Kimi Antonelli comes from 19th on the grid to win sensational home Italian Grand Prix - ESPN

Kimi Antonelli dealt a seismic blow to George Russell's hopes of taking the world championship by passing his Mercedes teammate with just three laps remaining to win the Italian Grand Prix after he started 19th on the grid.

Home favorite Antonelli, who was way down the order after a grid penalty, took advantage of a favorable strategy, an explosive new engine and a demonstration of passing excellence, to become the first Italian in 60 years to win in Monza.

Antonelli looked as though he may have blown his chances of a stunning comeback win when he ran through the gravel at the Variante del Rettifilo as he looked to wrest the lead from Russell on the 49th lap of 53.

«What the f--- happened there,» said Antonelli, who dropped 1.7 seconds behind Russell.

But on superior tires, Antonelli was soon back on Russell's gearbox and made no mistake on the following lap when he breezed past his wounded teammate — who had started the race 17 places ahead of Antonelli — heading into the Variante Ascari.

Antonelli crossed the line 3.8 seconds clear of Russell to extend his lead in the drivers' standings from 59 points to 66 after becoming the first Italian driver to win at Monza's Temple of Speed since Ferrari's Ludovico Scarfiotti did it in 1966.

Max Verstappen finished third, one place ahead of world champion Lando Norris. Oscar Piastri took fifth with Lewis Hamilton only sixth on a poor day for Ferrari after Charles Leclerc crashed out at 160 mph on the second lap.