Italian GP talking points: Antonelli aims to end curse, Ferrari's home upgrade, McLaren back in business

The 13th round of the Formula One season, the Italian Grand Prix, will occur at Monza, widely referred to as the Temple of Speed. This Italian circuit features just 11 corners, with drivers spending approximately 76 percent of each lap at full throttle. Lewis Hamilton remarked, "It's always thrilling in Monza; it's the fastest race we get to attend."

Max Verstappen claimed the fastest qualifying lap in Formula One history last year, ultimately winning the race at an average speed of 250.706kph, establishing another record. The latest generation of cars is anticipated to be even swifter, possibly gaining up to two seconds per lap compared to 2025.

Ferrari enters the race with an upgraded engine, while McLaren's recent enhancements have repositioned them within the championship fight, and Mercedes will hope their Italian driver can break the infamous home curse at Monza. It won't be an easy task. Here are the key talking points leading into the Grand Prix.

Can Antonelli defeat the home-race curse? Kimi Antonelli aspires to become Italy's first world champion since Alberto Ascari upon arriving at Monza, as he is the first Italian in 73 years to lead the F1 championship. He has secured six victories and holds a 59-point lead over his teammate, George Russell, and Ferrari's Hamilton.

However, it appears unlikely given that he will start from the back of the grid, a decision Mercedes couldn't avoid. Mercedes has opted to install a completely new power unit due to reliability issues that left Antonelli near the limit of his component allocation. The belief is that Antonelli could regain ground and challenge for the top positions with a robust engine.

Racing on home turf can be challenging, but history suggests it could be a turning point for Antonelli. No Italian has won at Monza since Ludovico Scarfiotti in 1966.