International media rave about Antonelli's Verstappen-esque win: 'As if it were a video game'

Unsurprisingly, the 20-year-old Antonelli is at the heart of the coverage following the Italian Grand Prix, having driven from P19 to victory and becoming the first Italian in 60 years to win at Monza. “Kimi, you’re already a legend,” reads the headline in Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport on the Monday after the race. “He had to start so far back due to a grid penalty for a complete power unit change. In the end he crossed the line first and claimed his finest victory, his seventh of the season,” the paper continues.

“It was a veteran’s race, driven by a boy of just twenty. Antonelli started at the back, but was already up to twelfth after just one lap. He swiftly dealt with rivals who didn’t belong in his fight for the win, gaining seven places in no time,” says La Gazzetta. The outlet notes that Antonelli is “too superstitious” to say he can fight for the championship already, but everyone around him is clearly thinking about the biggest trophy of the year.

“The result hurts most of all for his teammate Russell. He started second and finished second as well, ultimately the victim of Antonelli’s perfect comeback,” writes La Gazzetta. The Italian paper also spares a word for Verstappen: “Max goes beyond the limits of Red Bull. It was a race that will be talked about for a long time, and is already iconic”—not just because of the victory, but also thanks to the events from the moment the lights went out.

Spain’s AS arguably explains most clearly why Verstappen’s third place is a key part of this “iconic” race: Mercedes, the paper writes, was simply in a different league. “The mechanical superiority of the Silver Arrows was indisputable in the Temple of Speed,” is the verdict. Regarding Antonelli’s pace, they even write that he “in barely six laps mowed down almost the entire field, powered by a steroid-fueled engine.” That’s why Verstappen earns extra credit for being able to fight the Mercedes cars for so long.

The four-time world champion even briefly led in Monza. “Thus began a three-way duel between Russell, Verstappen and Antonelli. Max held out as long as he could, and it’s an achievement in itself that he even stayed in the frame.” Ultimately, even Verstappen could do nothing against Mercedes. “As the Mercedes drivers ramped up the pace, the gap became ever more unbridgeable,” AS notes.

Antonelli then completed his impressive charge. AS saw how easily the championship leader sliced through the field. “The Italian passed everyone he encountered and caught his teammate with four laps to go. His first serious attempt ended in the gravel. But he was so much faster that he needed only one lap to latch on again. The future world champion now also has a win that looks like it came straight out of a video game.”

At Germany’s BILD, it’s also clear how Verstappen was seen during the race as the main threat to Mercedes. Russell and Antonelli fought each other at the front for several laps until the team intervened over the radio. “Cut it out and build a gap to Verstappen!” came the clear instruction from Mercedes. After that, the duel between the two Silver Arrows resumed anyway. With four laps to go, Antonelli attacked his teammate, after which Russell pushed the Italian into the gravel. “What on earth just happened?!” Antonelli raged over the radio.

A lap later, the move finally stuck. BILD then underscores how special that achievement was: “Insane: Antonelli had started from nineteenth!” The paper also points to the remarkable reaction from the stands. “And he receives applause from the red-clad fans in the grandstands. The last Italian to win at Monza was Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966. The difference: Scarfiotti won in a Ferrari, Antonelli now in a Mercedes…”

Finally, Verstappen and Antonelli are also receiving praise from France. Although the country naturally dreamed of a win for Pierre Gasly and Alpine, they have kind words for both drivers, who are also good friends. “The Dutchman claimed his fourth podium in five years at the Temple of Speed, where he got the maximum out of a Red Bull that was expected beforehand to take a step back,” writes Le Figaro.

They also noted that Verstappen was able to latch on to the Mercedes pair at the start of the race. “Verstappen briefly led and then stayed close to the Mercedes drivers. Ultimately, the four-time world champion focused primarily on his own race and carefully defended his third place against the McLarens. A successful race with the means at his disposal, because the Mercedes cars were untouchable.”

Le Figaro then offers Antonelli a very deep bow: “Another victory with the authority of a leader for someone who certainly doesn’t drive like his age, and who tops the world championship. A mad, methodical, metronomic charge through the field.”