Driver Kimi Antonelli is preparing for the Italian Grand Prix on September 5th and 6th, 2026, with the hope of ending a long period without victories for local competitors in the race. The host country has been waiting for six decades to see an Italian on the highest podium at home, a milestone that has become a challenge in national motorsport.
Italy played a prominent role in the early years of Formula 1, with three of the first four championships won by Italian drivers: Giuseppe Farina in 1950 and Alberto Ascari in 1952 and 1953.
Farina and Ascari also celebrated victories on their own circuits: Farina in 1950, and Ascari in 1951 and 1952. However, this period of success for the Italian drivers diminished soon afterwards.
The last and only victory for an Italian driver in the Italian GP after 1952, which will turn 60 on September 4, came from a lesser-known name in the history of Formula 1: Ludovico Scarfiotti. His career in the category helps to understand why.
Scarfiotti had a memorable year in 1963, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which earned him a contract with Ferrari in F1. However, he only participated in one grand prix that season. In 1964, he competed in the Italian GP, but without great success, finishing in ninth place.
In 1966, Scarfiotti made another sporadic appearance in Germany before competing in the iconic race at the Autodromo Nacional de Monza. To the surprise of many, the driver secured second position on the starting grid.
In a race marked by several retirements, Scarfiotti remained in contention for the lead, taking the lead on the 13th lap and maintaining it until the end. Thus, he achieved the only triumph of his Formula 1 career, guaranteeing a double for Ferrari.
Furthermore, this was the only time that Scarfiotti reached the podium in Formula 1. His time in the category ended in 1968, when he died at the age of 34 in an accident with a Porsche 910 during a mountain race in the German Alps. He participated in just ten F1 races.
After Scarfiotti’s unexpected victory, other Italian drivers competed in the category and achieved race victories. Names like Riccardo Patrese, Michele Alboreto, Giancarlo Fisichella and Elio de Angelis have won more than once. However, none of them managed to win the Italian Grand Prix and break their fast.
It is important to note that Elio de Angelis and Riccardo Patrese won at the Imola circuit. However, the race at the Autódromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari was only officially called the Italian GP in 1980, when Nelson Piquet won; most of the time it was known as the San Marino GP.
Kimi Antonelli’s challenge: driver will face recovery race
For Italy, the rise of Kimi Antonelli offers a rare opportunity to end a six-decade drought. Last year, the Bologna driver participated in the race in Monza as a rookie, driving a less competitive car and going through a difficult phase, finishing in ninth place.
A year later, Antonelli arrived at Monza in a completely different situation. The Italian reached the podium in ten of the 12 races this season, won six victories — five of them in a row — and leads the championship, with a 59-point advantage over George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Despite the good moment, Antonelli is not the favorite to win the Italian GP. Mercedes confirmed the young driver’s engine change at Monza for strategic reasons, which will result in punishment.
Each car has a limit of engine changes per season before penalties are applied. The reliability failures faced by Mercedes at the start of the championship meant that Antonelli reached this limit quickly. Consequently, the new change in Italy will result in a penalty of at least ten positions on the grid for the driver.
Starting further back, Antonelli will need to make a recovery run if he wants to win and finally break the Italian fast. However, Mercedes’ choice to apply the penalty in Monza is directly related to the possibility of reversing the situation.
As the Monza Autodrome has many straights and overtaking points, the team believes that the difficulty for Antonelli to get a recovery race will be less, in theory. The pilot himself agrees with the team’s analysis.
– Obviously, coming to Monza we have a penalty because of the engine, but I still think it is the best track to suffer (the penalty). Of course, it’s my home race and stuff, but it’s the best race to do that. I think I will still have a chance to achieve a great result and get good points – said the driver.
Antonelli, who entered Formula 1 replacing Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, will have the challenge of overcoming other competitors, including the Brit himself driving for Ferrari, the great passion of Italian motorsport. Sunday in Monza promises strong emotions for fans.
Last Italian drivers to race the Italian GP
- Kimi Antonelli: 1 race, in 2025, best position 9th
- Antonio Giovinazzi: 3 races, from 2019 to 2021, best position 9th
- Vitantonio Liuzzi: 5 races, from 2006 to 2011, best position 12th
- Giorgio Pantano: 1 race, in 2004, did not finish
- Gianmaria Bruni: 1 race, in 2004, did not finish
- Jarno Trulli: 15 races, from 1997 to 2011, best position 4th
- Giancarlo Fisichella: 13 races, from 1997 to 2009, best position 3rd
- Giovanni Lavagi: 2 races, from 1995 to 1996, did not finish
- Max Papis: 1 race, in 1995, best position 7th
- Andrea Montermini: 1 race, in 1995, did not finish
