Formula 1 at Monza: a weekend where speed dictates every detail
Formula 1 returns to the Autodromo Nazionale Monza, one of the fastest and most technically distinctive circuits on the calendar. The Formula 1 Pirelli Gran Premio d'Italia 2026 takes place from 4 to 6 September, and Monza is the 13th round of the season. For visitors arriving with a one-day ticket for Friday, the main attraction consists of two Formula 1 practice sessions, alongside the support-category programme and the opportunity to see the cars for the first time during the weekend in configurations prepared for extremely low levels of aerodynamic drag.
Friday is particularly interesting for spectators who want to observe the technical side of Formula 1. The first practice starts at 10:30, and the second at 14:00 local time. During these sessions, the teams compare aerodynamic setups, tyre behaviour and car stability under heavy braking. At Monza, it quickly becomes clear who has a car that is efficient on the straights while at the same time remaining stable enough under braking for the chicanes.
Tickets for this event are in demand.
Why Monza is a completely different challenge
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza is 5,793 kilometres long. The current configuration has 11 corners - seven right-handers and four left-handers - while the Formula 1 race covers 53 laps and a total of 306,720 kilometres.
This is a circuit where the aerodynamic compromise is more clearly visible than at most other venues. Formula 1 states that the cars are at full throttle for approximately 80 percent of the lap. The start-finish straight is almost 1,2 kilometres long, and it is followed by one of the most important braking zones on the entire lap.
Variante del Rettifilo, the first chicane, combines very high approach speed with sudden deceleration. Formula 1 illustrates the character of this section with braking from approximately 350 km/h to around 70 km/h. That is why this part of the circuit is important both for overtaking and for observing the difference between cars that are stable under braking and those whose rear end is more difficult to control.
After the first chicane, speed rises again towards Curva Grande, followed by Variante della Roggia. Lesmo 1 and Lesmo 2 demand precision because a poor exit from the second Lesmo directly affects speed through the next long section of the lap. Variante Ascari then combines a fast change of direction with an exit onto another straight, before the final challenge at Curva Alboreto, the corner traditionally known as Parabolica.
- Track length: 5,793 km
- Number of corners: 11
- Direction of travel: clockwise
- Number of race laps: 53
- Race distance: 306,720 km
- Start-finish straight: approximately 1,2 km
Monza is therefore not only about maximum speed. The car must have low aerodynamic drag while still giving the driver confidence under braking, when riding over kerbs and during fast changes of direction. Losing a few tenths on the exit of a chicane can carry through the entire following straight.
Schedule of the main F1 sessions
The weekend does not use the Sprint format. Formula 1 has published a classic schedule with three practice sessions, qualifying and the main race.
- Friday: Practice 1 from 10:30 to 11:30
- Friday: Practice 2 from 14:00 to 15:00
- Saturday: Practice 3 from 10:30 to 11:30
- Saturday: qualifying from 14:00 to 15:00
- Sunday: race from 13:00
For a visitor attending only on Friday, the advantage is the amount of time spent at the circuit. Two one-hour F1 sessions make it possible to observe the teams' different programmes. During one part of practice, drivers may complete shorter runs focused on single-lap speed, while another part may be dedicated to longer stints and race preparation.
The weekend programme also includes Formula 2, Formula 3 and the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. Formula 3 holds its season finale at Monza, so the programme is not limited only to Formula 1 cars taking to the track.
Antonelli arrives at Monza as the championship leader
Kimi Antonelli arrives at his home race leading the drivers' championship. After 12 completed Grand Prix races, he has 242 points. Formula 1's current season statistics credit him with six victories and ten podium finishes.
Behind him, the situation is considerably tighter. George Russell and Lewis Hamilton have 183 points each, Lando Norris 159, Charles Leclerc 155, and Max Verstappen 112. Such standings give Monza additional significance because several direct rivals for the top positions are within a relatively narrow points range.
Mercedes also leads the teams' standings with 425 points. Ferrari has 338, McLaren 263, and Red Bull Racing 186. This makes Monza particularly interesting for comparing Mercedes' form with Ferrari's on a circuit where maximum speed, power-unit efficiency and low aerodynamic drag have a pronounced influence on the result.
Ferrari competes with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes with George Russell and Kimi Antonelli, McLaren with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while Red Bull Racing is led by Max Verstappen. The 2026 grid has 11 teams, including Audi and newcomer Cadillac.
For Ferrari, Monza is a race with a special kind of pressure. The grandstands and areas alongside the track traditionally attract large numbers of tifosi dressed in red, so the crowd's reaction clearly changes when a Ferrari passes through certain sectors or exits the pits. It is one of the rare Grand Prix weekends where the connection between a particular team and the crowd is so visible throughout the entire day.
Norris arrives after a victory, Mercedes after a double podium
The latest indication of form comes from Zandvoort. Lando Norris won the Dutch Grand Prix after starting from pole position. Kimi Antonelli finished second and George Russell third, giving Mercedes two places on the podium. Lewis Hamilton was fourth, Charles Leclerc fifth, and Oscar Piastri sixth.
The result from Zandvoort cannot be transferred directly to Monza. The Dutch circuit requires a different aerodynamic configuration, while Monza rewards efficiency on the straights and stability in heavy-braking zones. Precisely because of this change in character, it will be interesting to see whether the balance of power from the previous race remains the same.
Antonelli's 242 points nevertheless show that his championship lead is not the result of a single good weekend. Mercedes has achieved eight victories in the first 12 Grand Prix races of the season, and that is precisely why the opening practice sessions at Monza can provide an early indication of whether their package also suits an extremely low-drag configuration.
Last year's Monza shows how much the balance of power can vary
Max Verstappen won the 2025 Italian Grand Prix after starting from pole position. Behind him finished Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, while Charles Leclerc was fourth. George Russell finished fifth, and Lewis Hamilton sixth.
