gg2
Italian Grand Prix live updates
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Qualifying at Monza put Pierre Gasly on pole for the Italian GP.
Grid penalties for Antonelli and Albon shake up the starting order.
Background
The Italian Grand Prix at Monza is the 13th round of the 2026 Formula 1 season. Qualifying determines the starting grid for Sunday's race. Several drivers, including Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and Williams' Alex Albon, face grid penalties for engine changes, which could affect team strategies during qualifying.
How it unfolded
- Sep 3, 2026Practice sessions begin at Monza; Lewis Hamilton arrives with Ferrari, and technical updates are introduced by several teams.
- Sep 4, 2026Charles Leclerc leads a Ferrari 1-2 in first practice. Rafael Camara secures F2 pole. Lando Norris says McLaren is 'not in the fight for pole at all'.
- Sep 5, 2026Final practice and qualifying take place. Pierre Gasly takes pole position, with grid penalties confirmed for Antonelli and Albon.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Mercedes may use Antonelli's penalty to give Russell a tow, a common tactic at Monza.
- Public
- Fans and commentators speculate on tow strategies, as the high-speed circuit makes slipstreaming crucial.