The biggest recovery drives to win in F1

Kimi Antonelli recently etched his name into Formula 1 history with a stunning comeback victory at the Italian Grand Prix, starting from 19th on the grid. His performance at Monza, bolstered by a strategic power unit penalty and an exceptional drive through the field, serves as a reminder of the sport's greatest charge-through-the-pack victories. Historically, legends like Michael Schumacher, who won from 16th at Spa in 1995, and Kimi Raikkonen, who triumphed from 17th at Suzuka in 2005, have defied grid position to claim glory. More recently, Max Verstappen’s masterclass in Sao Paulo saw him climb from 17th to win by nearly 20 seconds, effectively securing his championship advantage. Other notable feats include John Watson’s tactical brilliance in Detroit (1982) and Long Beach (1983), where he won from 17th and 22nd respectively. Rubens Barrichello’s maiden win at the 2000 German Grand Prix from 18th and Bill Vukovich’s 19th-place start at the 1954 Indianapolis 500 further highlight the unpredictability and thrill of starting deep in the field.