Antonelli's feat at Monza shows how he's shifting the F1 spotlight from Ferrari in Italy

For so long, Formula 1 in Italy has meant Ferrari.

No longer. Or at least not for now.

Not with Kimi Antonelli dominating the series.

The 20-year-old Mercedes driver’s charge from the back to win his home grand prix sealed Antonelli’s place in the pantheon of Italian sports performances.

Having started 19th, it was the furthest back any driver came from to win in more than four decades.

What’s more is that Antonelli became the first home driver to win the Italian GP in 60 years.

“We’ve seen it with other great ones in the past — Lewis (Hamilton), who did it at some of the races — that’s what he’s shown,” Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said after Sunday's race. “There’s just no stopping when a driver and a car are one. There’s nothing that can stop them.”

In an editorial on Monday, the Gazzetta dello Sport called it “one of the most memorable” feats in F1 history. And it happened on a day to forget for Ferrari.

Hamilton, the seven-time world champion who Antonelli replaced at Mercedes, finished sixth — more than 20 seconds behind Antonelli — and Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc crashed just five minutes in.

Ferrari fans cheered at the end anyhow — for Antonelli. When he body surfed on the crowd that invaded the track for the podium celebration, most of the fans holding him aloft were wearing red Ferrari hats.

“Even the red-clad Ferrari fans have fallen in love with (Antonelli), dedicating the same amount of cheers as they had for Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso and Charles Leclerc when they won the Italian Grand Prix,” the Gazzetta said.

The Gazzetta added that Antonelli joins Alberto Tomba, Marco Pantani, Valentino Rossi and Jannik Sinner among Italy's sports heroes, calling him “just a kid who lives next door” who has become “a superhero.”

Antonelli celebrated in true Italian style — by eating spaghetti from the trophy's bowl.

It was a well-deserved meal.

Antonelli had to perform 26 passes to take the checkered flag in the biggest charge from the back since 1983 when John Watson won at Long Beach from starting 22nd.

The previous Italian winner at Monza was Ludovico Scarfiotti with Ferrari in 1966.

“This is one that I will remember. It’s how the circle closed,” Wolff said, recalling Antonelli’s F1 debut at Monza two years ago, which ended after just 10 minutes when he was involved in a high-speed crash in the first practice.

“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,” Wolff added. “Even if he wins another 200 grands prix, that one will always remain special.”

It took Antonelli fewer than 17 laps to fight his way to the front.

Andrew Shovlin, Mercedes’ trackside engineering director, said Antonelli’s pace enabled a two-stop strategy that may have been decisive.

“He carved past cars we thought he may struggle to pass,” Shovlin said.

It might not be the only time this season that Antonelli celebrates before his home fans.

Antonelli moved 66 points ahead of teammate George Russell in the drivers' standings with 10 races remaining and the season finale could be moved from Abu Dhabi to Imola due to uncertainty over the Middle East security situation.

Imola is just down the road from Antonelli’s hometown of Bologna.

Both of Antonelli’s parents have been involved in motorsport — his father was a driver and a team owner and his mother helped run the family squad.

Wolff signed Antonelli to Mercedes’ junior team in 2018.

Antonelli’s mother, Veronica, said it was “destiny” for their son to become an auto racing champion.

“When I was pregnant with him, where was I when I started to have contractions? At the movies watching ‘Cars’ — a film that Kimi then must have watched 100 times as a kid,” she said. “He surprises even me with his maturity and his ability to learn. He’s still a kid but mentally he’s just so strong.”

Up next for Antonelli: Tthe Spanish GP next weekend.

AP Sports Writer Daniella Matar in Monza contributed to this report.

See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco reacts after the qualifying session ahead of the Italian Formula One Grand Prix, in Monza, Italy, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car during the Italian Formula One Grand Prix race, in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Mercedes driver Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy celebrates after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix race, in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy celebrates on the podium after winning the Italian Formula One Grand Prix race, in Monza, Italy, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Lebanon ’s Health Ministry says Israeli airstrikes on a southern village have killed 12 people, including two children.

Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim to have shot down a Saudi reconnaissance plane. And seven crew members of a Saudi-owned tanker struck last week on the strait appear to remain unaccounted for.

Here’s a look at the latest news in the Middle East. Full coverage can be found here.

Israel carried out airstrikes early Monday on the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Rumman, killing at least 12 people, including a paramedic, four women and two children, the Health Ministry said.

The strikes came during a new round of escalation between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah. Israel's military said it struck several Hezbollah militants it accused of transferring weapons to Kfar Rumman.

