In Formula 1, attention shifts to Monza this weekend for the Italian Grand Prix, and for once, the sport’s biggest home party might not go the way the crowd is hoping.
The driver currently leading the championship, Kimi Antonelli, is Italian himself, and he could be the one struggling most when the race gets going on Sunday
Mercedes is giving Antonelli a full power unit change this weekend, which means a grid penalty for him
The Temple of Speed awaits…#F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/wvnHlXkfy0
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 31, 2026
A track built for speed
Monza is nicknamed the Temple of Speed, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza is the oldest purpose-built racetrack still hosting a world championship round and it remains the fastest circuit on the calendar.
The Italian Grand Prix itself goes back even further, to 1921, and this weekend marks the 97th time it’s been run. Every edition but one, has taken place at Monza.
Then there’s the Tifosi. Ferrari’s home fans turn the grandstands into a sea of red every year, win or lose, and this weekend Ferrari is running a special livery marking 30 years since Michael Schumacher’s debut with the team.
The weekend runs Friday through Sunday, with practice on September 4, qualifying on September 5, and the race itself on September 6.
IT’S RACE WEEK IN ITALY! 🥰🇮🇹
We’re back for Round 13 at Monza 💪#F1 #ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/t7xF4y2L7B
— Formula 1 (@F1) August 31, 2026
Who and What to watch out for
Lando Norris arrives full of momentum. The McLaren driver has won the last two races in a row, in Hungary and the Netherlands, and Monza’s long straights should suit his car well.
With Antonelli starting way behnd in the pack after his penalty, this looks like Norris’s best chance to cut into the championship gap.
Ferrari, meanwhile, is bringing its own power unit upgrade and will be desperate for a strong result in front of its home fans after going two races without a podium.
Max Verstappen is also expected to be more competitive than he was at the last round in Zandvoort.
What the championship race looks like
Antonelli heads into the weekend with a commanding lead, sitting on 242 points, 59 clear of both his Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, who are tied for second.
Norris trails further back but has the recent form to make up ground and try to defend his title
In the constructors’ standings, Mercedes leads Ferrari by 87 points with plenty of season still
