Racing is back this weekend as the Formula One grid heads to the iconic Temple of Speed in Monza. While Ferrari and Mercedes looked like they were in a two-way battle for the majority of the season so far, back to back wins for reigning world champion Lando Norris has brought McLaren in the title fight as well.
Ahead of the race in Monza, where there are multiple teams and multiple storylines in play, here’s our race preview and predictions for the Italian Grand Prix 2026.
Current Drivers’ championship leader Kimi Antonelli has had a mixed last couple of races after starting the season with five wins in the opening six races. Antonelli suffered point-less outings in Barcelona and Silverstone and has picked up three podiums in Belgium, Hungary and Netherlands although he should’ve won two out of those races. The struggles and only one win in the last six races means that Antonelli’s lead at the top has been cut down to 59 points only and he’s being pressured now by teammate George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes has announced that Antonelli will be changing his engine for the Italian Grand Prix, which means Antonelli will be taking a grid penalty which will be at least 10 positions. Antonelli is set to start the race at the back of the grid but on the positive side, Mercedes expects Monza to be the perfect track to take the engine penalty. Mercedes’ straightline speed is something that will be ideal in Monza and with a host of overtaking opportunities, even though Antonelli will start at the back, expect him to finish right at the front. With the pressure beginning to mount in the championship battle, expect Antonelli to bounce back at Monza, even if he is starting from the back.
Pole prediction: Kimi Antonelli / Lewis Hamilton
Race winners prediction: Mercedes / Ferrari
Back-to-back wins from reigning world champion, on either side of the summer break, means that Lando Norris has put his name in the Drivers’ title fight albeit he has some distance to make up.
Norris’ uptick in form comes along with McLaren bringing big upgrades in the last couple of races which has seen them close the gap to the likes of Mercedes and Ferrari. What’s been working in McLaren and Norris’ favour is not only their pace on Sunday but also on Saturdays, one lap has been right up there for McLaren which has seen Norris take back-to-back poles in Hungary and Netherlands. Norris, won his first championship last season and spent the majority of this season so far yet to be able to properly mount a defence fight but finally it looks like Norris can try to fight for the title again.
High on confidence and with two wins on the trot, McLaren and Norris will come to Monza upbeat but it remains to be seen if they can challenge the likes of Ferrari and Mercedes on the straights. Norris isn’t a sure-shot favourite coming into Monza but it would be daft to write him off.
While Mercedes and McLaren are looking like the two teams who will be in the battle at the front in Monza, one team who will be under immense pressure not only because of their race pace, but because of some outside pressure as well, will be Ferrari. At their home race, Ferrari are the most successful team in Monza, having won 21 times but have only one win in the last five years. Ferrari have shown strong race pace this season, always being at the front for the win, but the usual strategic mix-ups have cost the Scuderia with the Italian team sitting with only two wins this season from 12 races. Lewis Hamilton has already asked his team to amp the pressure on their rivals in the title battle.
Ferrari have the pace to fight the likes of Mercedes but more importantly on a weekend where all the eyes will be on them, they must execute their strategies well and make sure their drivers don’t end up fighting themselves.
Circuit: Autodromo Nazionale Monza/ Monza Circuit
Venue: Monza, Italy
Practice Session 1 time: 16:00 IST, September 4, 2026
Practice Session 2 time: 19:30 IST, September 4, 2026
Practice Session 3: 16:00 IST, September 5, 2026
Qualifying time: 19:30 IST, September 5, 2026
Main race time: 18:30 IST, September 6, 2026
Where to watch: F1 TV Pro / FanCode
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