Antonelli joins Schumacher and Verstappen on list of F1's greatest ever comeback victories
Kimi Antonelli from P19 to victory: the compliments are pouring in - Photo: RacePictures
19:00, 07 Sep
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Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
Kimi Antonelli's superb victory from 19th at the Italian Grand Prix means he is now second on the all-time list of drivers who won from the furthest back on the grid.
The championship leader made up 18 places at Monza after he was demoted to the back of the grid because of an engine penalty. It was the furthest back that any driver has won a Grand Prix in 43 years.
Here GPblog takes a look at the list of the drivers who have made up the most places to win a Grand Prix, excluding the Indy 500 which was on the Formula One calendar in the 1950s.
Michael Schumacher - 1995 Belgian Grand Prix
Started 16th, Finished 1st
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A crash on Saturday morning and changeable qualifying conditions left Michael Schumacher down in 16th on the grid at the 1995 Belgian Grand Prix.
The Benetton driver quickly made his way through the field and found himself in a battle for the lead with rival Damon Hill. Schumacher took the lead when Hill pitted for slicks, only for the rain to then come down forcing the Williams driver to pit again.
Schumacher opted to stay on his slicks, but Hill caught him by up to six seconds per lap and he was not happy with his rival's aggressive defending until the German surrendered the lead as he ran off track. The weather conditions again turned in Schumacher's favour and he took the lead once more.
The rain again intensified, but the battle for the lead ended as Hill had to serve a pit-lane speeding penalty, allowing Schumacher to take his sixth victory in his second championship winning season.
Michael Schumacher (pictured with Ferrari) won from 16th while driving for Benetton
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Jackie Stewart - 1973 South African Grand Prix
Started 16th, Finished 1st
Jackie Stewart only qualified 16th in his Tyrrell following a practice crash, but took no time at all to climb to the front of the field.
Just seven laps into the 79 lap race, Stewart took the lead from Jody Scheckter's McLaren and never looked back.
Stewart's progress had been helped by a multi-car accident involving Clay Regazzoni, Jacky Ickx and Mike Hailwood, but it was always going to be a comfortable drive for the legendary Scottish driver, who won by 24 seconds ahead of Peter Revson.
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Max Verstappen - 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Started 17th, Finished 1st
In a dramatic qualifying session which saw five red flags, Max Verstappen was knocked out in Q2 in 12th, and would serve a five-place penalty for using a sixth internal combustion engine.
Verstappen took no time to get through the field and was up to sixth by Lap 12. He was then given a cheap pit stop during a red flag period which allowed him to jump Lando Norris and George Russell and move up to second.
The Dutchman passed race leader Esteban Ocon after a safety car brought out by a Carlos Sainz crash and went on to open up a big lead, setting the fastest lap 17 times and winning the race by 19 seconds ahead of the Alpine duo of Ocon and Pierre Gasly.
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Photo: Race Pictures
Kimi Raikkonen - 2005 Japanese Grand Prix
Started 17th, Finished 1st
Rain during the one-lap qualifying session left Kimi Raikkonen only 17th on the grid at Suzuka in what would turn out to be one of the best races of all time.
The McLaren driver and Fernando Alonso, who qualified 16th, both charged through the field pulling off spectacular moves on the likes of Michael Schumacher and Mark Webber.
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Raikkonen hunted down Alonso's Renault teammate Giancarlo Fisichella during the closing stages. The Italian went overdefensive into the final chicane of the penultimate lap, before Raikkonen produced a spectacular move around the outside of him into Turn 1, in one of the best performances you will see by any driver in F1 history.
John Watson - 1982 Detroit Grand Prix
Started 17th, Finished 1st
John Watson stormed through the field at the 1982 Detroit Grand Prix to win from 17th place. By Lap 25, the Northern Irishman was up to seventh place.
He got past the Alfa Romeo of Bruno Giacomelli despite the Italian nearly taking Watson out of the race in a collision. Watson then passed teammate Niki Lauda, Eddie Cheever and Didier Pironi in the space of one lap.
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This promoted Watson to second after Alain Prost had also come into the pits. He did require some luck however, as Keke Rosberg dropped back from the lead due to gearbox and fuel feed issues, handing Watson the victory.
Rubens Barrichello - 2000 German Grand Prix
Started 18th, Finished 1st
Electrical problems ruined qualifying for Rubens Barrichello and left the Ferrari driver down in 18th at Hockenheim.
He surged through the field during a chaotic race featuring collisions, two Safety Car periods, a track intruder and late rain.
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A McLaren 1-2 looked safe until the safety car was brought out by an intruder on the track. David Coulthard dropped down the order after McLaren opted not to stack their two drivers together. Barrichello then took second after Jarno Trulli's Jordan was given a stop-go penalty for passing the Brazilian under a yellow flag.
Hakkinen pitted from the lead for wets after a late rain shower. However, some parts of the track were still dry, and Barrichello was rewarded with victory after deciding to brave out the wet parts of the Hockenheim circuit.
Kimi Antonelli - 2026 Italian Grand Prix
Started 19th, Finished 1st
Antonelli is now second in the all-time list of drivers to have won from furthest back on the grid after winning from 19th in Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.
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The Italian was up to the lead by Lap 18 and a battle ensued between the championship leader, his teammate George Russell and Max Verstappen.
He pitted for fresh tyres under a VSC and worked his way back to the lead from seventh place, overtaking Russell with just two laps left to stamp his authority on the championship battle - now leading by 66 points.
John Watson - 1983 USA West Grand Prix
Started 22nd, Finished 1st
In a record that will take some beating, Watson won the 1983 USA West Grand Prix after starting down in 22nd, just one season after he won the Detroit GP from 17th. It finished as a McLaren 1-2, with Niki Lauda finishing behind his teammate after also qualifying down in 23rd.
The two McLarens were lying in third and fourth positions by Lap 28, with only Jacques Lafitte in the Williams and Riccardo Patrese's Brabham ahead.
Patrese slid wide after failing to pass Lafitte which allowed the two McLarens onto the podium positions. Lafitte, struggling with his tyres then surrendered the lead to Watson and second to Lauda just moments later.
Lauda, suffering from cramp in his leg, could not challenge Watson for the win, and the Northern Irishman went on to beat his teammate by 28 seconds.
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Overview
Friday 11.09.26
Practice 1
11:30 AM
Practice 2
03:00 PM
Saturday 12.09.26
Practice 3
10:30 AM
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02:00 PM
Sunday 13.09.26
Race
01:00 PM
Friday 11.09.26
Practice 1
Fri 11:30 AM
Practice 2
Fri 03:00 PM
Saturday 12.09.26
Practice 3
Sat 10:30 AM
Qualification
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Sunday 13.09.26
Race
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Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 267 | |
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3 | FerrariFER | 191 | |
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