Five things to look out for at the F1 Italian GP
Formula 1 hosts round 13 of its 2026 campaign this weekend with the Italian Grand Prix, and there are plenty of talking points heading into Monza. It is the place where championship leader and home hero Kimi Antonelli must overcome a grid penalty due to an engine change on his Mercedes, so how will this affect his title run-in? The 19-year-old leads the standings by 59 points over team-mate ...…
1. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli faces a tricky start to his defense of the title at the Italian Grand Prix, due to a grid penalty for an engine change on his Mercedes. This puts him at the back of the grid, but Monza's layout may still allow him to climb up the field. He currently leads the standings by 59 points over team-mate George Russell and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.
2. Lando Norris, McLaren's reigning world champion, is currently in the background, with an 82-point deficit to Antonelli. The McLaren driver has won the last two grands prix, but remains some distance behind the top three teams.
3. Ferrari is putting all its resources into a strong showing at Monza, honoring its late technical legend Michael Schumacher with a special livery. The team is also expected to unveil upgraded power units and aerodynamic enhancements for the race.
4. Monza's circuit is known for its low drag and high-speed straight sections, making energy management and drag efficiency crucial factors in the race. The strategic decisions made during the race will play a significant role in determining the outcome.
5. McLaren, despite a slow start to the 2026 season, has shown promising progress in recent rounds. With a competitive power unit and strong qualifying performance, Lando Norris aims to continue McLaren's momentum at the Italian Grand Prix, but the challenge lies in replicating that success on the high-downforce Monza circuit.
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