Italian Grand Prix: Ferrari To Shine At Monza After Unleashing Major Upgrade?
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Ferrari Have the Speed But Can Leclerc and Hamilton Turn Practice Into Pole?
The Tifosi are out in full voice as Formula 1 returns to the iconic Monza for the 2026 Italian Grand Prix this weekend, and Ferrari has a genuine reason for optimism on their home track.
Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in FP1 with a 1:230.008, putting Ferrari at the head of a one-two finish alongside Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes responded in FP2 through George Russell, but Leclerc remained only 0.120 seconds adrift despite a late spin at the second chicane.
Telemetry data from practice pointed toward an intriguing battle developing: Mercedes appears marginally stronger through the technical second sector, while Ferrari gained significant time on the straights and was almost two-tenths quicker through the rapid final sector.
The Scuderia’s engine upgrade appears to be delivering exactly the kind of top-end performance Monza demands!
Yet, Ferrari’s Friday pace will count for little if they cannot execute on Saturday, as discussed in our Italian Grand Prix qualifying prediction. Slipstreaming is crucial at Monza, and Hamilton admitted this when he described the tow as “everything here” on Friday evening.
It is understood that Ferrari have decided that the Brit will receive tow priority during qualifying as part of their planned rotations, leaving Leclerc potentially responsible for leading the SF-26’s train. With such fine margins, the strategy could be the difference between a Ferrari front-row sweep and a costly miscalculation.
Ferrari Receives Major Boost as Antonelli Faces Grid Penalty
Ferrari’s hopes of securing a memorable victory in front of the Tifosi have been given a significant boost, with current championship leader Kimi Antonelli set to start the Italian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Mercedes opted for a complete power unit change.
While the setback is a bitter one for Antonelli, it creates an enormous opportunity for Ferrari!
However, Antonelli’s penalty could still have a significant impact on qualifying. With little reason to prioritise his own starting position in the Italian Grand Prix, the Mercedes youngster could sacrifice his qualifying lap and give his teammate Russell a crucial tow on Saturday.
The result is a fascinating strategic battle. Ferrari has the opportunity to dominate the front row, but the Silver Arrows can use Antonelli as a dedicated slipstream runner to propel Russell toward pole and complicate their closest rivals' plans for Sunday’s blockbuster.