The military also said it was reviewing the claim that “several uninvolved civilians were harmed” in overnight strikes across southern Lebanon, which it said were in response to Hezbollah militants launching explosive drones against soldiers in the area of the Ali Taher ridge.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels downed a Saudi armed reconnaissance aircraft on Monday in the northern part of Yemen, Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree said in a statement.

The aircraft was detected in Jawf province’s airspace, according to Saree, who said the aircraft belonged to neighboring Saudi Arabia and was seeking to carry out “hostile actions.”

The Associated Press couldn’t independently verify that claim. There was no immediate Saudi comment.

Saree added that over the past 24 hours, a total of three reconnaissance drones belonging to Saudi Arabia were downed, including one that was spotted Monday morning in Bayda province.

The Yemeni government armed forces said in a post on X that they targeted Houthi gatherings in Dahle province and launched 13 airstrikes targeting Houthi positions and a missile launch base in Bayda province. Other airstrikes targeted Houthi fronts in Marib province. The Houthi military didn’t address those claims.

The U.N. special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, called the Houthis’ expansion of fighting across several front lines “extremely alarming” and warned of its broader impact on Yemenis.

A senior official with the United Arab Emirates says “no single state” should control the Strait of Hormuz, after Iran said it plans to announce a new “exclusion zone” near the waterway aimed at vessels intending to transit.

“Our energy exports will not be held hostage, nor will our trade and economic activity,” Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said at a forum of world leaders in Abu Dhabi.

Gargash said Iran should face consequences for threatening oil tankers and commercial vessels in the strait with mines, drones or missiles. “Using an international waterway as an instrument of coercion is unacceptable,” he added.

The UAE, a close U.S. ally, has repeatedly come under Iranian missile and drone fire throughout the war. Rebuilding trust between Iran and the Gulf countries could take decades, Gargash warned, because by targeting its neighbors, Tehran has “demolished” any presumption of good faith.

Oman said it had evacuated 16 crew members from a Saudi-owned tanker attacked last week in the Strait of Hormuz. The Sidr tanker was attacked by Iran off Oman, and Saudi Arabia earlier said two Filipino seafarers were killed.

Oman’s Maritime Security ​Center said on X that 16 of the 25 crew members were rescued. It didn’t give details on the remaining seven.

If the seven are confirmed dead, that would make the attack the deadliest on a commercial vessel since the war began on Feb. 28.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank community of Hajja mourned the death of Omar al-Toubasi, who was killed in a confrontation with Israeli settlers.

Israel’s military said in a statement that soldiers were sent to Hajja on Sunday to disperse a confrontation and fired toward Palestinians allegedly throwing stones at soldiers after warning shots. “Hits were identified,” the military said.

“The army came and made matters worse,” witness Mohammed al-Batta said, adding that settlers had started the confrontation by beating a local man. He said soldiers “started using tear gas and sound bombs at the residents. Gunfire broke out from the two sides.” He said several others were injured.

Attacks on settlers in the West Bank have surged since the war in Gaza began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the United Nations humanitarian office.

The top diplomat overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, called for the implementation of President Donald Trump’s plan to end the war there, including the withdrawal of Israel’s military and the disarming of Hamas.

He also warned that rising violence in the occupied West Bank could obstruct a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

“Because with everything that is happening in the West Bank — and with more than 50% of Gaza now under the control of the Israeli army and less than 50% under the control of Hamas — there is no credible pathway forward to a political resolution of the conflict,” Mladenov said at the Hili Forum, a gathering of world leaders in the United Arab Emirates.

Kosovo has formalized its commitment to the International Stabilization Force for Gaza, according to the U.S.-created Board of Peace overseeing the fragile ceasefire.

The force would deploy to areas of the Palestinian territory administered by an incoming technocratic committee. While there was no information about the number of troops Kosovo would provide, a Board of Peace official said it is expected to contribute about 25 personnel. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the numbers have not yet been finalized.

The statement says Kosovo security personnel have deployed at ISF headquarters for months, working on logistics, operations to clear unexploded weapons and civil affairs.

Overall committed troops to the force remain far short of the expected 20,000. Uganda, Morocco, Kazakhstan and Albania also have made commitments.

— Matthew Lee in Washington

This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.

Mourners carry the body of Palestinian Omar al-Toubasi who was killed during clashes with Israeli army soldiers last night, during his funeral in the West Bank village Hajja, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Rescue workers search for victims under the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern village of Kfar Rumman, Lebanon, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)

A boy rides a bicycle past gulls gathered along the shore of the Strait of Hormuz in Bandar Abbas, Iran, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

People watch rescue workers use excavators as they search for victims under the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in the southern village of Kfar Rumman, Lebanon, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari)