On this day, Formula One’s stage at Monza has seen comebacks of every kind — from redemption and resilience to sheer survival.

In our main feature, we relive the 2021 Italian Grand Prix, where Daniel Ricciardo silenced the doubters with a brilliant victory, leading McLaren to their first 1–2 finish in over a decade. It was a comeback for both driver and team, made possible by the dramatic clash between Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen that changed the course of the season.

We also look back to 1976, when Niki Lauda stunned the world by returning to the cockpit just six weeks after his near-fatal Nürburgring crash, bravely finishing fourth against all odds. In 1982, Ferrari salvaged pride at home with a double podium for Patrick Tambay and Mario Andretti, showing resilience after the loss of Villeneuve and Pironi. And in 1999, Heinz-Harald Frentzen took advantage of Mika Häkkinen’s uncharacteristic mistake, keeping Jordan’s title hopes alive.

Along the way, we remember American racer Tony Bettenhausen, whose own racing legacy — and family legacy — remains an enduring story of perseverance.

From miraculous recoveries to title twists, this episode celebrates the comebacks that could only happen at Monza.

Cover Image: By Lukas Raich - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

Music by #Mubert Music Rendering