F1 heads to the iconic Monza circuit this weekend for the Italian Grand Prix and round 13 of the 2026 season.
Kimi Antonelli, who is expected to take a grid penalty at his home race, leads the world championship standings by 59 points to Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, with the Italian having finished second at the last race in Zandvoort.
PREVIEW: Why Monza could spark an F1 title fightback
At the Dutch GP, reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris won his second straight grand prix with a composed drive at Zandvoort, after recording a sublime pole position. Norris is now fourth in the drivers’ standings, 83 points behind Antonelli.
Ferrari will be hoping to land a victory at their traditional home race, with Charles Leclerc a two-time winner in Monza and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who crashed out on the first lap last time out, will be looking to bounce back.
Follow live coverage of the Italian Grand Prix with The Independent
Constructor standings ahead of Italian GP
Mercedes have an 87-point lead over Ferrari.
1. Mercedes – 425 points
2. Ferrari – 338 points
3. McLaren – 263 points
4. Red Bull – 186 points
5. Racing Bulls – 66 points
6. Alpine – 63 points
7. Haas – 21 points
8. Audi – 16 points
9. Williams – 11 points
10. Aston Martin – 3 points
11. Cadillac – 0 points
Kieran Jackson4 September 2026 11:15
PREVIEW: Why Kimi Antonelli has F1 triumph in his sights – but Monza could spark a fightback
A crash, a penalty… what next? For a man who’s just turned 20, Italian hotshot Kimi Antonelli has already endured a tumultuous relationship with his home grand prix: the electrifying, old-school Monza circuit, long christened Formula 1’s Temple of Speed.
Full read below:
Why Antonelli has F1 triumph in his sights – but Monza could spark a fightback
Antonelli heads to his home race, the Italian Grand Prix, a driver reborn after two difficult previous editions. Yet 2025 is his title warning shot – and George Russell and Lewis Hamilton can make inroads this weekend at the Temple of SpeedKieran Jackson4 September 2026 11:10
Top-10 – Championship standings heading into Monza:
Kimi Antonelli has a 59-point lead to George Russell and Lewis Hamilton.
1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – 242 points
2. George Russell (Mercedes) – 183 points
3. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – 183 points
4. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 159 points
5. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – 155 points
6. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 112 points
7. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – 104 points
8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – 68 points
9. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – 49 points
10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – 44 points
Kieran Jackson4 September 2026 11:07
Lewis Hamilton in Monza
If you missed his scintillating arrival at the Monza paddock yesterday… how did you?!
Hamilton arrived in his newly bought Ferrari F40 sports car, wearing a a black suit and tie, Kangol cap, brown overcoat, and briefcase.
Kieran Jackson4 September 2026 11:04
Start times in Monza this weekend
Times BST
Friday 4 September
- Free practice 1: 11:30am
- Free practice 2: 3pm
Saturday 5 September
- Free practice 3: 11:30am
- Qualifying: 3pm
Sunday 6 September
- Race: 2pm
Kieran Jackson4 September 2026 11:01
F1 Italian Grand Prix
F1 heads to the iconic Monza circuit this weekend for the Italian Grand Prix and round 13 of the 2026 season.
Kimi Antonelli, who is expected to take a grid penalty at his home race, leads the world championship standings by 59 points to Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton, with the Italian having finished second at the last race in Zandvoort.
At the Dutch GP, reigning F1 world champion Lando Norris won his second straight grand prix with a composed drive at Zandvoort, after recording a sublime pole position. Norris is now fourth in the drivers’ standings, 83 points behind Antonelli.
Ferrari will be hoping to land a victory at their traditional home race, with Charles Leclerc a two-time winner in Monza and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who crashed out on the first lap last time out, will be looking to bounce back.
Kieran Jackson4 September 2026 11:00