Kimi Antonelli’s victory in the Italian Grand Prix was the first time a driver had won from 19th on the grid since the 1954 Indianapolis 500 – some 1,128 world championship races ago.

But remarkably, Antonelli and Bill Vukovich have been one-upped by one driver who won from 22nd on the grid. 

That was John Watson in the 1983 United States West GP at Long Beach as he stormed from 22nd on the 23-car grid to enter the record books and assume a record, which, having stood for 44 years and 787 grands prix, is likely to stand the test of time. 

Reflecting on Antonelli’s incredible drive, his seventh win of the season, and one which opened up a 66-point lead in the drivers’ championship over George Russell, Watson has evaluated the Italian’s achievement – and labelled him as a “fundamentally racer” who possesses a “unique” ability.

“There are some drivers who are what I would call fundamentally racers, and the people mentioned [above] were people that I would describe as racers,” Watson told Motor Sport.

“There are many fine racing drivers who have won grands prix and have been world champions, who have not, in my view, been what I would describe as an out-and-out racer.”

“It’s having this ability to make judgments when you’re catching a car. You must catch it in the right part of the racetrack to enable you to continue that progress, not to find yourself being bogged down and then losing your momentum.

“It comes down to a variety of qualities in the personality of the person and their ability behind the wheel to make those assessments and judgments. Execution is key ultimately, and you’ve got to be decisive.

“What he is doing presently is remarkable. George Russell, I’ve got a great respect for. I think he’s a bloody quick guy, and Kimi’s really overshadowing him, totally.

“Everybody felt it was George’s race to lose, and as it turns out, he did, and it was to his own team-mate.

“Antonelli has got something which is currently, I would say, unique amongst the entire Formula 1 field: a kid who’s just turned 20 with that maturity, along with that ability.

“It was a stellar drive, a world champion’s drive, and something that I think that he will be satisfied with, and quite rightly so as well.”