speed.

What's next:

The championship picture is becoming clearer with each passing race, but the Hamilton-Leclerc dynamic at Ferrari is now a storyline to watch closely. With the Scuderia's title hopes fading, how the two teammates manage their relationship could define the remainder of their season.