Coulthard hails Antonelli a 'phenomenon' after 19th-to-first Italian GP masterclass

David Coulthard has placed Kimi Antonelli’s Italian Grand Prix victory among the finest drives in Formula 1 history, calling the 20-year-old a “phenomenon” after he charged from 19th on the grid to take the win at Monza. The result was Antonelli’s seventh career grand prix victory and made him the first Italian driver to win the Italian Grand Prix in 60 years.

Speaking on the Up To Speed podcast, Coulthard was careful to frame his praise without overstating Antonelli’s place in the sport’s pantheon — but left little doubt about the magnitude of what he witnessed.

“This is up there with the greats,” Coulthard said. “I don’t want to be seen to be elevating a 20-year-old with only seven victories to his name into the echelons of Hamilton, Verstappen, Senna, Schumacher — all of the multiple world champions over the history of time.”

Coulthard argued that the same drive, performed by one of the sport’s established legends, would have been treated as entirely expected. The fact that Antonelli delivered it at this stage of his career is what made it remarkable.

“If that was a Schumacher, if that was a Max, if that was a Senna, you would have gone, ‘Yeah, of course we’re seeing this because that’s what we’re used to seeing for them,’” Coulthard said. “There has to be a first time for everything, which is why he is something like a phenomenon. That’s the high-water line for Kimi right now. That’s the best grand prix he’s ever driven. It’s the best victory he’s ever had. And that tells us now what he’s capable of. We knew he was a winner. We now know he’s a racer and a winner.”

The victory at Monza came in front of Antonelli’s home crowd, adding further weight to a performance that already carried historic significance. Sebastian Vettel was present at the circuit, emotionally driving Michael Schumacher’s former championship-winning car — a backdrop that only heightened the occasion.

Antonelli’s win has strengthened his grip on the drivers’ championship. He now leads teammate George Russell by 66 points, with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton third, a further 10 points back at 76 adrift of the Mercedes youngster.