There were 403,666 spectators over the four days of the 2026 Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix, setting a new attendance record for the Autodromo Nazionale Monza (last year’s figure was 369,041). It was an extraordinary result that once again confirmed the enduring appeal and timeless fascination of the Monza event, the oldest Grand Prix still on the Formula 1 calendar.

The 97th edition therefore closed with record-breaking figures and a sporting finale that could hardly have been more exciting: Andrea Kimi Antonelli won the Italian Grand Prix, putting an Italian driver on the top step of the Monza podium for the first time in 60 years, since Ludovico Scarfiotti.

The victory came after an exceptional comeback. The Bologna-born Mercedes-AMG Petronas driver had started from 19th on the grid, turning what appeared to be a compromised race into one of the most impressive achievements in the recent history of the Italian Grand Prix.

The race was red-flagged after just three laps following a violent crash involving Charles Leclerc, who went into the barriers on the outside of the Parabolica in his Ferrari. The red flag brought the race to a halt to allow the track to be made safe and the barriers to be restored.

After the restart, Antonelli began his remarkable comeback, gradually fighting his way back into the leading positions. In the closing stages, the championship leader engaged in an exciting battle with George Russell, finally breaking his teammate’s resistance with three laps remaining. Joining them on the podium was four-time world champion Max Verstappen of Oracle Red Bull.

The young Italian’s triumph turned a weekend that had already made history in terms of attendance into an unforgettable day for Italian sport.

The result also rewarded the work of an immense organisational operation. Around 25,000 people, including ACI, SIAS, suppliers, technicians, operators, security personnel and many other professionals, worked for months — and tirelessly in the final weeks — to prepare and deliver one of Italy’s most important sporting events.

The Italian Grand Prix was attended by President of the Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana; Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Matteo Salvini; Minister for Sport Andrea Abodi; Minister for Public Administration Paolo Zangrillo; Minister for Parliamentary Relations Luca Ciriani; and Minister of Tourism Gianmarco Mazzi.

The Italian national anthem had already echoed around Monza that morning following Nicola Lacorte’s victory in Formula 3, while the Paraguayan Joshua Dürksen..