Kimi Antonelli’s historic Italian Grand Prix victory produced one of the defining images of the 2026 Monza weekend: Ferrari’s home crowd applauding an Italian winner even as the Scuderia endured a deeply disappointing Sunday. Former Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene was particularly impressed by the reaction of the tifosi, praising their ability to celebrate Antonelli despite the painful outcome for Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc.
More than 400,000 spectators attended the 2026 Italian Grand Prix across the Monza weekend, creating an extraordinary atmosphere at the Temple of Speed. The occasion ultimately became more a celebration of the Italian tricolour than Ferrari red, with Andrea Kimi Antonelli taking victory in front of his home fans.
Kimi Antonelli ends Italy’s 60-year wait for a home Grand Prix winner
No Italian driver had won the Italian Grand Prix since 1966, making Antonelli’s success a landmark moment 60 years later. The Mercedes driver also strengthened his position at the top of the championship, moving 66 points clear of George Russell and putting himself in an increasingly commanding position in the title race.
The enthusiasm surrounding Antonelli was particularly striking given the traditionally overwhelming support Ferrari receives at Monza. Even before the weekend, questions had been raised over how the Italian tifosi would divide their support at Monza between their national hero and the drivers representing the Scuderia.
On Sunday, however, the home crowd was willing to recognise Antonelli’s achievement despite Ferrari’s own disappointment.
Ferrari suffers a painful home Grand Prix despite ADUO-2
Ferrari provided the major negative note of the Italian Grand Prix. The SF-26 was comprehensively exposed by the power of rival power units despite the introduction of the ADUO-2 specification, while the internal battle between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc added another complication to an already difficult afternoon.
The Ferrari ADUO-2 development brought to Monza had been intended to improve the power-unit package, but the Scuderia was still unable to match its main rivals in the areas where outright power mattered most.
Against that backdrop, the applause directed towards Antonelli became even more significant. Ferrari supporters had every reason to leave Monza frustrated by their own team’s performance, yet they still celebrated the achievement of an Italian driver racing for Mercedes.
Maurizio Arrivabene praises the maturity of Ferrari fans
Speaking during Race Anatomy, former Ferrari team principal Maurizio Arrivabene highlighted the warmth shown by the Monza crowd towards Antonelli and gave both the supporters and the spectacle the highest possible marks.
“The crowd and the show deserve top marks with honours,” Arrivabene said. “Antonelli fully deserves the sportsmanship shown by the Ferrari fans, who are Italian, of course, but also always very close to the spectacle. Formula 1 fans are mature and are able to celebrate great champions, and Kimi is one.”
For Arrivabene, the response underlined the maturity of the Formula 1 audience. Ferrari remains at the centre of Italian passion for the sport, particularly at Monza, but Antonelli’s performance was strong enough to transcend traditional team loyalties on a historic afternoon for Italian motorsport.
The result therefore left Monza with two contrasting stories. Ferrari departed its home race hurt by its lack of performance and tensions between Hamilton and Leclerc, while Antonelli delivered the first Italian victory at the country’s Grand Prix in six decades and received recognition even from the tifosi traditionally devoted to the Prancing Horse.
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