Italian Grand Prix 2026
The Temple of Speed. Autodromo Nazionale Monza is one of the oldest and fastest circuits in Formula 1, set inside a stunning royal park and beloved by the passionate Italian Tifosi who have made it Ferrari's spiritual home race since 1950.
Circuit Facts
Autodromo Nazionale Monza
Monza Royal Park, Italy
11
2
Minimum (Lowest of season)
Permanent Road Course
About Monza
Autodromo Nazionale Monza is one of the oldest racing circuits in the world, built in 1922 inside the beautiful Parco di Monza — a royal park on the outskirts of the city of Monza, north of Milan. It hosted the very first Formula 1 World Championship race in 1950 alongside six other founding grands prix, and it has remained an almost permanent fixture on the calendar ever since, missing only 1980 when the race moved to Imola. No other circuit embodies the raw spirit of motorsport quite like Monza.
The circuit's defining characteristic is pure, unapologetic speed. Monza features three of the longest straights on the F1 calendar connected by chicanes inserted specifically to slow the cars — without them, speeds would be dangerously close to 400 km/h. Teams run the lowest-downforce setups of the entire season here, trimming wings as far as the regulations allow in pursuit of those extra kilometres per hour on the long straights. This unique aerodynamic requirement means that cars which excel here often struggle elsewhere, creating an unpredictable and fascinating race.
For Ferrari, Monza is more than a race — it is a pilgrimage. The Scuderia was founded in Modena and its DNA is intertwined with this circuit. Ferrari victories at Monza provoke scenes of extraordinary passion, with thousands of Tifosi flooding the track after the chequered flag in a tradition that has made the Italian Grand Prix one of the most emotionally charged events in sport. Charles Leclerc's back-to-back wins in 2024 and 2025 reignited this passion to spectacular effect.
Key Corners
Monza is defined by long flat-out blasts interrupted by heavy braking zones. The chicanes demand precision and bravery, while the Parabolica tests commitment like few other corners on the calendar.
Variante del Rettifilo — Turns 1–2
The first chicane at the end of the main straight is one of the hardest braking points in F1. Cars arrive at around 340 km/h and shed nearly 200 km/h in under two seconds. It is the primary overtaking point of the race and regularly produces first-lap drama and late-braking moves.
Variante della Roggia — Turns 3–4
The second chicane arrives after the Curva Grande, another heavy braking zone where drivers can out-brake rivals into the tight left-right sequence. Getting a clean exit here is critical for carrying speed through the fast Lesmo section that follows.
Lesmo 1 & 2 — Turns 5–6
Two medium-speed right-handers set in the shade of the park's trees. Both require commitment on the entry and a clean line through the apex. Lesmo 2 is particularly tricky — a late apex means drivers are still turning while accelerating hard onto the back straight toward Ascari.
Variante Ascari — Turns 8–10
A chicane complex named after Alberto Ascari that interrupts the back straight. Drivers look to cut through cleanly and maintain momentum for the run down the second-longest straight toward the Parabolica. A wobble here hands back all the time gained on the previous straight.
Parabolica (Curva Alboreto) — Turn 11
The legendary final corner — a long, sweeping right-hander that feeds cars onto the main straight. Named after Michele Alboreto in 2000. Getting the Parabolica right is the single most important thing a driver can do at Monza: a fraction of understeer costs lap time all the way down the front straight.
Race Atmosphere
Few sporting events anywhere in the world match the atmosphere of the Italian Grand Prix for raw passion and theatre. The Tifosi — Ferrari's devoted fanbase — descend on Monza in their tens of thousands dressed in red, turning the grandstands into a sea of scarlet flags. The noise when a Ferrari leads is deafening; the silence when it retires is heartbreaking. It is an emotional rollercoaster that no neutral can remain indifferent to, and drivers routinely describe it as one of the most special experiences of the entire season.
The slipstreaming battles that Monza's long straights produce are unlike anything else in Formula 1. During qualifying, drivers play tactical games to sit behind another car and benefit from the tow — creating the surreal spectacle of everyone slowing down on the out-lap to let someone else lead. In the race itself, DRS combined with slipstream means position changes happen on virtually every lap. Combined with the park setting, the history, and the noise, Monza delivers one of the most complete race experiences in motorsport.
Tyre Strategy
Monza is one of the gentlest circuits on tyres in the entire F1 calendar. The low-downforce setup reduces lateral loads on the rubber, and the lack of high-speed sustained corners means tyre degradation is typically minimal. Pirelli usually nominates Soft, Medium, and Hard compounds, with most teams favouring a one-stop strategy using Medium and Hard tyres.
The Soft compound is used in qualifying but rarely makes it into the race due to its shorter lifespan. The strategic battle often comes down to the timing of the single pit stop — undercutting with a fresh Hard tyre can be decisive, and the slipstream means drivers can recover position after pitting more easily than at most circuits. Safety car periods can significantly disrupt planned strategies, though Monza produces fewer safety cars than most street circuits on the calendar.
How to Watch the Italian Grand Prix
Sky Sports F1
Every session live — practice, qualifying, and race. Available on Sky and via NOW TV streaming.
Channel 4
Free-to-air highlights of qualifying and the race. Available on Channel 4 and All 4 on-demand.
F1 TV Pro / NOW TV
F1 TV Pro offers live streaming worldwide. NOW TV provides Sky Sports access without a contract.
14:00 BST (approx.)
Monza is CET (UTC+2 in summer), making it a comfortable early afternoon race for UK viewers.
Visit our TV schedule page for confirmed session times and broadcast details for the 2026 season.
Previous Winners at Monza
| Year | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 2024 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 2023 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2022 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 2021 | Daniel Ricciardo | McLaren |