Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Kimi Antonelli Makes F1 History With 19th-to-First Win
Kimi Antonelli started a Formula One race in 19th place.
He then drove all the way to first place and won.
Winning from that far back is extremely unusual.
His starting position was the joint-second-lowest ever for a race winner.
Antonelli is the first driver in 43 years to win after starting 19th or lower.
John Watson last achieved a win from below 19th place in 1983.
Bill Vukovic had won from 19th in 1954.
That older race counted because the Indianapolis 500 was then part of the world championship.
Kimi Antonelli won a Formula One race after starting from 19th place.
A 19th-place start is the joint-second-lowest position from which a driver has won in the sport’s history.
Antonelli is the first driver in 43 years to win after starting 19th or lower.
John Watson was the only driver to win from below 19th, doing so in 1983.
Bill Vukovic previously won from 19th in 1954, when the Indianapolis 500 counted toward the world championship.
- Who
- Kimi Antonelli won the race; John Watson and Bill Vukovic are cited as earlier drivers to achieve similar feats.
- What
- Antonelli won a Formula One race after starting from 19th place.
- When
- The article does not specify the date of Antonelli’s race; the previous comparable wins cited were in 1983 and 1954.
- Where
- The article does not specify the circuit or country.
- Why
- The victory was historically significant because winning from 19th or lower is exceptionally rare.
- Driver
- Kimi Antonelli
- Starting position
- 19th
- Finishing position
- 1st
- Historical rarity
- Joint-second-lowest starting position from which a driver has won
- Previous comparable win
- John Watson won from below 19th in 1983
- Earlier 19th-place win
- Bill Vukovic won from 19th in 1954
- Championship context
- The 1954 Indianapolis 500 counted toward the world championship