Italian GP 2026: Antonelli hit with grid penalty as title rivals scent blood at Monza

The 2026 Formula 1 title race is set to explode into life at the Italian Grand Prix, with championship leader Kimi Antonelli forced to start from the back of the grid at Monza after a power unit change.

Antonelli heads into the Temple of Speed holding a 59-point advantage over Mercedes team-mates George Russell and Lewis Hamilton, but the impact of his grid penalty means the race weekend presents a golden opportunity for his rivals to make significant inroads into their championship deficits.

Norris the biggest threat

The driver most likely to capitalise may not be the two Mercedes men, however. Lando Norris sits 83 points behind Antonelli but arrives at Monza having won the last two races and in the form of his life. With Antonelli highly unlikely to win from the back of the grid, the stage is set for Norris to close the gap further.

Ferrari bring new engines for home race

Ferrari will have the huge backing of the Tifosi at their home race and are expected to bolt fresh power units into the cars of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc – crucially without incurring grid penalties. The extra horsepower is aimed at returning the Scuderia to winning ways after disappointments in Hungary and the Netherlands, two tracks where Ferrari had been predicted to be strong.

Elsewhere, Max Verstappen won last year's Italian Grand Prix and Red Bull could be back towards the front this weekend thanks to the strength of their engine package.

Monza – the Temple of Speed

Monza is one of just four current tracks that featured on the original 1950 F1 World Championship calendar, alongside Monaco, Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. Dubbed the Temple of Speed thanks to its long straights, the circuit's prime overtaking spot is into the Turn 1 chicane, but the battle often continues through the Curve Grande and into Turn 4. From there come two 90-degree right-handers, the Lesmos, before another long straight toward the Ascari Chicane and the final corner, the famous Parabolica.

Weather outlook

The current forecast suggests rain will not disrupt the on-track action, with sunny skies expected across all three days of running and air temperatures hovering around 30C.

Full race-week schedule (UK times)

Thursday September 3
1pm: Drivers' Press Conference
4pm: Paddock Uncut

Friday September 4
7.30am: F3 Practice
8.55am: F2 Practice
11am: Italian Grand Prix Practice One (session starts at 11.30am)
12.55pm: F3 Qualifying
1.50pm: F2 Qualifying
2.35pm: Italian Grand Prix Practice Two (session starts at 3pm)
4.15pm: The F1 Show
5.20pm: Team Bosses' Press Conference

Saturday September 5
8.25am: F3 Sprint
11.15am: Italian Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 11.30am)
1.10pm: F2 Sprint
2.15pm: Italian Grand Prix Qualifying build-up
3pm: ITALIAN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING
5pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday September 6
7.10am: F3 Feature Race
8.40am: F2 Feature Race
10.40am: Porsche Supercup Race
12.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Italian GP build-up
2pm: THE ITALIAN GRAND PRIX
4pm: Chequered Flag: Italian GP reaction
5pm: Ted's Notebook

How to watch the Italian GP

Sky customers can watch every session live on Sky Sports F1 from first practice on Friday morning to the grand prix itself on Sunday September 6 at 2pm, with the option to go onboard with any driver via the Sky Sports app. Non-Sky viewers can stream the action with a NOW Day or cancel-anytime Month pass, while a free live blog runs across the whole weekend. Highlights are available shortly after the chequered flag on the Sky Sports app.

Formula 1 heads to Monza for Ferrari's home race at the Italian Grand Prix on September 4-6, live on Sky Sports F1.