Did Russell or Verstappen overtake Antonelli at the Italian Grand Prix?

The report places Antonelli in the lead, but it does not say whether either driver passed him. The race result is not known.

What is still unknown about the Italian Grand Prix lead battle?

It is unknown whether the order changed before the finish, how many laps remained when Antonelli led, and whether any incidents affected the fight.

F1

Antonelli leads Italian GP battle from Russell and Verstappen

The Italian Grand Prix is reported to have produced a tight fight at the front, with Kimi Antonelli ahead of George Russell and Max Verstappen.

By Sportsback1h ago

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Kimi Antonelli is reported to have led the Italian Grand Prix from George Russell and Max Verstappen in a lead battle described as thrilling. A report on the race, published on 6 September, placed Antonelli ahead of both drivers at the front of the field. The report gave no result, so it is not known how the race ended.

Max Verstappen, Netherlands — Max VerstappenRed Bull · NetherlandsDriver

What the report says

The report leaves several details unclear. It does not say when in the race Antonelli held the lead, how far ahead he was, or how close Russell and Verstappen had been before the report was written. What it does suggest is that the fight at the front involved all three drivers and was the focus of the grand prix. A battle of that kind is usually the part of a race that decides the eventual winner.

Why the lead matters

2025 Japan GP - Mercedes - Kimi Antonelli - FP2

Leading a grand prix puts a driver in control of the afternoon, though it is no guarantee of victory. Track position allows the leader to set the pace and take the shortest line through the lap, while those behind have to find a way past. Pit stops, safety cars and late moves can still turn the order. The thriller described in the report could have resolved in any direction, and only the finish would settle it.

Whether the Italian Grand Prix is remembered as Antonelli's day will depend entirely on the final lap. Being in front at any point places him in the conversation for victory; finishing in front is what turns the reported lead into a lasting result.

What happens next

Andrea Kimi Antonelli 2025 Italian Grand Prix FP3

Attention now turns to the official race classification. That will show whether Antonelli's reported lead ended in victory, whether Russell or Verstappen overtook him, or whether the order at the front changed more than once. Until the classification is published, the known story is the battle itself rather than its outcome.

What is not yet known

It is not known when the lead changed hands, if it did, or how the race ended. The report does not say how many laps remained when Antonelli led, and it does not identify any incidents, pit stops or strategic decisions that shaped the fight. Those details will be part of the full race story once it is available.

Frequently asked questions

Who has been reported to lead the Italian Grand Prix?: Kimi Antonelli has been reported to lead the Italian Grand Prix from George Russell and Max Verstappen in a battle described as thrilling.
Did Russell or Verstappen overtake Antonelli at the Italian Grand Prix?: The report places Antonelli in the lead, but it does not say whether either driver passed him. The race result is not known.
What is still unknown about the Italian Grand Prix lead battle?: It is unknown whether the order changed before the finish, how many laps remained when Antonelli led, and whether any incidents affected the fight.