After an emotional farewell at Zandvoort, Formula 1 now heads to one of the most historic venues on the calendar: Monza, Italy.
The 2026 Italian Grand Prix takes place from September 4–6, with the race scheduled for Sunday, September 6. It is Round 13 of the 23-race season.
With Kimi Antonelli leading the championship, Ferrari racing at home and Lando Norris arriving after back-to-back victories, there is plenty to watch.
Why Is Monza So Special?
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza was built in 1922 and is one of the world’s oldest purpose-built racing circuits.
It is often called the “Temple of Speed” because of its long straights and high-speed character. The circuit sits in a park just outside Milan and has been a major part of Formula 1 history since the championship’s early years.
Monza is also Ferrari’s home race, making the atmosphere particularly intense whenever the Italian team takes to the track.
What Makes the Circuit Different?
Monza is built around speed.
Cars spend a large portion of the lap at full throttle, while the long straights create opportunities for drivers to slipstream their rivals before heavy braking zones.
One of the best examples is the Variante del Rettifilo, where cars brake from around 350 km/h to roughly 70 km/h. It is one of the circuit’s major overtaking areas.
The track also features famous sections such as Lesmo, Variante Ascari and Parabolica, giving the circuit a combination of high-speed corners and technical braking zones.
Antonelli Arrives as Championship Leader
Antonelli’s championship lead was strengthened at a dramatic Dutch Grand Prix that marked the final F1 race at Zandvoort. [Read the previous article: Can Kimi Antonelli Overcome His Monza Grid Penalty at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix? ]
The biggest storyline heading into Monza is undoubtedly Kimi Antonelli.
The Mercedes driver leads the championship with 242 points, 59 ahead of teammates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, who are tied on 183.
Antonelli has also won six Grands Prix this season and will now race in front of his home Italian crowd.
However, as discussed in our previous article, he is expected to face a significant grid penalty at Monza because of a Mercedes power-unit change.
That could make his championship lead more vulnerable.
Ferrari’s Home Grand Prix
For Ferrari, Monza is about more than championship points.
The Italian Grand Prix is the team’s home event, and thousands of passionate Tifosi traditionally turn the circuit into a sea of red.
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc will be looking to give Ferrari fans something to celebrate. Hamilton currently sits third in the Drivers’ Championship on 183 points, while Leclerc is fifth on 155.
A strong Ferrari performance at Monza could also help the team close the gap to Mercedes in the Constructors’ Championship.
Drivers to Watch
Kimi Antonelli
The championship leader is racing at home and will have to overcome his expected grid penalty.
Lando Norris
Two straight victories have put the McLaren driver back into the title conversation.
Lewis Hamilton
The seven-time champion will be racing for Ferrari at its home circuit for the first time in this championship fight.
Charles Leclerc
A Ferrari driver at Monza is always one to watch, particularly with the Tifosi behind him.
Max Verstappen
The reigning champion sits sixth with 112 points and needs a major turnaround if he is to return to serious title contention.
2026 Italian Grand Prix Schedule
| Session | Date |
|---|---|
| Race weekend begins | September 4 |
| Qualifying | September 5 |
| Grand Prix | September 6 |
| Circuit | Monza, Italy |
| Round | 13 of 23 |
The official F1 calendar confirms Monza as Round 13, followed immediately by the Spanish Grand Prix at Madrid/Spain on September 11–13.
2026 Drivers’ Championship Standings
Updated after the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 242 |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes | 183 |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 183 |
| 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 159 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 155 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 112 |
| 7 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 104 |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull Racing | 68 |
| 9 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 49 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 44 |
| 11 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls | 23 |
| 12 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 19 |
| 13 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | 18 |
| 14 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi | 10 |
| 15 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi | 6 |
| 16 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 6 |
| 17 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 5 |
| 18 | Esteban Ocon | Haas | 3 |
| 19 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 20 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls | 0 |
| 21 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 0 |
| 22 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac | 0 |
| 23 | Sergio Perez | Cadillac | 0 |
These standings reflect the championship after the August 23 Dutch Grand Prix.
2026 Constructors’ Championship Standings
Mercedes has built a significant lead after 12 rounds, while Ferrari currently holds second place.
| Pos. | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes | 425 |
| 2 | Ferrari | 338 |
| 3 | McLaren | 263 |
| 4 | Red Bull Racing | 186 |
| 5 | Racing Bulls | 66 |
| 6 | Alpine | 63 |
| 7 | Haas F1 Team | 21 |
| 8 | Audi | 16 |
| 9 | Williams | 11 |
| 10 | Aston Martin | 3 |
| 11 | Cadillac | 0 |