The Italian Grand Prix arrives at Monza with the championship finely poised and the iconic “Temple of Speed” ready to deliver another high-speed spectacle. The 5.793-kilometre circuit rewards low-downforce efficiency, powerful braking and strong traction, with 53 laps and plenty of overtaking opportunities.
The biggest storyline is championship leader Kimi Antonelli. The home favourite leads George Russell by 59 points but faces a huge challenge: after an engine change, the Mercedes driver will start from the back of the grid. That penalty could give Russell a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton start near the front and will have the passionate Tifosi behind them.
Up front, however, the biggest surprise is Pierre Gasly. The Alpine driver stunned the paddock by taking his first Formula 1 pole position, edging Russell by just 0.060 seconds. Charles Leclerc will start third, with Hamilton fourth and Max Verstappen fifth. Oscar Piastri, initially third, drops three places following a grid penalty, while Lando Norris starts ninth after a difficult qualifying session.
McLaren arrive in strong form after Norris secured back-to-back victories, but Monza’s long straights could produce a fascinating battle between McLaren, Mercedes, Ferrari and Alpine. With Gasly chasing an unlikely victory, Antonelli fighting through the field and Ferrari seeking glory on home soil, the Italian Grand Prix promises speed, strategy and plenty of drama.
Below is the full official grid for Italian Grand Prix 2026
| Pos. | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 2 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 3 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 5 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 6 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 7 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 8 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 9 | Arvid Lindblad | Racing Bulls |
| 10 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Audi |
| 11 | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 12 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi |
| 13 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 14 | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 15 | Yuki Tsunoda | Racing Bulls |
| 16 | Valtteri Bottas | Cadillac |
| 17 | Sergio Pérez | Cadillac |
| 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 19 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 20 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 21 | Fernando Alonso* | Aston Martin |
| 22 | Liam Lawson* | Red Bull |
When and Where to watch Italian Grand Prix 2026 in India?
The race takes place at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza in Italy on September 6, Sunday. The local start time is 15:00 PM and that translates to 6:30 PM in India. Fans in India can watch it live on the FanCode App and website.