Verstappen completed that race in 1:13:24.325, while Norris crossed the finish line 19,207 seconds later. The result illustrated how effective a strong combination of straight-line speed, tyre management and stable race pace can be at Monza.
At the same time, the current season brings a completely different championship order. Antonelli is now the leader, Mercedes is first among the teams, while Norris arrives at Monza as the winner of the most recently held race. The 2025 result can therefore be used as context, but not as a reliable prediction.
Where the character of the circuit can best be seen from the grandstands
Different areas of Monza offer very different experiences. Along the main straight, spectators get the start, the end of the lap and activity around the pits, but the cars pass there at very high speed. The grandstands at Variante del Rettifilo offer a different perspective: spectators can see the sudden braking after the long straight, overtaking attempts and the drivers' struggle with the car over the kerbs of the first chicane.
The Variante della Roggia area also emphasises braking and changes of direction. Lesmo is interesting for observing speed through classic corners, while Ascari combines a very fast sequence with technical precision. At Curva Alboreto, spectators can follow how important the exit from the final corner is before the long start-finish straight.
General Admission provides access to grassy areas, while numbered grandstands guarantee a specific seat. Visibility is not the same from every sector, so it is useful before arrival to check which entrance corresponds to the area indicated on the ticket.
Places are disappearing quickly.
Arriving by train can avoid most of the road congestion
Monza is located northeast of Milan and is well connected by rail. The main Monza station is connected with Milan and other parts of Lombardy, and during the Grand Prix weekend there are additional options for continuing the journey towards the circuit.
For Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Trenord indicates the option of travelling to Monza or Biassono-Lesmo Parco stations. Special trains from Milano Porta Garibaldi to Biassono-Lesmo Parco have also been announced for Sunday, with the detailed timetable to be checked shortly before travelling.
The Black Shuttle runs from Monza station towards the circuit area. ATM states operating hours for Friday from 7:30 to 20:30, and for Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 to 20:30. The line connects Monza station, on the Porta Castello side, with the viale Mirabello area near Gate G.
For visitors arriving by car, parking areas are organised outside the immediate circuit area. Monza MobilitΓ lists Black, Blue and Purple shuttle routes connecting the railway station and individual parking areas with different parts of Monza Park. The choice of parking should be coordinated with the entrance shown on the ticket because distances within the large complex are significant.
During the Grand Prix weekend, it is not possible to simply drive a car or motorcycle into the inner area of the circuit. A plan that involves parking farther from the circuit and continuing by shuttle or on foot is therefore more realistic than trying to arrive directly at the entrance.
Monza Park also means plenty of walking
The circuit is located within a large park area. This gives Monza its distinctive combination of very loud motorsport and green surroundings, but for visitors it means that there can be considerable walking distances between entrances, grandstands, food and drink areas and other parts of the complex.
It is worth arriving early, especially if the ticket is for a grandstand on the opposite side of the circuit from the shuttle arrival point. Sturdy footwear is more practical than shoes intended only for city walking, while protection from sun and rain is useful because much of the movement takes place outdoors.
Hearing protection also makes sense, especially for children and spectators who will spend several hours close to the track. Modern F1 power units sound different from engines of earlier eras, but the combination of Formula 1 and support categories means prolonged exposure to high noise levels.
A circuit whose history is still visible in today's configuration
The Autodromo Nazionale Monza was built in 1922 in just 110 days and was the third purpose-built motor-racing circuit in the world, after Brooklands and Indianapolis. Formula 1 raced there as early as the first season of the World Championship in 1950.
The historic banked sections of the old oval complex are still visible in the park today. They can be seen around the current circuit, including the area behind Curva Alboreto and the space around the approach towards Ascari. Monza is therefore not a circuit that has preserved its historical identity only in archives - its physical remains are still part of the space through which spectators move.
Today's lap, however, belongs to modern Formula 1. Long straights, two key chicanes, Lesmo, Ascari and Curva Alboreto create a very specific technical profile. Every additional degree of aerodynamic drag can be costly on the straight, while too little stability can make attacks under braking more difficult.
What to watch already on Friday
The first day of the weekend is worth using to compare the cars, rather than only following the final lap times. Particular attention should be paid to the exit from Variante del Rettifilo, the behaviour of the cars over the kerbs, stability under braking at Roggia and the speed at which the drivers can pass through Ascari without steering corrections.
A time on the timing screen may look impressive, but during practice the teams are not necessarily running with the same amount of fuel, the same tyres or identical programmes. Friday's order is therefore not a final answer to the question of who is the favourite for qualifying. It is far more useful to observe whether a driver can repeat fast laps without major mistakes and how the car behaves during longer runs.
For championship leader Kimi Antonelli, this will be the first indication of whether he can turn his championship advantage into a competitive result at Monza. For Russell and Hamilton, who have the same number of points, every following weekend directly affects the battle behind the leader. Norris arrives encouraged by his victory at Zandvoort, while Leclerc and Ferrari have extra motivation in front of the tifosi.
It is worth securing tickets in good time.
Sources:
- Formula 1 - 2026 Italian Grand Prix schedule, current drivers' and teams' standings, season statistics, circuit data and the results of the 2026 race at Zandvoort and the 2025 race at Monza.
- Autodromo Nazionale Monza - circuit configuration and technical data, event programme, participating categories and information on ticket types.
- Trenord - rail options for the Grand Prix weekend, Monza and Biassono-Lesmo Parco stations and announced special trains.
- ATM - routes and operating times of shuttle lines between Monza station, parking areas and the circuit area.
- Monza MobilitΓ - organisation of parking areas, shuttle routes and practical information for arriving by car.