The 20-year-old Italian staged a remarkable comeback after starting 19th on the grid, crossing the line first after 53 laps.

Antonelli completed the race in 1:51:41.480, finishing 3.857 seconds ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell, whom he overtook with four laps to go. Red Bull’s Dutch driver Max Verstappen finished third, 14.718 seconds behind the winner.

The victory was Antonelli’s seventh of the season and his first Italian Grand Prix triumph in his second season in Formula 1. He also extended his lead in the drivers’ championship to 66 points over Russell, with 267 points to his teammate’s 201.

Antonelli became the first Italian driver to win the Italian Grand Prix on home soil since 1966, when Ludovico Scarfiotti last did so.

“I didn’t expect that. It’s unbelievable,” Antonelli said after the race, having also set the fastest lap.

“I’m extremely happy. I couldn’t have imagined being here today. We managed to secure the win, and I’m so happy.”

The Mercedes driver admitted he had been worried after a failed attempt to overtake Russell late in the race sent him off the track.

“It was very scary at the time, and I thought I had thrown away my chance. Luckily, we still had enough pace and managed to cross the finish line,” he said.